Why is it important to include reporting structure in a job description?
How the hiring manager in job descriptions provides transparency
Jobs that are clear and accessible attract top talent. A hiring manager’s role isn’t just about making the final hiring decision—they also shape the candidate's experience and play a key role in setting expectations for the job.
Why does this matter?
- The hiring manager has the most in-depth knowledge of the role’s day-to-day responsibilities and team dynamics.
- They influence how candidates perceive the company and what working there will be like.
- Their leadership style and expectations can significantly impact a new hire’s success and long-term retention.
By including the hiring manager’s name or title in job descriptions, you add a layer of transparency that helps candidates make more informed decisions—leading to better applications, stronger hires, and a more efficient hiring process.
Benefits for candidates
For job seekers, knowing who they’ll report to or the hiring manager’s role within the company can be a game-changer. It allows them to evaluate the opportunity with greater clarity, ensuring a better fit for both sides.
- More Relevant Applications: Candidates can tailor their applications to align with the hiring manager’s priorities and expectations, reducing irrelevant applications.
- Improved Candidate Experience: A direct point of contact creates a more transparent and personalized process, showing candidates that your company values their time.
- Clearer Role Level and Career Growth: Job titles can be misleading, but knowing the hiring manager’s level helps candidates gauge seniority and potential career progression within the company.
- Stronger Organizational Context: Understanding where the role sits within the company structure helps candidates see how their work will contribute to the broader mission.
- Better Team and Leadership Fit: Candidates can research the hiring manager’s background, leadership style, and expertise to determine if they align with their own working style and career goals.
Example: A senior software engineer considering two job offers might lean toward the one where they can see that the hiring manager is a well-known industry leader or is less layered in the organization. Knowing who they’ll report to gives them confidence in their potential career trajectory.
Benefits for companies
Including the hiring manager in job descriptions isn’t just helpful for candidates—it also improves the hiring process for recruiters, hiring managers, and talent acquisition teams.
- Attracts Higher-Quality Candidates: Transparency and a personalized approach make your company more appealing to top talent.
- Streamlines the Hiring Process: Candidates who understand the role and team dynamics apply with greater alignment, reducing back-and-forth and time wasted on poor-fit applicants.
- Enhances Employer Brand: Demonstrating openness about your leadership structure builds trust and reinforces your company culture.
- Improves Internal Alignment: Clearly stating the hiring manager’s title and reporting structure helps other internal stakeholders understand where the role fits, leading to better collaboration across teams.
Example: A financial services company found that adding the hiring manager’s title to job descriptions led to a 20% decrease in unqualified applications—freeing up recruiter bandwidth and reducing time-to-hire.
Clarity propels efficient and effective hiring
Recruiting the right talent isn’t just about listing job duties, it’s about providing clarity and context to build confidence. Including the hiring manager in job descriptions helps candidates self-assess fit, creates a smoother hiring process, and ultimately leads to better, longer-lasting hires.