The JD Fix: Quick Fixes. Smarter Job Descriptions. Better Hiring.

Heather Fenty
  • 5.0 (1)
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Your go-to hub for bite-sized insights on job descriptions—delivered through a mix of newsletters, videos, podcasts, and expert content. Whether you're an HR pro, recruiter, or hiring manager, we’ll help you write better JDs with AI-powered insights, inclusive language tips, and practical strategies. What’s inside: ✅ JD Fixes – Before & after makeovers for clarity & impact ✅ AI & Hiring Insights – How automation shapes job postings ✅ Bias Busters – Small tweaks, big inclusion wins ✅ Trends & Best Practices – Stay ahead in JD writing 🔹 Subscribe free—smarter JDs in 15 minutes or less! Watch, listen, or read at your pace. itsjustbarbs.substack.com

  1. 2D AGO

    Notion for JDs: The Tool You Love Isn’t Built for This

    The JD Fix — Episode: Notion for JDs: The Tool You Love Isn’t Built for This Episode Summary:In this episode, we dig into why so many hiring teams start managing job descriptions in Notion—and why that setup starts breaking as things scale. From version control nightmares to missing legal or DEI approvals, you’ll hear why that “simple Notion template” can turn into a job description minefield. We also cover better alternatives and when it’s time to graduate from Notion to something built just for JDs. What You’ll Learn: Why Notion feels like the perfect tool for JDs (at first) The common failure points of using Notion to manage job descriptions Where other DIY tools like Airtable and Coda also fall short What to look for in a real JD management system How Ongig helps solve these problems without the chaos Mentioned in this episode:👉 Ongig Job Description Software Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    3 min
  2. What Makes a Great Job Description Management System? Start with Permissions

    AUG 20

    What Makes a Great Job Description Management System? Start with Permissions

    In this episode of The JD Fix, Heather Barbour Fenty breaks down why permissions are the backbone of a great job description management system—and how to set them up so your team works faster, not slower. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The 5 roles that actually work for TA teams (Viewer, Editor, Editor Plus, Auditor, Admin) How to tailor visibility with job status filters (think: “Needs Edits” vs “Approved”) Why most JD systems get permissions wrong—and how to fix it The golden rule: start with the least access, then scale as roles evolve Links & Resources 👉 Request a demo of Ongig’s Text Analyzer to see how permissions and roles work in action: https://www.ongig.com/request-demo Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    5 min

  3. AUG 15

    JD Formatting: How We Fixed Taleo’s Copy-Paste Chaos

    Episode Title: JD Formatting: How We Fixed Taleo’s Copy-Paste Chaos Host: Heather Fenty Episode Summary:In this episode of The JD Fix, Heather Fenty shares how one of the largest healthcare companies in the U.S. fixed a frustrating Taleo problem that was wasting recruiters’ time and wrecking their job descriptions. If you’ve ever pasted a JD into Taleo and lost your bullets, fonts, and spacing—this one’s for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why Taleo strips formatting from job descriptions (and why it matters) The hidden costs of fixing formatting manually How Raw HTML export solved the problem instantly The before-and-after impact on recruiter time and candidate experience A pro tip to protect JD formatting in any ATS Links & Resources Mentioned: Request a demo of Ongig’s Raw HTML export → https://www.ongig.com/request-demo Follow Heather on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hbarbour/ More job description tips at blog.ongig.com Episode Length: ~ 5 minutes Perfect For:Recruiters, talent acquisition leaders, employer brand teams, and anyone using Taleo or similar ATS systems. Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    4 min

  4. AUG 7

    A Day in the Life: The Job Description Section You’re Missing?

    In this episode of The JD Fix, Heather explores the power of adding a “Day in the Life” section to your job postings. Inspired by a LinkedIn post from DeArndra Hendricks and a real-world example from Sprinter Health, Heather breaks down why this small addition can dramatically improve clarity, help candidates self-select faster, and make your postings more engaging. You’ll learn a simple framework to create your own and hear how to build the rest of your job posting around it for maximum impact. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  5. From Chaos to Control: The One Thing Missing From Your Hiring Process

    JUL 31

    From Chaos to Control: The One Thing Missing From Your Hiring Process

    Episode Title: From JD Chaos to Control: Why You Need a Job Description Repository Summary: Heather Fenty breaks down how scattered, outdated job descriptions cost teams time, trust, and consistency—and why a centralized JD repository is the fix. Hear real examples from TA, HR, and comp teams, and get a quick walkthrough of Ongig’s platform in action. What You’ll Learn: What a JD repository is (and why it matters) How it saves time and improves compliance How teams use filters, workflows, and templates to stay organized Why JD scoring and version control matter Links: Request a demo Ongig.com Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  6. JUL 24

    RecFest UK Vibes: Talent Talks, Circus Tents, and Totally Unexpected Moments

    Episode Title: RecFest UK Vibes: Talent Talks, Circus Tents, and Totally Unexpected MomentsHost: Heather Fenty What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Heather just got back from RecFest UK — the Coachella of Talent Acquisition — and she's bringing the insights, the laughter, and a few unexpected surprises (like being stung by a wasp and popping out of a cake). In this solo episode, Heather unpacks: ✅ What RecFest UK actually is (yes, there’s a Ferris wheel)✅ Trends every TA leader needs to know✅ What Amazon’s doing with skills-based hiring (and Willo’s role in it)✅ Matt Alder’s take on why TA teams have no time to be strategic✅ Why you should never write “fast-paced environment” in a JD again✅ And the underrated power of food trucks, glitter, and real conversations Key Takeaways for TA Teams: AI is everywhere, but trust in it isn’t — use it to save time, not replace people. Skills-based hiring is no longer just a buzzword — companies are actually doing it. JD clutter is killing your candidate flow — fix the content before the approval chain. 🛠️ Resources & Links: Matt Alder’s TA “fittness” quiz: https://mattalder.me/fitt Learn more about Willo: https://www.willo.video/ Chat with Heather: LinkedIn or reply to this podcast thread Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
  7. Candidate-First Job Postings: Write for Humans First, Robots Second

    JUN 24

    Candidate-First Job Postings: Write for Humans First, Robots Second

    When someone clicks on your job posting, you’ve got maybe 30 seconds to convince them they’re in the right place. In today’s post, I’m breaking down what a candidate-first job posting really looks like, why it matters for SEO (and your employer brand), and how you can update hundreds of job ads without waiting on approvals or doing it line by line. Let’s get into it. What Candidates Actually Care About Job seekers don’t read job postings like we wish they would. They scan. Fast. And they’re usually looking for three key things: * Title – Is this what I actually do? Will it show up when recruiters search for me? * Location & Pay – Is it remote? Hybrid? Can I live on this salary? * What’s In It for Me – Will this job make my life better? If those answers aren’t easy to find, most candidates bounce—sometimes before they even read past the headline. Yet many job postings still start with walls of text: company history, a long mission statement, boilerplate copied and pasted from who-knows-where. That’s not a hook—it’s a hurdle. Why Candidate-First = SEO-First You’re not just writing for people. You’re writing for algorithms too. Google for Jobs, LinkedIn, and every major job board scrape your JD for data points like: * Compensation * Job type (FT/PT, contractor, etc.) * Location * Job summary If that info is missing, buried, or formatted incorrectly, your job ad might never surface in a search—even if it’s a perfect match. Clear structure and smart formatting = higher visibility and better applicants. What a Candidate-First Job Posting Looks Like Here’s what works—and what candidates have told us they love seeing: * A short, punchy summary up top * Key facts like pay, benefits, and location near the top or in a sidebar * Simple headers: “What You’ll Do”, “You’d Be Great If…”, “Why Join Us” * No jargon. No empty phrases like “self-starter” or “fast-paced environment” * Inclusive, approachable tone that feels human—not legal or robotic It’s scannable. It’s transparent. And it invites the right people in. How to Do This at Scale (Without Burning Out Your Team) So you get it. But maybe you’re managing 200 job ads. Or 2,000. This is where a platform like Ongig’s Text Analyzer can save you weeks of rewriting. With Ongig, you can: * Apply a candidate-first template to multiple job ads in minutes * Use AI-powered suggestions to fix readability, bias, tone, and clarity * Auto-highlight missing SEO-critical fields like compensation or remote status * Keep your voice and brand while making every JD more effective It’s not just a content fix—it’s a workflow fix. We’ve seen HR and recruiting teams go from “we’ll get to those later” to “we updated all 500 in one week” The Takeaway If your job postings aren’t working, it’s not because you need a new ATS or career site. It’s because the content isn’t doing its job. Here’s your quick JD Fix checklist: ✅ Lead with what candidates actually care about✅ Make your postings easy to scan—by humans and search engines✅ Use smart tools to scale changes without bottlenecks And if you want to see what a candidate-first posting looks like in your org, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to share examples or walk through how we do it with Ongig. Until next time, keep fixing those JDs.🎙️ Got questions or want to see a live JD breakdown? Drop a comment. Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  8. JD… or Just Disaster? (+ a Quick Fix)

    JUN 17

    JD… or Just Disaster? (+ a Quick Fix)

    In this episode of The JD Fix, Heather takes on a truly terrible job description—buzzword overload, inconsistent formatting, and no salary in sight—and shows how to clean it up using Ongig’s Text Analyzer. You’ll hear: What makes a JD a total disaster (and why it matters) How bias, formatting, and missing info can hurt your hiring A live walkthrough of transforming the JD using automation and templates Tips for customizing AI-powered suggestions while keeping your voice Quick wins to make your job postings more inclusive and effective Whether you’re a recruiter, HR leader, or content nerd, this episode will make you laugh, nod, and rethink how you write job descriptions. 🔗 Want your JD analyzed? Visit ongig.com or email Heather at sales@ongig.com. Get full access to Heather Fenty at itsjustbarbs.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
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Your go-to hub for bite-sized insights on job descriptions—delivered through a mix of newsletters, videos, podcasts, and expert content. Whether you're an HR pro, recruiter, or hiring manager, we’ll help you write better JDs with AI-powered insights, inclusive language tips, and practical strategies. What’s inside: ✅ JD Fixes – Before & after makeovers for clarity & impact ✅ AI & Hiring Insights – How automation shapes job postings ✅ Bias Busters – Small tweaks, big inclusion wins ✅ Trends & Best Practices – Stay ahead in JD writing 🔹 Subscribe free—smarter JDs in 15 minutes or less! Watch, listen, or read at your pace. itsjustbarbs.substack.com

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