- Published on June 19, 2025

As a business leader, you have a clear vision of the perfect person for your open role. The problem? That "perfect candidate" probably doesn't exist. One of the most common hiring mistakes we see is the creation of a "unicorn" job description—a wish list of every conceivable skill and experience, often demanding a decade of experience for a mid-level role.

While it may feel like you're setting a high bar, this approach is actively harming your recruitment efforts. Here's why.

How the "Unicorn" Job Description Backfires

1. It Deters Great Candidates

Highly qualified professionals who possess 80% of your requirements will often hesitate to apply if they see a rigid list of 15 "must-haves." They may feel they fall short, even if their potential and core skills are a perfect match. Ironically, you end up filtering out the best people.

2. It Attracts the Wrong People

The only candidates who will confidently apply are those who either exaggerate their abilities or don't fully understand the role.

3. It Focuses on Experience Over Potential

A long list of required software and past experiences completely overlooks more important traits like adaptability, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit—the very things that determine long-term success.

A Better Approach: Hire for Potential, Train for Skills

The most successful companies build their teams by hiring for core competencies and potential, knowing that specific technical skills can be taught. Your job descriptions should reflect this.

Instead of a daunting list of requirements, a modern, effective job description should:

• Focus on Outcomes: Instead of saying "Must have 5 years of experience in SEO," try "You will be responsible for developing and executing a strategy to double our organic traffic." This attracts ambitious, results-oriented people.
• Separate "Must-Haves" from "Nice-to-Haves": Be realistic. Clearly define the 3-4 truly non-negotiable skills required for the role and list everything else as a bonus.
• Showcase Your Culture: Use the job description to sell your company. Talk about your mission, your team environment, and the opportunities for growth.

At Backdesk, our expert recruiters specialize in crafting these kinds of effective, realistic job descriptions. We work with you to understand the core outcomes you need, and then we build a profile that attracts a wide, diverse, and highly qualified pool of global talent. We find you a partner for the long term, not just a person who ticks every box on a list.