How to use the Job Description Writer agent skill

What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. The file gives an AI agent specific instructions for one kind of task. When the skill is installed and your request matches it, the agent follows those instructions instead of improvising.

The job-description skill makes the agent act as a job-description specialist. It first asks only for the details it is missing, such as the job title and level, reporting line, the core problem the role must solve, and the three to five must-have capabilities. It then opens with a short role profile for you to confirm, and builds the document from there.

• Role information: title, department, level, location and reporting line
• About the team: three lines at most
• Responsibilities: five to eight items, each starting with a verb
• Requirements split into must-have (no more than six) and nice-to-have
• What we offer, with a salary range placeholder and the benefits you provided
• Hiring process with stages and expected timeline
• Appendix: a scorable resume screening table

Install the job-description skill

Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page. The package contains one file, SKILL.md. You can install it in one of two ways.

Option 1, for a personal install: unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/ so the skill folder sits inside that directory.

Option 2, for a single project: unzip the file into the .claude/skills/ folder of your project.

Option 3, in the Claude apps: upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Make sure your agent can create Word documents

The skill produces a Word document using the document tools available in your agent environment. The skill file does not name a specific library, so the requirement is that your agent has a tool that can create .docx files.

If your agent cannot produce Word files, the skill can still be installed, but the deliverable will not be a Word document.

How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?

You do not need special syntax. Describe the hiring need in ordinary words, and mention a job description or screening criteria. The skill accepts a verbal description, an old JD, or a request e-mail from the hiring manager as input.

The skill's own quick prompts show the style that works well.

• Write a JD for a senior front-end engineer
• Turn this hiring request into a JD and screening criteria
• Paste the hiring manager's e-mail and ask for a job description with a resume scoring table

What happens during a typical session?

Expect a short question round first. The agent asks only for what is missing, so give it as much detail as you have in the first message, including location and working mode, whether the pay band is public, and any hard conditions such as degree or certification requirements.

After you confirm the role profile, the agent builds the Word document. When it finishes, it points out requirements that may be too narrow to attract enough applicants and suggests which ones could be relaxed. Review those suggestions before you publish.

What rules does the skill follow?

The skill is written to avoid common hiring mistakes. It does not include restrictions based on gender, age, marital or parental status, ethnicity, region of origin or health. It asks for the salary range as a placeholder rather than inventing figures. It limits nice-to-haves so they do not outnumber must-haves, and it rewrites unverifiable soft requirements such as passionate as observable behaviours or drops them.

Remote or hybrid arrangements and travel frequency are stated explicitly, because candidates use them to decide whether to apply.

Safety notes: scripts and network access

According to the skill's listing, this skill runs no scripts and uses no network access. It consists of instructions in SKILL.md and relies on the document tools your agent already has. Check the listing and the file yourself before installing any skill in a sensitive environment.

The skill contains no legal review. It states that HR or legal should check the job description before publishing, because local employment law applies.

Tips for better results

Give the agent real inputs. Old job descriptions and hiring manager e-mails often contain useful wording, and the skill can work from them.

Supply the actual pay band if you have one. The skill uses only figures you provide and will not add market pay data, so leaving it out means the salary stays a placeholder.

Check the must-have list against the candidates you actually want. Each must-have should be something you could verify from a resume or in an interview.