Writing a great job title is tougher than it seems. In just a few words, you’ll need to accurately convey the job duties and the level of experience required, rank highly in online searches, and earn bonus points for making it catchy. Ideally, the job title should also mean the same thing to most people who see it. So how do we do that?

Clear and concise

The job title is the first thing a job seeker must evaluate to decide whether to click on a position. It should get to the point and be easy to understand. So the best job descriptions are punchy and descriptive—and not too long—about 50–60 characters to entice the most clicks. Ideal job descriptions also include all the key details, even if that means going over a bit.

Searchable

Keywords! You need them. Depending on the posting, you might focus your keywords on the job’s duties, level, or both. Ask yourself what words you would search for if you were trying to find this exact job online. Your keywords should be common and easy to recognize. For clarity of understanding and consistency in searches, it’s better to spell out words (operator) than to abbreviate them (op).

Creative

Using words that are clear, common, and easy to recognize doesn’t sound like it leaves much room for creativity. But you’d be wrong! You may not want to post for a “Slice-and-Dice Ninja” when you’re looking for a saw operator (because, again, search terms, simplicity, and collective understanding), but you can certainly add a creative spin inside the job description. You can also consider a blend of common and creative words in the job title if you have wiggle room in those 50–60 characters. “Saw Operator Ninja,” anyone?