Writing job descriptions for electricians, welders, and millwrights is no longer a “post it and they will come” exercise. Employers who win top skilled trades talent write postings that are specific, realistic, and worker-centered while clearly conveying safety, stability, and growth.

Why your job description matters

A strong job description for skilled trades roles does three things:

  • Filters out unqualified candidates before they apply
  • Signals to experienced tradespeople that you understand their work
  • Differentiates your opportunity from every other “Electrician/Welder Needed ASAP” post

Instead of a generic list of duties, focus on clarity, safety, pay transparency, and real-world conditions on the job.

Start with a clear, specific title

Avoid vague, catch‑all titles. Skilled workers scan quickly and skip postings that don’t match their experience.

Better title practices:

  • Include level and specialty (e.g., “Industrial Electrician – Manufacturing Plant,” “Structural Welder – Marine Construction,” “Millwright – Heavy Industrial Maintenance”)
  • Add shift or schedule when it matters (e.g., “Night Shift Millwright – 12‑Hour Rotating Schedule”)
  • Reference environment or sector (commercial, industrial, marine, manufacturing) so candidates can self‑select

Describe the work, not just the duties

Experienced tradespeople want to know what their day really looks like, not just generic bullet points.

Helpful details to include:

  • Type of work: New construction, shutdown/turnaround, maintenance, repair, fabrication, or installation
  • Typical projects: Size, industry, and complexity of jobsites or facilities
  • Tools and technology: Equipment, controls, or welding processes they will regularly use
  • Reporting structure: Who they report to and whether they’ll mentor apprentices or lead small crews

This helps candidates quickly decide if their skills and preferences match the role.

Highlight must‑have skills and certifications

Laundry lists of “requirements” can scare off great candidates. Prioritize what is truly required versus “nice to have.”

For electricians, consider:

  • Required: Journeyman or Master license (state‑specific), OSHA training, experience with commercial/industrial wiring, ability to read blueprints
  • Nice to have: Experience with PLCs, VFDs, or specific control systems; prior work on similar facilities or marine environments

For welders, consider:

  • Required: Specific processes (FCAW, SMAW, GMAW, GTAW), positions (1G–6G), and materials (carbon, stainless, aluminum)
  • Nice to have: Current certifications (AWS, ABS, ASME), ability to pass x‑ray tests, experience in confined spaces or at elevation

For millwrights, consider:

  • Required: Aligning and installing machinery, reading mechanical and electrical schematics, precision measurement tools
  • Nice to have: Experience with specific OEM equipment, predictive maintenance tools, or reliability programs

Clearly label sections as:

  • “Required qualifications”
  • “Preferred experience”

So candidates know when it is still worth applying.

Be honest about conditions, schedule, and pay

Skilled trades professionals are evaluating you just as hard as you’re evaluating them. Transparency builds trust and reduces turnover.

Key details to include:

  • Schedule: Standard hours, overtime expectations, weekend or shutdown work, travel requirements, and project duration
  • Environment: Indoor/outdoor, marine or shipyard conditions, heights, confined spaces, weather exposure, PPE provided
  • Physical requirements: Lifting expectations, climbing, standing, working in tight or awkward positions
  • Pay and benefits: Pay range, shift differentials, per diem, travel pay, benefits, and any bonuses or incentives

When you spell this out, you attract candidates who are prepared for the realities of the job and more likely to stay.

Sell what makes your opportunity different

Your posting should answer the question: “Why should a great electrician, welder, or millwright choose this job instead of the one down the street?”

Consider highlighting:

  • Safety culture: Training, PPE, safety programs, and your track record
  • Stability: Length of projects, backlog of work, or long‑term maintenance contracts
  • Growth: Opportunities to move into lead, foreman, or supervisor roles; cross‑training on new equipment or processes
  • Respect on the job: How your supervisors communicate, how feedback is handled, and whether tradespeople have a voice in planning work

Keep this section concise but compelling. Think in terms of the benefits to the worker, not just what you need from them.

Make applying easy for busy tradespeople

Many skilled trades candidates are on the job all day, checking postings on their phone during breaks or after shift.

To improve response rates:

  • Use mobile‑friendly formatting and short paragraphs
  • Clearly state how to apply (call, text, quick form, or email)
  • List what they need to provide (work history, certifications, recent projects)
  • Avoid long online forms or multiple logins when possible

The fewer steps between viewing your job and talking to you, the more likely you are to connect with strong candidates.

How Gillmann Services can help

Writing strong job descriptions is only one part of building a reliable pipeline of electricians, welders, and millwrights. Gillmann Services lives in this world every day, matching proven skilled trades professionals with commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and marine construction employers.

  • Support with refining job descriptions so they resonate with qualified trades talent
  • Access to a pre‑screened network of licensed electricians, certified welders, and experienced millwrights
  • A partner who understands project deadlines, safety requirements, and the realities of your jobsites

To attract the right people faster — and keep your projects on track — contact Gillmann Services to review your next skilled trades opening and tap into a deeper pool of qualified candidates.