3 Ways GitLab Adds Radical Transparency to Its Job Descriptions

In a tight labor market, what will make your job posts stand out from the crowd? 

GitLab’s answer: Transparency. 

GitLab serves up the kind of details in its job descriptions that other employers tend to keep under wraps. The software development company goes far beyond listing skills requirements and job responsibilities to shed light on such matters as compensation and career paths. 

GitLab’s open-book approach to job listings isn’t surprising given the company’s culture. A trailblazer when it comes to employment policies, GitLab had a workforce that was fully remote long before the pandemic. Transparency is one of the company’s six core values and GitLab shares much with the public, including its 2,000-pages-long company handbook. 

By going the extra mile and providing valuable information that helps candidates make smart decisions, GitLab is giving candidates what they’re seeking these days. Nearly 70% of respondents in a study by The Org said they would take one job offer over another if the company was more transparent. 

Here are three ways GitLab’s job descriptions are taking transparency to the next level. 

1. They explain the interview process

For applicants, trying to figure out what to expect from the hiring process can be like staring at a dark pool of water. It’s hard to know what’s inside before jumping in.

GitLab aims to fix that problem by including an interview road map in some of its job descriptions. Candidates learn not only the number of interviews they will participate in but also who will conduct them.

Having this information improves your candidate experience and helps job seekers better prepare for what’s ahead. It also gives them a clear understanding of the degree of vetting they’ll be subjected to so that they can make an informed decision as to whether it’s worth their time to apply. 

2. They provide a path to learn about compensation 

GitLab doesn’t publish salaries in its job descriptions. But applicants can gain access to GitLab’s compensation calculator once they apply for a role and are accepted for a screening call. Candidates can then input just a few pieces of information and learn what they can expect to be paid. 

GitLab offers a window into its compensation at a time when most companies are still mum on pay. While close to 80% of job seekers and employees in a survey by Visier say they want some form of pay transparency, just 12.6% of global companies published salary ranges in their job ads in 2020, according to Payscale. 

Employers have long resisted publishing salaries in ads, in part out of fear of upsetting their current employees. But for employers like GitLab, the benefits outweigh the potential downsides. 

Pay transparency eliminates the need for salary negotiations down the line. It also sends a clear message to applicants that an employer is fair and equitable and not swayed by bias when setting compensation. 

3. They highlight the career opportunities ahead 

Where do I go from here?

Job seekers want to know not just about the job being advertised but where it might lead them. A 2021 LinkedIn survey found that the No. 1 thing employees wished their companies would invest in to improve company culture was professional development opportunities.

In some of its job descriptions, GitLab includes a “Career Ladder” section where it indicates the position above the one being advertised. Applicants can then click on a link that takes them to a description of the higher-level role.

GitLab provides even more detail for some positions. Applicants to product manager roles, for instance, can go to the company web site and see a theoretical career path for individuals working their way up in product management at the company.

Final thoughts

Employers have long been reluctant to reveal too much about positions up front. One reason is a concern that candidates won’t like what they hear and won’t apply for the job. 

But at a time when candidates are demanding transparency, that mindset no longer applies. Providing valuable information about issues like pay, career paths, and the hiring process improves the candidate experience. 

Doing that creates a lot of good will with candidates. By being forthcoming, employers can boost their brand, establish their integrity, and build trust with prospective and future employees.

*Photo from GitLab

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