What is a job description?

  • Jul 26, 2021
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A Job Description is a document intended to provide job applicants with a summary of the main duties and responsibilities of the role for which they are applying. The description is usually made by the individual in the organization responsible for overseeing the process of role selection, often with the help of the company's human resources department or a recruiter external.

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In this article you will find:

Why is a job description important?

A Job Description is an essential part of the job application process, as, with the correct information, you should help applicants determine if the role is in line with their skill set and if it is a job they really want make.

From the perspective of the organization, work description it is vital to ensuring that the applications received for the position match the needs of the role itself. Helps HR departments and external recruiters simplify the recruitment process selection and receive a high concentration of candidates who are suitable for interview or selection later. A business description helps streamline the selection process.

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What are the main uses of a job description?

There are many benefits to an effective job description. Here are just a few of its key uses:

Provide the employee with the expectations that are required in the role.

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Provide enough detail to help the candidate assess whether they are suitable for the position.

To support the recruiting unit during the selection process.

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To help formulate questions for the interview process.

To approve that the potential employee determines the role or position of her within the structure of the organization.

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To assist in the formation of a legally binding employment contract.

To help set goals and objectives for the employee upon joining.

Assist in the evaluation of the employee's job performance.

To help formulate training and development procedures.

What is typically included in a job description?

A well-rounded job description should clearly identify the purpose of the role, as well as the key tasks to be performed and the main responsibilities of the position. Typically, the document will also include a brief summary of the background and overview of the the organization, as well as the name or position of the employee to whom the candidate reports selected.

Additionally, you can also expect to find an explanation of the type of candidate the organization is looking for. This could include your professional experience and accomplishments, skill set, educational background and qualifications, as well as any desired personality traits.

The description will also include practical information, such as where the job is based, whether full-time or part-time, and, in most cases, the expected salary. Key points that would normally be included in a job description include:

Title and synopsis of the paper.

Detail of duties.

Desired professional experience.

Desired level of education and qualifications.

Basic skills required for the position.

Necessary certificates, licenses and registrations.

To whom the potential employee will report directly.

If the employee has subordinates who report to him.

Physical requirements (if necessary)

Work environment.

Conditions of employment.

What is the typical structure of a job description?

A job description it must follow a precise and simple design format that clearly defines the needs of the role. While the actual structure will typically vary between roles and organizations, a well-structured job description will typically be structured as follows:

Job title

Place

Reports addressed to ...

Job intent (a short line or two)

Responsibilities or duties (specified)

Essential and desirable criteria.

Company or team summary

Application information

What are the limitations of a job description?

It can be very difficult to grasp what a job will actually entail in a few short paragraphs. Also, some positions within an organization manage to be newly created roles and, by creating the job description, it is not always possible to fully anticipate how it will develop and adapt with time.

Despite being exhaustive job-related documentation, there are certain limitations to the job description:

Job descriptions are limited in time and may change with organizational structure, industry policies, company requirements, and more.

It only manages to highlight the macro criteria of a job but cannot fully explain the obstacles, emotional requirements, among others. work related.

A partial job description that lacks quality information can confuse both the hiring manager and the employee.

If you are looking for a new job, you will probably spend a lot of time reviewing job descriptions. The statement indicates whether a potential job is interesting and aligns with your goals, interests, skills, and preferences.

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