The decision to purchase any item or service depends upon a set of requirements that must be met before the item or service is acquired. Think about your purchasing decisions- each one has a set of requirements that determines the item you select. Some requirements are set in stone; if the item does not meet the requirement, there will not be a purchase. Other requirements are things that are nice to have; if the item does not have them, you might still purchase the item. In other words, some requirements are critical while others are preferred or optional.
A job description is essentially a set of purchasing requirements, both critical and optional. Unfortunately, most job descriptions are poorly written and don’t provide the information a candidate needs to gain a deep understanding of the job, nor do they have enough detailed information to help a hiring team communicate the specific role that a new hire will fill. Providing a poorly developed job description to a candidate is like saying to a computer salesperson, “We want to buy a computer that does the work we need it to do. Got one?”
A Good Job Description
Once you know the elements of a good job description, you will know a good one when you read one. You will also recognize a bad job description when you read one. A good job description is based on a job analysis, which includes examining the tasks and sequences of tasks necessary to perform the job and states the nature of work, tasks to be done, skills expected, responsibilities and duties to be fulfilled, educational eligibility, qualifications needed, and other specifications related to the job. A good job description has the elements discussed in the following sections.
Job Description
* The job title
* The nature of the job
* Job type: full-time or part-time
* Location of the office
* Salary and benefits
* Physical demands
Education and Specifications
This covers qualifications and prior experience in the particular field that the applicant must have to be successful in the job, which may include:
* Education level
* Diploma and vocational training
* Experience in prior jobs
* Number of years of experience
Duties and Responsibilities
This covers major areas of responsibility and roles the candidate will play, including what the person in the position actually does, the primary goals and objectives of the position, and its overall contribution to the organization.
* Managerial requirements
* Supervisory level
* Any corporate or individual objectives
* Working conditions
* Goals to be met
Skills and Knowledge
These are attributes the employer is looking for in a candidate to be successful in this job, including knowledge, skill, and abilities required to perform the job. These may include:
* Communication skills
* Networking skills
* Analytical ability
* Teamwork skills
* The ability to deal with stress
* Flexibility
* Persistence
Look for these elements in a well-written and comprehensive job description. If the job description lacks these elements or is not sufficiently detailed, it becomes your task to find the job description details you need to sell yourself into the job.
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