If you have ever written, or attempted to write, a job description, you know how tedious it can be. Ā The idea of summarizing the duties and responsibilities of most job positions is daunting, especially when employees today are “wearing many hats”. Accurate job descriptions are extremely important, as they are used to determine salaries, performance reviews, job titles, and recruiting, just to name a few. When writing a job description, you should be able to give a clear and concise snapshot of the daily, weekly and annual responsibilities that are expected and required of the employee.
Step 1: Gather InformationĀ
- Determine what tasks are actually being carried out in the job position.
- Observe the process of completing these tasks.
- Compare the actual day-to-day functions of the job to the company’s expectations.
- Research salary information from other sources to ensure you are staying competitive.
Step 2: Define the Main Requirements
- Determine employee attributes that are necessary vs. “nice to have”.
- Determine the experience and knowledge needed to succeed in the position.
- Determine the consequences of not meeting the company’s standards.
- Determine the amount of time that should be spentĀ on each function of the job position.
Step 3: Organize and Present the Information
- Job descriptions should be formatted in a way that is easy to read and understand. Information should be presented clearly and consicely. A well-writtenĀ job description should include:
- Job title
- Exempt/Nonexempt
- Salary
- To whom the position reports to
- Date the job description was created or revised
- Summary and objective
- Essential functions of the position
- Knowledge and skills required to succeed in the position
- Direct reports
- Details of the work environment
- Physical demands
- Work schedule and position type
- Travel required, if any
- Education and prior experience (required as well as preferred)
- Extra qualifications, if required
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Following these three steps will allow you to create a job description that will attract new talent, summarize the duties and requirements of exisiting employees, and assist managers in analyzing the expectations and performance of their current staff. Accurate, honest and realistic job descriptions will benefit every person within the organization. For more information, please contact us.
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