Why Your Company Why Your Company Needs Job DescriptionsNeeds Job Descriptions

Dianne Shaddock

It may seem like an unnecessary step because you know what work you will need for your employee to

perform. 

But here are five advantages to “putting in writing”:

1.Helps you to clearly define the work that needs to be performed 

No second-guessing or figuring what work needs to be done once the employee is hired

2. Allows you to think about how the role interrelates with other positions within your company or organization

…which in turn can eliminate work redundancy

3. Creates transparency about your job expectations

…which helps to significantly reduce the potential of making a “bad hire”

4. Employees are more productive because they understand what is expected of them

5. When employees understand what is expected, they are able to work more efficiently

…which saves time and money

How To Write One In Thirty Minutes or Less

Step 1

Create or list the job title that reflects the work to be done

Some things to think about when creating a job title

What is the core work that the person will have responsibility for? 

Does the job title easily identify the person’s core job responsibilities? 

How does the title fit in with the structure of the company, (if applicable)?

REMEMBER:

Job titles can be important to many employees. Employees have been known to turn down job offers because of the title

Be creative if you can, but keep the title simple and true to the work to be performed

Step 2

Create a list of the actual work that will be performed. 

No need to write a dissertation!  Keep it simple and summarize the major tasks required so that the job responsibilities are clear.

Step 3

Write down…

the specific type of experience needed to perform the job effectively

the educational requirements

the years of experience needed to perform the job if applicable

You’re Done!

You now have a document that you can share with potential candidates

Don’t forget your current employees

Make sure that all of your staff has a job description on file

REMEMBER:

A job description should be treated as a “living document”, not a paper to be left in a file, never to be viewed again

Both you and your  employees should refer to their job descriptions as needed

Be sure to update the job description as your employees’ responsibilities change

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