How to write job descriptions: 11 tips

When looking for a job, it is very important to write a good resume, since it is the first impression we give to the employer.

But not only job seekers should prepare well, the first thing that those seeking to fill a job will see of them. The organizations themselves must ensure that they give a picture of the work that they offer.

Job descriptions They are a crucial document for companies, since it allows them to make themselves known and makes it easier for them to find the right candidate.

In this article we explain how these descriptions are, in addition to explaining various aspects that should be included in this type of document and some common mistakes that employers make when offering a job.

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What are job descriptions?

Job descriptions, also called job descriptions, are documents that describe the characteristics of a job, indicating the relevant aspects in the most objective way possible.

It is not about describing the role that an employee already hired for this job is performing, or describing what the ideal worker should be like. This type of description consists of

indicate the relationship of the tasks with the job position exhaustively, the functions and responsibilities that the worker is going to carry out and what services or goods he is going to offer.

Its functions

A good job description does three things:

define employment

It offers an overview of employment and serves as a guide for future workers.

Structure the organization

details how is the company organized.

attract talent

It allows you to find candidates who offer something new to the organization.

Elements of these descriptions

For the job description to be complete and attractive to future candidates, it is necessary that it have the following well-defined elements.

1. job title

It must be clear and attractive, and that serves to have a first idea of ​​what is the role that the employee will perform in the company.

2. Job Objectives

It should be clear What are the duties of the worker?. His job role and the description of the objectives that are intended to be achieved by hiring him.

3. Description of tasks

The activities that the worker is going to carry out must be clear, and indicate how often they are carried out. It is also important to indicate how long it will take you.

4. Relations with other departments

If it is a job in which several departments are involved, it is important that these relationships are clearly expressed.

It should also be indicated if the interdepartmental contact is carried out very frequently or, on the contrary, it is about unusual situations.

5. Organization chart and hierarchy

Related to the previous point, it should be indicated what will be the position of the employee in the company.

It must be clear how many people will be above and below him in terms of the tasks he is going to perform, and under whose orders he is.

6. displacements

Depending on where the office is located or if the job requires business trips, It must be indicated if the person is going to have to move frequently or if, on the contrary, it is more convenient for you to move to a residence paid for by the company.

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7. Documentation

It must detail what documentation must be submitted to apply for the job, in addition to explaining the documents that are frequently handled within the organization and if a manager is required.

8. Workplace

The work environment must be described, under what conditions one works, facilities for people with some type of disability...

9. Dangerousness and risks

There are certain jobs in which there are some risks, such as in the field of medicine (eg, contagion), construction (eg, work accident) or security (eg, assault). It should be clear What are they, and how does the organization usually deal with them?.

10. Required time

Working hours are one of the things many job seekers look at first. It must be clear how many hours are dedicated per day and per weekWhat time does the workday start and when does it end?

You must also indicate which days you work, if only on weekdays or there are also some weekends and holidays. In addition, it must be clear if there are vacation days compatible with the main festivities.

11. Requirements and training

Nowadays it is frequent that when starting work the new worker is offered to a training. In addition to this, in the job description it must be clear what knowledge is required for the job and if it will facilitate the first weeks in the position.

It is also important to relate this job position with other similar ones, in which the same type of training, in order to attract people who have experience in those positions job.

mistakes to avoid

Job descriptions should be designed avoiding these errors.

1. Use internal terminology

It is advisable avoid using words that are too technical or very specific to the organization. It may be that there are words used daily by members of the company that, outside of it, lack meaning or are difficult to understand.

Clear terminology should be used, with no ambiguous meanings. When requesting the requirements for the job, the terms must be used widely used in the business world and, thus, make it clear what is requested of the interested party by the job.

2. Not involving the entire organization

When creating a job description, other departments involved and Human Resources must be contacted.

In this way, the function that the future candidate would perform can be better specified, in addition to developing a much more accurate and realistic description.

3. be unrealistic

In job descriptions, a common mistake is to describe the ideal employee instead of describing in a clear and detailed way what the offered job position is.

Perfection does not exist. Be realistic and explain what it takes to play the role, not make a wish list.

4. Do not update the description

The job description It is a flexible tool and must be adapted to the new needs of the company., in addition to the evolution of the labor market.

For this reason, it is necessary to periodically review and update this description, to ensure that it reflects the changes in the requirements requested by the company.

5. Using discriminatory language

In everyday language, the use of certain words and expressions can be accepted colloquially, but in a work context they can be interpreted as politically incorrect and discriminatory.

Bibliographic references:

• Etkin, J. (2000). Politics, Government and management of organizations, Buenos Aires, Editorial Prentice Hall. (Chapter 3: The factors of complexity).
• Schlemson, A. (2002). The talent strategy, Buenos Aires, Editorial Paidós. (Chapter 4 The meaning of work).