Job descriptions why are they important

Attributes needed for the position. If the position involves the use of machinery or computers , spell out what type of machines or software the employee will use. Also detail any technical or educational requirements that may be critical or desired. This is the place to provide some insights into the type of work environment you are attempting to maintain. Is it pure business, or must the person be able to contribute to an overall spirit of the organization?

Provide details on the reporting and organizational structure. This will help the employee better understand how their activities fit into the total organization. Evaluation criteria. The more specific you can get the better.

Writing this section will probably enable you to define what is most important for the organization as well as the employee. Try to make sure the evaluation criteria of the position will promote the type of activities to enhance the success of the business.

Also provide details on when evaluations will take place. Including a range instead of a specific figure will give you more flexibility, but most people will feel they should be at the top of the range. It is usually better to have a specific dollar amount, especially if you are giving the job description to the employee.

Most people assume job descriptions are written primarily for employees. However, the importance of job descriptions for employers cannot be underestimated. For employers, writing and maintaining job descriptions must be an ongoing task. In the same way companies must re-evaluate budgets, workflows, and processes, they should also re-assess job descriptions, at least annually, to ensure those position requirements are up to date and consistent with current industry trends.

Here are five key reasons companies should establish a good practice of writing and maintaining up-to-date and relevant job descriptions:. Not only will the job description help a potential employee know if the position is a good fit for him or her, it will also guarantee the most qualified applicant pool for the employer.

In the end, the more detailed and descriptive job descriptions can be, the better it will be for attracting and retaining high-quality employees who will love their jobs.

A well-written job description will establish a solid set of expectations for employers to communicate to their employees.

When employees have a concrete understanding of their responsibilities, they will work more efficiently and effectively in their respective roles. An awareness of expectations for employees also helps employers properly evaluate performance.

If a job description is vague or open to interpretation, it will be more difficult for an employer to address a lack of performance or areas of improvement when it comes time for constructive critique or review.

When employees understand the specific demands of their jobs, chances are that productivity will be higher. Use a job description as a point of reference in writing job postings. The job description should be the most complete description of what a given role entails and what relationships it has to other company roles or with customers. Job descriptions are where HR and managers should be able to get the details for the posting — but they are only helpful when they are up to date and relevant.

Job descriptions can also justify why one employee was chosen over another or why one position is classified as exempt while another position is classified as non-exempt. Job descriptions should include details to support an exemption, including education or degree requirements, and can be helpful or harmful! However, to be helpful, the job description must be accurate.

A well-written job description establishes a solid set of expectations for employers to communicate to employees about the job. When employees have a strong understanding of their responsibilities, they generally work more efficiently and effectively in their respective roles. A job description gives an employee a clear and concise resource to be used as a guide for job performance.

An employee knows exactly what is expected of them, which gives the employee a chance to improve their skills and increase productivity. A good job description can also help employees understand what tasks are most important and prevent them from placing undue emphasis on less important jobs. Likewise, a supervisor can use a job description as a measuring tool to ensure that the employee is meeting job expectations.

The Americans with Disabilities Act ADA and many state anti-discrimination laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to employees with covered disabilities, provided the employee can perform the essential functions of the job. A well-written and up-to-date job description can be key to responding to a request for accommodation. Job descriptions should provide accurate documentation of job requirements, physical and mental demands, and working conditions.

This information should be defined before any employment action to ensure that decisions are non-discriminatory and based on job-related factors.