The Job Description

Tips when writing the job description:

         Think of the duties you want the person in the role to hold rather than describing the person in the roles preferred responsibilities

         Try to be concise and factual as possible

         What is the broad picture of the job and how does this clearly distinguish from other jobs

         Avoid jargon ensure the sentence starts with a doing verb eg. Plans and Organises, Prepares, Maintains, Produces, Provides, Monitors, Creates, Develops

         Use verbs to distinguish responsibilities ie Manages, Supervises, Responsible for

         Describe what is done after the verb as succinctly as possible ie updates  and sets team targets, Communicates (think in relation to whom, what, how)

         State briefly the purpose of what is done in terms of what needs to be achieved.  Eg Sets team targets to ensure end of year financial target is achieved for the business

         Emphasise the outputs in terms of results expected so it will be easy to agree performance objectives e.g. Prepare and implement skills development programmes to meet the business needs, To maintain an efficient sales follow up system

Do not put targets as they are a moving output which will need flexible control

Do not put comments such as ‘must achieve sales target’ – this does not describe the job it is purely an output.  Describe the activity required to ensure that targets will be met

Related Topics

Writing Job Descriptions


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