When looking for a job, it is very important to prepare a good resume, since it is the first impression we offer to the employer.
But, not only those looking for work must prepare well for the first thing that those looking to fill a job will see from them. Organizations themselves must ensure that they give an image of the work they offer.
Job Descriptions They are a crucial document for companies, since they allow them to make themselves known and make it easier for them to find the right candidate.
In this article we explain what these descriptions are like, in addition to explaining various aspects that must be included in this type of document and some common mistakes that employers make when offering a job.
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 in an exhaustive manner the functions and responsibilities that the worker will perform and what services or goods they will offer.
It offers an overview of employment and serves as a guide for future workers.
Structure the organization
Details how the company is 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 must have the following well-defined elements.
1. Job title
It should be clear and attractive, and that serves to have a first idea of what role the employee will perform in the company.
2. Objectives of the position
It should be clear What will be the functions of the worker? Your job role and the description of the objectives that are intended to be achieved with your hiring.
3. Description of tasks
The activities that the worker is going to perform must be clear, and indicate how frequently 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 is also worth indicating whether interdepartmental contact is carried out very frequently or, on the contrary, these are rare 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 should be clear how many people will be above and below him in terms of the tasks he is going to perform, and under the orders of who he is.
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 cost-effective to move to a residence paid for by the company.
7. Documentation
It should detail what documentation must be presented 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 it is worked, facilities for people with some type of disability…
9. Danger and risks
There are certain jobs in which there are some risks, such as in the field of medicine (e.g. contagion), construction (e.g. workplace accident) or safety (e.g. assault). It should be clear What are they, and how does the organization usually deal with them?
10. Time required
Work hours are one of the aspects that many job seekers look at first. It must be clear how many hours are dedicated per day and week what time the work day starts and when it ends.
You must also indicate which days you work, whether only on weekdays or if there are also some weekends and holidays. In addition, it must be clear whether there are vacation days compatible with the main holidays.
11. Requirements and training
Nowadays it is common for new workers to be offered training upon starting work In addition, the job description must make it clear what knowledge is required for the job and whether the first weeks on the job will be facilitated.
It is also important to relate this job with other similar jobs, in which the same type of training is required, in order to attract people who have experience in those jobs.
Job descriptions should be designed to avoid these errors.
1. Use internal terminology
It is advisable avoid using words that are too technical or very specific to the organization There may be words used daily by members of the company that, outside of it, lack meaning or are difficult to understand.
Clear terminology should be used, without ambiguous meanings. When requesting the requirements for the job, the terms widely used in the business world should be used and, thus, make it clear what is being asked of the person interested in the job.
2. Not involving the entire organization
When creating a job description, You must resort to other departments involved and to Human Resources
In this way, it is possible to better specify the function that the future candidate would perform, 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 clearly and in detail what the job offered is.
Perfection does not exist. You should be realistic and explain what is needed to perform the role, not make a wish list.
4. Not updating the description
Job description It is a flexible tool and must adapt 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 changes in the requirements requested by the company.
5. Use discriminatory language
In everyday language, the use of certain words and expressions may be accepted colloquially, but in a work context they may be interpreted as politically incorrect and discriminatory.
