Searching for a new job is an arduous task that nobody really enjoys doing, but is necessary. Job descriptions offer prospective employees a glimpse into the job they are applying to. Job identification, job summaries, task statements, and working conditions are just some of the things outlined in a job description. In order for employers to match with the right candidates, they must keep job descriptions up to date and accurate in relation to the job they are hiring for.
Prior to college, when I was looking for a job I found it hard to navigate the job market. This was especially hard for a young person without any technical skills to speak of. However, while searching through the endless stream of job listings I found a listing that outlined a job that both paid well and was willing to teach me the skills I needed to succeed in the trades industry. This job was a roofer, where I would spend days stripping shingles off rooftops and put them back on; it seemed straightforward enough for me to feel comfortable accepting their eventual offer. When I got to the jobsite the first day of work I found that the job summaries and working conditions listed in the job description were nothing but blatant lies. I found working conditions to be terrible as we were short staffed, the work was nothing short of back-breaking, and I even had to use a hand-me-down hardhat that had been collecting the sweat of roofers previous. I remained at the job for the better part of a week before I realized that the “juice was not worth the squeeze.” The job description, which had listed the working conditions as ‘safe,’ was proving to be dangerous after I had seen someone slip and fall in subpar weather conditions, the task statements did not cover the full scope of my responsibilities, and we regularly worked more hours than advertised. After developing a gnarly rash on my forehead, probably from the hand-me-down hardhat, I decided I had had enough and quit.
My experience could have been avoided if I had been provided with an accurate job description. The owner of the company should have made a concerted effort to update the job’s description every year at minimum. I could only assume that the job tasks changed over the years due to increasing shortages of workers. So why not make the job description reflect this change? Additionally, adding the longer hours and an accurate description of the working conditions to the job description might not have been an attractive proposition, but a person who was already established in the field might have still been swayed to apply for the company. In general, I think this job might have appealed to someone who had their own personal protective equipment and tools and was experienced in the field, but the job description lead me (a newly graduated high school student) to believe that this job was right for me.