What is a job description and why do they matter?

I have really learned a lot so far on my journey into Human resource management. So far we have all learned about topics like Turnover, Job Satisfaction, and Engagement, EEO & Diversity, Job Analysis, and Job Design, & Workforce Planning.

Really the bulk of what we have learned to do is make people happy and more efficient when working at a company. During our lecture, we gained insights into the roles of a what managers should do to make the workplace structured better. Job descriptions are written documents that outline an employees fundamental responsibilities and expectations depending on their position in the company. These documents should encompass key details like job the title, department, and position. It is also very important that the job description clarifies the job’s purpose, necessary competencies, physical requirements, and working conditions so that employees and potential hires know the standards at which they are supposed to live up to. Although job descriptions are sometimes a daunting task to create and maintain they are a necessity in the realm of Human Resources. The job descriptions should be updated regularly to continue to better convey what is expected of employees as the article A Job Worth Doing magnifies.

In today’s dynamic work landscape where remote and flexible work arrangements have become increasingly prevalent, job descriptions and managers alike should adapt to accommodate these changes. Ensuring that job descriptions that accurately reflect the flexible or nonflexible nature of a job to employees is crucial especially to prospective hires. Job descriptions should highlight the fun and interesting parts of the job while not minimizing the “negative” aspects. The perfect job description should ” find the perfect balance between providing enough detail so candidates understand the role and your company while keeping your description concise” according to Indeed.

https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/Pages/0113-job-descriptions.aspx

https://www.indeed.com/hire/how-to-write-a-job-description