by Corporate Relations and Business Strategy Staff
Whether you're just thinking about hiring office staff, have a well-established team of employees or need to reorganize your practice, job descriptions help communicate the essential nature of a job and lay the foundation for effective communication and streamlined practice operations. This article outlines core elements of a job description, provides tips for their effective construction and highlights useful resources to get you started.
A job description is a written synopsis of a job that specifies what work needs to be done, how it should be completed, the typical working conditions and the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job successfully. In short, a job description should clearly communicate the most important aspects of the job and the major duties you expect an employee to accomplish.
A good job description not only provides clarity for the jobholder, it is also an important tool for your practice. A good job description can:
- help you identify qualified job applicants
- lead to more effective and efficient hiring and selection practices
- facilitate the process of assigning monetary value for compensation
- help with employee training and development
- provide adequate structure for employees
- prevent role ambiguity and diffusion of responsibility
- serve as a valuable resource for performance reviews
- improve employee retention
- help protect you legally
Potential job applicants make decisions about applying for a position based on the job description; therefore, carefully constructing it will help you attract the most qualified people. While a well-written job description serves as a springboard for successful performance, a poorly developed description can hinder communication and leave employees unsure of your expectations.