Anatomy of a Job Description

 

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, review this week’s readings and Weekly Lecture.

The job description plays an important role for job evaluations, performance reviews, and the success of the individual within the organization. All areas of the process rely on the proper analysis and construction of the job description. There are times that the job description and the job posting are one in the same. For this exploration, we are going to look at job description templates and job postings and determine the effectiveness of the design and the impact on intended outcomes. Be sure to do some research on the key differences between job description and job postings.

Discover:

Job Descriptions: Search online for a minimum of two different job descriptions from various sources. Save and attach descriptions to your initial post. (If there is no option to save, copy and paste the whole job description template into a Word document and attach.)

Job Postings: Search online for a minimum of two job ads or postings from various sources. Copy and paste each job ad and/or posting to a Word document, and attach it to your initial post.

Dissect:

Job Descriptions: Review each job description template, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each. Compare and contrast the templates, looking for good aspects and poor aspects of each. What is missing for a solid understanding of what the job requires?

Job Postings: Review each posting, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each posting. Compare and contrast the postings, and define the unimportant pieces of the ads and the information that is lacking for a solid understanding of the expectations. Will the job posting attract the appropriate candidate pool? Why or why not?

Diagnose:

After reviewing job description templates and job postings, discuss the various components of the job description template and a job posting. Is it appropriate to use one template for both tasks?

As a human resource manager, assess the importance of job description templates and job posts in human resource planning and how that planning fits within a larger corporate strategy. What design would you recommend when posting for a position?

No word count

Week3 Lecture

In Week 3, students will evaluate various job classifications as well as compare job descriptions versus job postings. Additionally, students will utilize job analysis data for the development of a job design.

As we are learning, there are many variables that drive behaviors and outcomes within the organization. Knowledge and confidence are the Human Resource Manager’s best friends. Having the right material at the right time is the first step to success. This week, students will review jobs and their classifications. You will find that much of your time will be dedicated to researching and locating the right tool for the task at hand. As you move through the weekly activities, you will discover that there may be more than one right answer. Selecting the best option and supporting your reasoning will be an ongoing responsibility during your role as the Human Resource Manager.

The Job Description

The job description is the foundation for establishing expectations and accountability for the employee. It is the Human Resource Manager’s responsibility to determine the key ingredients of the job description, the order in which they should appear, and the format used to both describe the position and how to post the position.

What does ‘the order they should appear’ mean? Well, each position has a purpose within the organization and each position has certain qualities that must be found in the applicant. When laying out the job description, are skills the most important aspect of the position or is education the most important area? The layout of the job description attracts the applicant to the position. If education is the most important but not included until the very bottom of the description, the applicant may miss the education aspect of the position and apply for something they are not qualified to perform.

Mader-Clark (2103) walks you through every element of the job description and provides sound reasoning and examples to help you develop an understanding as to the reason why structure is important.

Discover, Dissect, and Diagnose: Anatomy of a Job Description

The job description plays an important role for job evaluations and performance reviews, as well as in the success of the individual within the organization. All areas of the process rely on the proper analysis and construction of the job description. There are times that the job description and the job posting are one in the same. However, there are some key differences between a job description and a job postings.

There is a distinct difference between a job description and a job posting. The Human Resource Manager needs to review the template and explore the importance of various content needed to accomplish the intended task. As the Human Resource Manager, this task is a matter of research and decision-making.

This task defines the characteristics of the job description and how they apply to the development of a job posting. The HRM must determine the necessary contents of each to achieve the desired outcome. You will develop a comfort level with terminology and application.

Help wanted advertisement reads: Help Wanted. Wanted for immediate employment: Graduate of a relevant course or technical competency, no experience required. Meticulous, honest, loyal, punctual, dependable. Willing to pur in long hours, lacks interest in office politics or gossip. Duties include repetitive activities, detailed observation, and organization. Competitive salary with benefits package. Write to…

Retrieved from

http://jobshouts.com/how-to-create-a-help-wanted-ad/

It is not enough to analyze and design a job, the position must be properly classified and meet all legal requirements. Misclassifications are problematic and costly for employers and employees. It is the responsibility of HR to evaluate the position and determine the appropriate classification for the job and the resulting compensation category.

References

http://jobshouts.com/how-to-create-a-help-wanted-ad/