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Purpose of Job Descriptions
A job description can best be thought of as a blueprint of the position. It outlines the essential duties and responsibilities that are expected of the employee and the basic puipose of the work the employee is expected to perform. It also defines accountability in an organisation, which helps to prevent overlap of duties and assigns task responsibility.
Job descriptions are an essential tool in the hiring process. They describe the skills and knowledge required by the position as well as character traits and physical requirements. This gives a job seeker an idea of what kind of person the position is intended for and helps the employer identify the best applicant for the position. A job description can also serve as a yardstick in examining an organisation's own workforce to identify what it is lacking.
A job description can aid in defining reporting relationships. It outlines the firm's organisational structure and the position's level of authority and span of control. An effectively written job description can give an individual a clue as to whether the organisation is bureaucratic or flexible in nature. It also helps the employee understand who he/she must report to, who must report to them and what responsibilities the employee has jurisdiction over.
They also provide information in the performance appraisal process. The essential functions listed in a job description is closely scrutinised by management when deciding compensation levels. It identifies the key areas management must scrutinise when rewarding an employee. A manager can read the job description of the successive position to judge if the candidate is the right person for a promotion. Employees can be compared to other employees in competing companies by comparing their job descriptions.
The requirements in a job description can also help employers when creating new positions or when trying to fill vacant ones. They can also help employees in deciding their career paths. An employee can read the job descriptions of the position they hope to attain and train themselves according to the education and skill required by their target position.
Organising employees based upon the duties they perform is another essential function of job descriptions. This helps to organise and classify their workforce. Job titles can be assigned more easily...