Writing job descriptions is like going to the dentist. You know you need to do it, and you know it’s good for you, but it’s just no fun. Worse still, if you screw it up (the job descriptions, that is—not the dentist’s visit), you can put your organization at risk for costly job misclassification challenges—or a disability bias lawsuit. Today, we’ll examine 3 rules you should ignore at your peril, as well as explain a tool that will make your job-description-writing duties a whole lot easier.
Here are 3 rules you should consider unbreakable when writing your job descriptions:
1. Have a plan in place. You’d be amazed at how many employers write job descriptions on an ad hoc basis, or (worse still) not at all. You should have a definite plan in place both for writing new job descriptions and reviewing existing ones. The project also needs to be owned by someone specific so it doesn’t become a hot potato that gets bounced around the office.
One of your most dreaded tasks—done! Click here to see why job descriptions, formerly a tedious time-suck, are now as easy as 1-2-3 with BLR’s Job Description Manager.
2. Include all essential elements. If key elements are missing from the job description, its effectiveness suffers—and so does your protection should your job description ever be challenged in court. At a minimum, your job descriptions should include the following elements:
- Job identification—Describes the job in a word or two
- Job summary or purpose—A brief narrative of the job that highlights its general characteristics
- Essential functions and additional responsibilities—Those duties that must be performed in the job
- Accountabilities—Not only the end results achieved when job duties are performed satisfactorily, but also specific standards for measuring performance
3. Describe the job accurately. Many job descriptions either exaggerate or downplay the importance of the job; are unhelpfully vague; or bear little resemblance to the actual work being performed on a regular basis by the person currently holding the job. All of these are serious flaws that can undermine the effectiveness of your job descriptions.
So where are you at with your job descriptions these days? Are they complete? Up to date? If they’re not—or if you’ve never even written them—you’re not alone. Thousands of companies fall short in this area.
It’s easy to understand why. Job descriptions are not simple to do—what with updating and management and legal review. Wouldn’t it be great if they were available and already written for you?
Actually, they are. We have more than 2,400 ready to go, covering every common position in any organization, from receptionist right up to president. They’re ready to roll in an online BLR tool called the Job Description Manager.
The Job Description Manager tool provides you with:
- More than 2,400 job titles—makes your work easy
- A customizable program that fits your specific needs
- 24/7 access from any computer, anywhere in the world
- Online job description storage for easy access and updating — your latest copy is just clicks away.
The ability to easily download and print, or even email, your job description
In just one click, you can produce a standardized, thorough job description:
- Include relevant tasks, behaviors, and physical requirements for that job
- Add, edit, delete or reorganize easily and quickly
- Create your own personal job description library
- View salary data
- Produce PDFs and printed versions with a click of your mouse
Click here to give the Job Description Manager it a test-drive, free of charge or obligation.
Once you try it, you’ll be able to check “writing job descriptions” off your most-dreaded tasks list forever. Now all you need to worry about is that trip to the dentist.