Tips for Writing Job Descriptions

Why do we have job descriptions?

• So that employees know what is expected of them.
• To help employees understand how their work makes a contribution to the department & the College as a whole.
• To communicate with applicants during the hiring process.
• To define the minimum education and experience that would make someone qualified for a position.
• To assist with determining appropriate compensation levels for the position.
• To define the essential elements of the position, used if the employee requests changes to their duties as an accommodation under the ADA.

NOTE:  The job description is an official document, therefore it should be written in appropriate language.  Personal characteristics such as age, gender, race, religion, should never be used to define a position.

A job description should be:

• Clear
• Written in straight-forward, simple language
• Broadly define key responsibilities. (An appropriate level of detail can usually be achieved in 2 pages or less.)
• Shows how the position supports the strategic plan/mission of the department and the College
• Identifies essential tasks in the appropriate field. (A job function is considered "essential" when performance of the function is the reason that the job exists. A function may be "essential" when: the number of employees available to perform   the function is limited, the function requires specialized skills, the function occupies a large percentage of time, and failure to perform the function may have serious consequences.)

 A job description should not be:

• A list of tasks
• Include personal characteristics such as age, gender, race, or religion. These items should never be used to define a position.