A job description typically outlines the necessary skills, training and education needed by a potential employee. It will spell out duties and responsibilities of the job. Once a job description is prepared, it can serve a basis for interviewing candidates, orienting a new employee and finally in the evaluation of job performance. Using job descriptions is part of good management.
Reading descriptions
Descriptions help you decide if the job is one you want to pursue and, more importantly, if you have the skills and knowledge to apply for the role. This article aims to help you understand the requirements of a job description when applying for a job. Read descriptions thoroughly and ensure you respond to the criteria listed when making your application. If the role asks for knowledge of accounting, with four years of general management experience then make sure you have that under your belt. Also consider if this role is going to help you progress professionally in the direction you want to go, and if it will help you learn new skills for your personal development.
If the description contains a lot of business jargon and you have difficulty in understanding the role, contact the company's HR department and try to find out more about the type of work you will be doing. Ask specific questions about the role and responsibilities you will be performing. Use this information to edit your CV, alligning your strong points and experience with the key skills of the job description.
What to look out for
At this point, it's important to take note of any general statements that may influence your ability to perform in this position other than what they expect of you. An example of this is travel. If you can’t see this clearly in the description, make sure you ask about expectations. If you are travelling abroad, check if it will be expensed by the company and if travel time is on top of your core contracted working hours.
Another point to look out for is ‘flexible working hours’. While this might sound like you'll be able to set your own schedule, it may also mean you'll need to follow the company's schedule. The company may expect you to work extended hours to finish important projects. If you get to interview stage, try to clarify this point.
Make a note if the description says ‘willing to work with minimal supervision’. Aside from being an independent worker this may mean the company doesn’t have a manager in place and you may have to fend for yourself much of the time. This might not be what you're after, as it implies you will have to take on responsibilities beyond the scope of the role. While this serves a great opportunity to show apptitude, if you don'expect it, you might get into a situation where you're over worked.
The STAR method
If the job description lists ‘ability to identify and solve problems’ this could mean that you might be expected to turn things around at the company, which could be challenging. When you write your statement response, your evidence should be clear and relate as close as possible to the person specification. One way to go about this is to use the STAR method.
STAR stands for:
- Situation – present a recent challenge and situation in which you found yourself.
- Task – what did you have to achieve.
- Action – how you did it, challenges and end results.
- Result – what was the outcome of your actions? List what you achieved and whether you met your objectives. Also what you learned from the experience and what have you used this towards since.
Using this method helps you objectively find key elements of your past experience and your own aptitude to link to the job description. The last thing to do is check and double check your application. Don’t rely on a spell check tool - go through your punctuation, grammar and spelling thoroughly. Be cautious of copying and pasting from other job applications.
Ultimately, a job description, combined with the roles and responsibilities of a position, should provide the employee with clearly defined parameters within which to function, and an understanding of the organisation's standards that need to be met in order to effectively execute their tasks. If you ever have any concerns over your ability to fulfill these tasks, it should be discussed upfront with your recruiter, so that you can get the most up to date information you can to work with when you create your application and go on through to your interview.
By : Alexander Morrison