𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬, 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
An organization is like a machine with many moving parts. For it to work efficiently, there must be the right people placed in the right roles.
This requires properly defining and documenting different jobs in the organization through job analysis, job descriptions and job specifications.
These tools form the foundation of key HR functions like recruitment, compensation, performance management and employee development.
In this article, we’ll provide an in-depth overview of what job analysis, descriptions and specifications are, why they matter. We’ll also discuss how to create them accurately for hiring and managing talent effectively.
Job analysis is a systematic process of gathering, documenting and analyzing information about the responsibilities, tasks, skills, abilities, knowledge area, and work context associated with a
particular job. It forms the basis for defining the right requirements for successfully performing that job.
The key objectives of job analysis are to:
● Identify the core duties and responsibilities that a job entails
● Determine the specialized skills, credentials or competencies needed for the job
● Recognize the key performance indicators to measure outcomes for the job
● Understand the environmental/cultural context and physical demands of the job
● Identify machines, tools, equipment, and technologies used in the job
Information for job analysis is gathered in several ways – employee surveys, questionnaires, interviews with job incumbents, observation of workers, and review of policies and procedures.
Specialized jobs may also require analyzing industry standards.
The deliverable from job analysis is documentation that comprehensively describes the job – this is called job description.
𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
An effective job description concisely summarizes the key outputs, responsibilities, required skills and qualifications for a particular job. It serves as a guiding document for recruiting, onboarding, training and performance management.
Key elements that a job description includes are:
● Job title and department
● Overall purpose/objective of the job (summary statement)
● The scope of role and position in org structure
● Key duties and responsibilities
● Interactions with other jobs/departments
● Educational qualifications and specialized certification
● Technical/software skills needed
● Soft skills or behavioral competencies required
● Physical or sensory abilities required
A well-written job description is detailed yet easy to grasp for both job seekers and employees. It should describe both day-to-day activities as well as rare responsibilities that the role may
entail. The language used should be clear and use common industry terminology.
Here’s an example snippet from a job description:
Summary Statement: Responsible for building and leading high-performing sales teams to drive sustainable business growth and achieve revenue targets for the organization’s products/services. Reports to the Head of Sales.
Roles and Responsibilities:
● Develop and implement strategic sales plans to achieve growth targets
● Manage end-to-end sales cycle for major accounts/partnerships
● Coach and mentor junior sales team members to build capabilities
● Work closely with marketing to generate quality sales leads
● Monitor competition landscape and market trends to identify opportunities
Notice how the summary provides an overview while the responsibilities dive into details of core duties.
Job specification is about defining the human requirements – the candidate profile with the skills, traits and experience needed to fulfill those duties.
Job specification details:
● Minimum or required educational qualifications
● Job-related certifications needed
● Hard skills and soft skills required
● Physical attributes like stamina if applicable
● Minimum years and type of experience desired
● Specialized knowledge needed
As part of job specification, you can also indicate “preferred but not required” qualifications to find candidates who may exceed expectations for the role.
The aim is to outline an optimal candidate profile that increases the chances of identifying the right people for long-term success in the job. Paired with the job description, the spec allows for informed hiring decisions based on merit rather than subjective impressions alone.
For example, part of a job spec for a sales manager role could be:
Required Qualification and Experience:
● Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or relevant field
● Proven experience of 5+ years successfully managing corporate sales teams
● Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor junior sales resources
● Strong track record of achieving revenue targets in past roles
● Subject matter expertise and network in the technology industry
Preferred Qualifications:
● Master’s degree in Business or relevant certification
● Background working with partners/alliances programs
● International sales experience
𝟖 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬, 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Here are some key best practices to create accurate and impactful job analysis documentation:
1. Get input from diverse stakeholders: Speak with not just incumbents but their managers and internal customers to get a balanced perspective on the job.
2. Focus on the job, not person: Document only the role itself rather than capabilities of the current person in the job which could be subjective.
3. Use clear, concise language: Write descriptions suited not just for internal HR but also external candidates. Use common industry terminology.
4. Standardize key elements: Use consistent sections and structure across job docs for different roles to enable comparison.
5. Review and update regularly: Revisit docs as business needs evolve to ensure relevance. You can also build review cadence.
6. Collaborate with the compensation team: Align job analysis with pay scale considerations for competitive and fair compensation.
7. Leverage software tools: Use online templates and organizational collaboration tools to easily create, review and update descriptions.
8. Incorporate compliance needs: Ensure job documentation meets all the mandatory and other regulatory requirements.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Getting job analysis right has far-reaching impact across the employee lifecycle:
● Strategic workforce planning: The details help assess workforce capacity and identify skill gaps.
● Candidate screening: Job specs enable assessing if applicants have the required credentials and experience to shortlist.
● Interviewing and selection: Structured, standardized questions can be based on requirements in description.
● Onboarding/training: New hires understand role expectations right from day one. Learning is aligned to needs.
● Performance reviews: Measurable evaluation relies on key outputs and metrics captured in description.
● Succession planning: Required qualifications help identify and develop suitable internal candidates to fill critical roles.
● Compensation management: Job analysis enables pay to be competitive based on “going rate” for matching skill-sets and demands.
However, it is also important to choose the right platform to find experienced or fresher jobs. GradSiren is your destination if you are looking for IT jobs in India. The platform also provides you numerous opportunities for IT jobs in USA that fits your requirements.
Job analysis, descriptions and specifications provide the strong informational backbone for managing your human capital in alignment with organizational goals. Getting it right does demand diligence and collaboration across teams, but pays off manifold in building a productive, thriving workforce.
As per best practices, incorporate input from diverse stakeholders, use clear and concise language, integrate regular reviews and ensure consistency across roles. By laying this robust groundwork, organizations can make smart, ethical decisions in acquiring and supporting talent.
