The key to effective recruitment is a quality job description. Only you, the employer, know what you want. You need to share that information with both the recruiter and the candidate
Writing a job description
Preparing a quality job description is an essential tool for deciding the scope of the work, advertising the job, and clarifying what applicants will have to do in the job. It can also help to assess a new recruit's performance and determine training needs.
A basic job description should include:
- the job title
- the reporting matrix, including the job title of the person to whom the employee will report and of those who will report to them, if any
- the location of the job
- a summary of the general nature and objectives of the job
- a list of the main duties or tasks of the employee
The person specification
A person specification is not a legal requirement but a guideline. It will be useful when writing a job advertisement or contacting recruitment agencies. You need to define the qualities you are looking for in a candidate. Include the knowledge, experience and skills you would like them to have, separating those which are essential for the job from those which are desirable. Avoid discrimination.
Writing job descriptions is not easy but there are plenty of third party tools to help you. Try www.job-description.co.uk which is a free to use tool that will help you through the process.
