Why Effective Job Descriptions Make Good Business Sense
Most neophyte workers or even freshly graduated members of the
workforce will jump into jobs without knowing their job
descriptions. This practice is understandable. Many of these
fresh graduates are just glad to have gotten a job and will try
to avoid being to nosy or pushy when it comes to work. They may
think that 'demanding' a job description will be an added
negative to their employer's impression of them.
This could not be more wrong. Employers, in general, delight in
employees that ask about their job description. This shows that
the employee has an interest in knowing the specifics of his or
her job and would like to know what his or her specific
responsibilities are. Here are a few other reasons why job
descriptions are truly important to employees and even to those
who are searching for jobs.
1. Knowledge of Duties A job description will furnish you with a
list of your responsibilities and duties. This will ensure that
you know what jobs you are supposed to do and which jobs you are
not supposed to do. Just "guessing" is not an option. However,
you may be trying to do your best doing jobs that are not your
duty and responsibility to perform. The result of which, on
paper, is that you are not doing your job.
If you end up doing jobs that are not in your job description.
You will not be credited with those jobs.
2. Prevent Being Taken Advantage Of There will be instances when
as an employee you will be asked to do specific duties that are
not in your job description. It is perfectly legal to point to
your job description and say that the particular job does not
fall under your job description. You will, of course, have to do
this politely.
You may, of course, choose to do these duties. However, make it
clear that what you are doing is not within your job
description. You and your manager may then choose to talk about
whether these duties should be included and the proper
remuneration for such.
3. What Matters to Your Employer is Paper There have been
countless employees who have come forth saying, "we did our
best, worked over time, and gave our all, but did not receive
the proper acknowledgement." Unfortunately, employers will be
too busy to keep track of your performance. You may have to
submit reports on your progress and performance. This, of
course, should be based on your job description or else it will
not make any sense to your employer.