A job description is a written description of the responsibilities of a particular job. It is usually included in an employee handbook or in a collateral document such as a job application or cover letter. Writing a job description can be an easy way to identify the specific skills required for the job. It can also be a useful tool for employees who are looking for a new job or for potential employers who want to hire someone with the right skills. However, it can be tricky to write a good description if you are not sure of the first piece of information you should include. In this article, we will discuss how you can write a good job description even if you are not very familiar with the subject matter.
The Pyramid Method
One of the simplest ways to write a good job description is to use the pyramid method. Simply put, the pyramid method involves starting at the top of the structure and working your way down. At the top of the structure, you will write a general description of the job. This general description should include everything you know about the job, including the responsibilities, the hours, and any relevant qualifications. For example, if you are writing a description of a legal assistant job, you would write something like this:
“Under the general guidance of a senior legal partner, the responsibilities of a legal assistant include assisting with case prep and filing, discovery, hearings, trials, negotiations, and appeals. The position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in law and two years of experience in a general law firm.”
From here, you would work your way down the pyramid. For each level, you will add more and more information until you reach the bottom. For example, if you are writing about the responsibilities of a legal assistant, you would start by listing a couple of the most important tasks they will be responsible for. Then, you would write about one or two of the key factors that will affect their success in performing these tasks. Finally, at the bottom of the pyramid, you would write a list of the tools and software they will need to do their jobs effectively. Using this method will make your job description very comprehensive and structured, but it also limits the information you can include. For example, if you are writing a job description for a community outreach worker, you would not write about the litigation responsibilities of the job because you do not have enough information about that area. You could, however, write something like this:
“The primary responsibilities of a community outreach worker include providing information about legal and financial affairs to low-income individuals, promoting legal awareness and education, and referring people to legal services. The ideal candidate for this job will have a strong knowledge of local courts and legal procedures, experience in conducting interviews, and a passion for helping others.”
This is just one example of how you can use the pyramid method to write a good job description. You can also use this method to write the responsibilities of a paralegal job or a legal secretary job. The key is to identify the most relevant information about the job and to start from the top.
Key Elements to Include
When writing a job description, you want to include information about the responsibilities of the job, the skills required, and the qualifications of the person you are hiring. You should also think about how you will measure the performance of the employee. For example, if you are hiring a paralegal to work on a specific case, you might want to include the volume of work they will be handling in the description. The volume of work is a key factor in determining their productivity and value to the firm. If you do not know what would be the appropriate measurements to use, ask your senior managers or human resources department for advice. They will be able to point you in the right direction.
The Case-Based Method
Another method for writing a job description involves using case studies to demonstrate the responsibilities of the job. This could be done by presenting a sample of the previous work the employee has done, or by using real-world examples to describe the essential tasks of the job. For example, you can use case studies to describe the legal assistant responsibilities as follows:
“As a legal assistant, you will be working on a variety of cases ranging from small family hearings to large corporate trials. The types of cases you will be working on will depend on the needs of the client. Typically, these cases involve handling documents, negotiating contracts, and dealing with other attorneys and clients. A successful legal assistant needs to be able to multitask and be able to work effectively without supervision.”
One of the advantages of this method over the pyramid method is that it allows you to write about more situations that can arise. Also, by including real-world examples, you can provide the reader with information about situations that are similar to those that will arise in the future. For example, if you are writing about a legal assistant job, you can use case studies to describe the typical day and the responsibilities of the job, as well as the skills required.
However, this case-based method does have its limitations. If you have not worked in a law office before, demonstrating your previous work is probably the best way to go. This will give the reader a good sense of what to expect from the employee and will increase the chance of securing the job.
The Written Word
A job description should not only include the information about the responsibilities of the job, the skills required, and the qualifications of the person you are hiring; it should also include the working conditions and the pay. Naturally, all these elements should be relevant for the position you are hiring for. If you are looking for a job in corporate America, you should know what their general culture is like and what they look for in an employee. This will determine the type of person you should be looking to hire and will also help you write a better job description.
Even if you are not looking for a job in corporate America, you should still include these elements in the job description because they will make the employee feel more connected to the position and will increase the chance of the employee applying for the job.
In summary, when writing a job description, you want to provide the reader with as much information as possible. Do not worry too much about coming up with an exact formula for an ideal job description; instead, write something that will make the reader understand what the job entails. Finally, use the resources available to you, whether that is your own personal network or internet search, to find the information you need. If you do not know where to start, ask your senior management team for help or contact a professional career coach for advice.