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Home » When Writing Job Duties for Former Job, Should I Use Past Tense?

When Writing Job Duties for Former Job, Should I Use Past Tense?

So you’ve just been laid off, and you’re searching for a new job. Congrats! Now that you have a chance to sit down and plan, it’s important to find out what you can and cannot do. One of the first things you’ll want to do is to write down your job duties. It’s important to understand what you’re supposed to be doing, because there will be lots of new things to learn. You don’t want to end up doing the same things over and over again. It’s also important to understand what you’re not supposed to be doing, so you can’t ruin other peoples’ jobs. They’re doing them, but you’re not supposed to do them. It’s a good idea to write down your job description, as it will help you understand what you’re actually accountable for.

What Am I Accountable For?

Every job has different responsibilities. However, in most cases, there is someone who is accountable for ensuring that the company is performing up to par.

Let’s take the sales job as an example. The sales manager is responsible for making sure that all of the salespeople are doing their part to generate revenue. If revenue is down, the manager will typically get the blame. Even if the salespeople are doing their job well and are generating the revenue, if the manager does not meet his or her numbers, then it’s generally a matter of time before you’ll be getting a call from Human Resources.

That’s why it’s important to write down your job description. The moment you have it memorized, it will be easier to keep track of your responsibilities. You don’t want to start scrambling to keep track of everything as soon as you start working. That’s why a job description is so important. It will help you keep your head above the water when you’re learning the ropes.

Past Tense

When you’re writing your job description, it’s important to use the past tense. For example, you might write: “I will ensure that all of the salespeople are following company protocol and are doing their part to generate revenue.”

This is not bad English, however, it means that you are accountable for making sure that everything is done the way it was done before. As a new hire, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on anything. At the end of the day, you’re trying to ensure that everything is written in the past tense. This will help you keep track of what needs to be done and who’s responsible for doing it. It will also help you follow existing processes and procedures.

Future Tense

When you’re writing your job description for a future job, it’s important to use the future tense. For example, you might write: “I will ensure that all of the salespeople are following company protocol and are doing their part to generate revenue.”

This is not bad English, however, it means that you are accountable for making sure that everything is done the way it will be done. For example, if the revenue is down or there are some complaints from customers, you’ll have to take responsibility for it. This is why it’s important to write down your job description. You don’t want to come into a job with blinders on and not be able to see all of the possibilities that comes with it. For example, if you’re a manager and you don’t have a territory, you might not know what to do with all of that extra free time. You might end up doing nothing, which is why it’s important to write things down.

What Am I Not Accountable For?

Every job has things that you’re not responsible for. As a general rule, your manager will tell you what your responsibilities are, but it’s also important to know what you’re not responsible for. Sometimes we get so focused on our responsibilities that we forget about what isn’t ours to take care of. For example, if your sales manager does not like to spend a lot of time training new salespeople, but you’re a talented salesperson and you’re passionate about doing your best, then it might be worth discussing with your manager if you can take on some of the responsibility of training others. Even if it’s not up to you directly, if it’s within the scope of your job, you might be able to take on some of the responsibility. If your manager does not have time to stop by your desk to check on your progress, but they’re also aware that you’re responsible for follow-up and closing the deals, then it’s up to them to make sure that you follow through. Make sure that they know that you’re listening and that you’re going to do your best to make sure that everything is okay. Your manager isn’t always going to be there to help, and you don’t want to get stuck with something that you’re not responsible for. It’s also important to remember what you’re not responsible for cleaning. For example, if there are a lot of reports that need to be filed, but the accounts payable department is not your responsibility, then you’re not responsible for filing those reports. When it comes to your work responsibilities, your manager will have the final say on what is and isn’t your responsibility. However, you have to own up to what you’re not responsible for. This will help you avoid any complications that might arise from trying to take on responsibilities that are not yours to handle. 

Responsibilities Versus Duties

When you’re writing your job description, it’s important to keep in mind that it is going to be read by other people. Even if your manager is the only person who sees it, they’re still likely to ask other people to check out your work. This is why it’s important to write things in the past tense and use proper English. Make sure that your responsibilities are all written in the past tense and make sure that all of the proper English is used. Everything you write will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being unacceptable and 5 being excellent. If you want to improve your rating, be sure to include any pertinent comments or questions in your review of the job duties.

Even if you think that you’re doing everything correctly and the job duties seem like a routine task, it doesn’t hurt to ask questions and make sure that you’re not missing anything important. Sometimes, the small things that you might not notice can make a huge difference in the end. For example, if you’re sending out a mass email and accidentally use the word ‘yet’ instead of ‘then’, it may seem like a harmless typo at first, but when that email is read by a customer, it could potentially ruin your company’s reputation. Make sure to proofread everything multiple times before sending it out. Even if you proofread it once and think that it’s perfect, you might find something else that you missed when reading it through your personal lens. To avoid any embarrassing situations, be sure to ask for help when you need it.