What do you cover in a job description?
Regardless of the role, there are essential elements for any job description. These include the job title, company description, job overview, and the required skills, competencies, qualifications and level of experience. Depending on the organisation and circumstances, the description could include the salary. For a short-term project-based role the description can include the project scope. At the end of this article, we include several job description examples to use as guides for creating your own job descriptions.
Job title
You want to be specific about this and use a common term that will be searched for and found in search results. If you’re looking for an office receptionist, don’t use a job title like Chief of First Impressions in the receptionist job description. Avoid words like “rockstar”, “guru” and “ninja”, such as “Digital Marketing Guru”. According to Indeed, such job titles are less effective for connecting with job seekers and filling roles. Instead use a more traditional title, such as “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Digital Marketing Manager”.
Company description
In this part, you’ll want to sell your company and explain why the candidate should apply to join your organisation. Highlight the benefits and opportunities of the position (such as leadership, professional development and career progression) before describing the nuts and bolts of the role.
Also, describe your company culture and values as applicants will want to know what it’s like to work in your organisation. Is your business more formal or casual? Does your organisation value teamwork or autonomous work more? Answering these types of questions will create an accurate picture of your culture and values to attract qualified applicants.
Job overview
In a few sentences, explain the major functions of the job and how it contributes to the company. The overview includes the day-to-day duties and responsibilities, the tasks performed, the key objectives to be achieved, and responsibilities (such as staff, resources and budgets).
Include knowledge, skills and experience required in the job description
Outline the skills and knowledge needed to successfully perform the job. This should include both technical and soft skills that are required. For roles requiring technical skills include the level of proficiency needed on the relevant tools and software. If there’s a tight job market for a role you need to fill, consider the possibility of enhancing skills while on the job.
Qualifications
This includes educational degrees, professional certifications, tickets and/or licences that are relevant for the role. If there are certain legal requirements for candidates to complete specific training, mention this in the job description.
Next steps in the job description
Make it clear what the next steps are for applying, such as submitting a cover letter and resume. Include the deadline for application submissions. In some cases, you might want to include a phone number and/or email address at the end of the job description for the applicant to get in touch if they have questions.
Sample job descriptions
Here are a few job description examples that include the recommended elements.
Administrator job description example
Catapult into the business world
- Great central location
- Flexible part-time hours
- Competitive salary
- Full-time role
Does the excitement and fast pace of the corporate world entice you? We have an exciting opportunity to offer a passionate Administrator/Client Services professional. Here’s a rare chance to enjoy a full-time role together with a dynamic challenge-rich working environment.
We are a nationally recognised leader in our industry. Every employee is handpicked for their ambition, dedication and “roll up the sleeves” attitude. In return, we offer great job stability, on-the-job training and career growth opportunities. Based in our Melbourne office, you will be a key part of its business support/client services/team name team reporting to the General Manager.
Here’s what you will be doing
In this role, you’ll support all aspects of our business. As such you will balance exceptional customer service with a variety of administrative tasks. You will confidently liaise with our internal and external customers, leveraging your superb interpersonal communication skills. Strong relationship-building will be both a strength and passion of yours as you strive to deliver win/win outcomes for our company and clients. You will complement this with strong word processing, data entry and time management skills.
Your recipe for success
You will be a highly organised and motivated self-starter. You will also possess:
- Proven customer service experience
- Intermediate grasp of MS Office
- Excellent communication skills on paper, in person or on the phone
- Demonstrated ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritise your workload
- Superior problem-solving skills and efficiency
- Strong adaptability and resilience
- A positive, can-do attitude.
We provide great training and progression opportunities together with enviable workplace culture. You could make all these workplace benefits your own. Make a smart career move and apply now. Shortlisted candidates only will be contacted for a formal interview.
Sales manager job description example
Sales overachiever? Make your mark in an organisation that has already made theirs!
- Opportunity to lead by example
- Established market share
- Terrific team
- Enviable working culture
- Achievable sales targets
- Bonuses and benefits, including salary packaging
The Opportunity
As a leader in our construction equipment, we’re seeking an assertive, consultative and high-achieving General Sales Manager to lead our Victorian sales team based in Melbourne.
This is a challenging opportunity for a candidate who has a demonstrated track record of improving overall operational performance achieving excellence in sales, ensuring cost-effective distribution and market expansion while developing themselves and their staff, positioning them for continued success and advancement within the company. Outstanding candidates who have experience leading and motivating teams within our industry are preferred.
The Role
You will manage all sales functions for Victoria. You will ensure sales targets and met and set new goals where necessary. You will spearhead ongoing improvements in operations, develop and motivate team members and ensure that the team is operating at peak performance levels. Ensuring a steady flow of new business is key, so you’ll need to build new relationships while maintaining and growing the existing ones.
Desired Skills and Experience
Candidates capable of leading teams, providing sound business solutions are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:
- 5 years of experience in the construction equipment industry
- 10 years in a sales leadership or management role
- A consultative and solutions-based approach to selling
- Strong negotiation skills
- Sound commercial acumen
- Effective planning of sales activity to target objectives, plans and budgets
- A demonstrated track record in developing/executing sales and marketing strategies
- Strong industry contacts are desirable
- Excellent organisational and leadership team-building skills
- Exceptional relationship-building skills and demonstrated ability to manoeuvre through a client’s organisational structure and sell across various levels of the business.
- A dedicated customer focus
- A passion for success
- Understanding of the construction industry, its specific motivations and drivers.
Interested?
This role represents an incredible opportunity to make your mark in an organisation that’s already made theirs! If you have what it takes for this role, apply now.
Web administrator and IT support job description example
Are you a wonder with website administration?
An illustrious IT problem-solver?
Opportunity is knocking.
- Competitive salary package
- Full-time position
- Career progression opportunities
Wield your web and IT worth
We’re looking for a skilled motivated Web Administrator and IT Support to join their team. Based in Perth and working with our IT Systems Manager, you will enjoy a welcoming workplace culture with great career progression opportunities.
Here’s what you will be doing
You will drive a systematic approach to ensure the currency and high performance of website content. Your great communication skills will be at the fore as you edit website content. At the back end you will make administrative changes to the site as required. Many of our staff are key stakeholders in the website, so your terrific interpersonal skills will shine as you educate and train staff to enhance website integrity. You will also work closely with Customer Support to respond to basic set-up requests and user support issues.
What you need for success
To be considered you will have:
- Sound working knowledge of:
- Squiz Matrix and WordPress CMS
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Adobe. PHP and MySQL
- Managing user support requests via Zen Desk or similar
- Twitter, Facebook and social media
- Website administration
- Effective written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
Enhance your IT career – apply now. Shortlisted candidates only will be contacted for a formal interview by 30 September.
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