How important is a job description in the recruitment and selection process? what factors in a jd would be critical to selecting the right person?

Its a very important part to write the Job description (What skills set is required) and then make the comparison of these skills set price with the resource already working in the market.  Interview questions is one of the critical facts.

The job description assists you to plan your recruiting strategy for hiring the right employee. It enables you to collect information about the duties, responsibilities, necessary skills, outcomes, and work environment of a particular job.

A job description plays very important role in the recruitment and selection processes. It provides us with the following information to be used in recruitment and selection which is also critical in selection of right person:

Helps in structuring of job advertisements,

To some extent it saves time by keeping the ineligible candidate away as it enables the candidates to read about the position before applying for it.

Provides information regarding compensation and benefits so that a candidates willingness to work on the offered package can be sought.

A brief description of working condition and organizations environment to make the candidate aware of the dangers and utilities related to his job.

Helps decide the scope of the work

Details the purpose, tasks and responsibilities of the post.

Ensures clarification of expectations.

Acts as a reference when short listing and interviewing applicants by providing a listing of required knowledge , skills, abilities and experience for performing the job.

(Though this is not an exhaustive list but i hope it provides substantial knowledge as required)

Job description is the backbone for any position, once the organo-gram is finalized by head of department and HR then the next step is to work out on the positions. The JD is a detail written down activities of specific position which a new-comer will expect to perform. It also states the job-specifications which help in selecting the candidates and its other criteria. With the help of JD the interviewer will have a picture of what a candidate is expected to do and what experience and qualification is required for that specific position. If an HR personnel is new and don’t have in-depth business process knowledge then it is always recommended to thoroughly read the JD so that he could conduct & brief the candidate in satisfactory manner. Well the other part of JD is for me is very helpful in designing KPIs to some extent.

Developing strong job descriptions is an important part of a compensation and benefits specialist's job. Job descriptions are essential to the successful development and implementation of many HR programs, including compensation plans.

JDs are necessary for creating advertisements and appropriate interview questions and for supplying job candidates with specific information.

Dear Amal,

job description describe the job and related to it is Job specification which descripe the employee him self his education - personality - languages - needed skills - etc......

and the job specification may eliminate a candidate directly through matching the candidates specifications with the job specification.

no match in any aspect will be excluded immediatly.

hope my answer was helpfull

Best Regards,

In the recruitment and selection process, job description (JD) plays a vital role in selecting right person. During the recrutment process the type of categories people will be required to call along with designation are set with their respective JD. Specially in the interview board candidates are tested and selected based on the requrirements set in the JD and also their knowledge level . Obviously, skill level and compensation are critical factors in JD.