Write your Own Job Description
I know everything that I do everyday – all the roles I fulfil or the activities I must complete along with the research I must do and the client support and workshops I must deliver – it’s simple. I wish! Everyday is different from the next as situations arise, problems and opportunities occur, on top of all the day-to-day planning, delivery and activity that is necessary.
Now is your chance to create an accurate record of your job description. Take a piece of paper, head it up “Job Description”. Write out your own job description as if you were about to recruit someone else to come into the business and take over your role. There are no wrong answers here, this is a straight forward record of what you believe someone else would have to do in order to satisfactorily complete or excel in your current role.
Use the list below as a prompt to assist you in completing your own job description. Please don’t just cut and paste the original one you were given that is in the bottom drawer, use that as a base then add in all the other elements that you now know are a necessary part of the role.
| Communication Oral | Literacy and Numeracy |
| Communication Written | Decision making processes |
| Teamwork and motivation | Planning and organising resources |
| Liaison and networking | Initiative and problem solving |
| Service delivery | Analysis and research |
| Specific Job related Skills | Sensory and physical demands |
| Talent Management | Work environment |
| Computer skills | Pastoral care and maintenance |
| Team development | Business and Selling Skills |
| Teaching and learning support | Knowledge and experience |
| Scope |
Once this is completed take out a second piece of paper and head it up “Day to Day Activitiesâ€. I have intentionally separated these two as I firmly believe they are two different lists. Get as creative as you can, filling in the actual activities that you have completed over the past 1-2 weeks.
The longer you spend on this the more creative your mind will become, don’t get too silly but don’t ignore an activity that takes place every week and takes up your valuable time.
| Sales | Banking |
| Team Management – Reviews | Market research |
| Proposals – Report Writing | Trouble Shooting |
| Networking | Marketing |
| Service delivery | Pastoral care and maintenance |
| Innovation | Team development – Support + Coaching |
| HR – Hire – Fire – Nurture | External Relationships KPI’s |
| IT – Upgrade – Manage – Support | External Relationships KPI’s |
| Finances – Invoicing – Receivables | Meetings Internal & External |
| Salary negotiations | Opening the Post -Making Coffee |
| Strategy – Long term Planning |
Your next role is to now compare these two lists. How different are they? How much additional stuff are you doing without realising? How much effort are you putting in that is way below your pay grade? Are you FAFFing About doing the wrong things? To whom or how can you delegate more? What needs to happen next to help you more? The answers behind the questions are the important part, so what are you going to do about it? You can’t avoid or ignore it now.