Are you in the process of writing the job description section of your business plan? Or you need a sample job description template? Then I advice you read on. Here, you drive home the point that not only do you know what you are doing or where you are going, but that you have the right mix of talent and experience to actually make it all happen.

You will need to highlight key members of your management team (which may be only you for the time being) as well as external service providers such as lawyers, accountants, and contract professionals. Also, include your advisors or board members (if you have any) as well as the positions you will be looking to hire in the near future.

While planning your business, one of the most important steps that you shouldn’t skip is writing a job description for every position that you are planning to hire an employee for. This may not be important if you have no plans to hire employees.

A job description is an important tool for hiring and managing your employees, as it helps them understand their roles and responsibilities even before they start working with you. It tells them what they need to do, how they need to do it, and what they will be held accountable for as soon as they assume their duties. It also reveal to investors who-is-who in your proposed or established business. In addition, a job description does the following:

4 Benefits of a Job Description in a Business Plan

  • It helps you attract the right employees
  • It gives a detailed description of an employee’s job or position
  • It serves as a basis for outlining performance expectations, career advancement, job training, and job evaluation
  • It provides a reference point for compensation decisions as well as unfair hiring practices

Writing a Job Description for a Business Plan – Sample Template

A job description should be clearly written, accurate, and very practical. It must effectively define your needs as well as what you expect from your employees. To write a good job description, you should start by analyzing the important facts about a job, such as:

  • The individual tasks involved

What are the tasks that the employee must complete on a periodic basis? Outline daily tasks, weekly tasks, monthly tasks, and quarterly tasks required of the employee. To be practical enough, outline the duration and requirements of each task as well.

  • The methods for completing each task

If the tasks outlined can be handled using more than one method, outline which methods you can afford to provide your employee (but for optimal employee efficiency, make provisions for the best method available).

  • The purpose and responsibilities of the job

Outline how the role played by the chosen candidate would contribute to the business. Also, outline what the employee would be held accountable for.

  • The relationship of the job to other jobs

Outline how the chosen employee would work with other employees within the company.

  • Qualifications needed for the job

Outline the relevant qualifications that each candidate must have. Also state the number of years for which the candidate must have gained working experience in the same position.

The Outline of a Job Description

A job description typically includes the following:

  • Job title
  • Job objective or overall purpose statement
  • Brief of the general nature and level of the job
  • Detailed description of the wide scope of the position
  • List of duties or tasks to be performed that are critical to success
  • Key functional and relational responsibilities (listed in order of significance)
  • Description of the relationships and roles within the company, including the supervisory roles, subordinating roles, and other working relationships

In addition to the above listed, the following items may be added to the job description if deemed necessary:

  • Job requirements, standards, and specifications
  • Job location where the work will be performed
  • Equipments available to be used for the job
  • Salary range

5 Tips to Note When Writing a Job Description

  • Always use verbs in the present tense.
  • For the purpose of clarity and adding meaning, use explanatory sentences telling why, how, where, or how often whenever necessary.
  • Delete any unnecessary articles such as “a”, “an”, “the” or other stop words to make the description easy to read and understand.
  • Be unbiased in your use of pronouns. Use the “he/she” approach or construct your sentences in such a way that you won’t have to use pronouns.
  • Avoid the use of adverbs or adjectives that are subject to additional explanation and interpretation; such as some, complex, several, occasional, frequently, etc. Rather than use them, use clear sentences that define your intent.

What to Avoid When Writing a Job Description

Don’t be rigid with your job description, as this may make you miss out on many diligent employees who can become great assets to your business. Jobs are subject to change for personal improvement, organizational development, and evolution of new technologies. A flexible job description encourages employees to grow within their position and contribute over time to the growth and development of your business.

In conclusion, a well-written job description can make all the difference between a successful business that grows over the years and one that remains on the same spot after several years. The right employees, if chosen for your business, can help propel your business to great heights within a short period. Only with a good job description can you hire such.