What is a job description (and examples)?

A job description is a written summary that outlines the key responsibilities, duties, skills, and qualifications for a role.

A good job description should provide candidates with a solid outline of what is expected of them in the position. Doing so helps both parties – job seekers and employers – have a successful hiring and  onboarding  process.

Managers typically create job descriptions in collaboration with their employees to ensure they communicate the right information and hire the right person.

Here's an example of a job description:

Post Name: Inventory Manager

The inventory manager is responsible for overseeing and recording all of the company's inventory levels. They will focus on planning purchases and procurement as well as developing inventory tracking procedures to maximize efficiency and minimize losses. The inventory manager leads a staff of warehouse or inventory workers to track all incoming and outgoing products.

Responsibilities typically include checking supply levels, evaluating new inventory, and preparing detailed reports. These duties are performed to determine demands and order new materials. The inventory manager is essential in ensuring that the organization has adequate supplies to meet customer demands.

The ideal candidate should be reliable and attentive to detail and have extensive record keeping experience. The inventory manager should be comfortable with reporting and math, data analysis, and managing a team.

Job Responsibilities of an Inventory Manager

• Create and integrate inventory tracking systems to streamline inventory processes.
• Analyze daily inventory products and supplies and anticipate shortages/problems.
• Generate detailed daily reports on operations, stock levels and adjustments.
• Use inventory management software to monitor demands for products and document specifications.
• Track and record daily deliveries and shipments.
• Research suppliers to determine the best cost-effective deal.
• Propose strategies for cost reduction and process optimization.
• Collaborate with employees to achieve business objectives and mitigate problems.
• Hire, train, supervise, and mentor staff.
• Manage staff schedules.
• Incorporate safe practices.

Inventory Manager Job Requirements

• Strong knowledge and experience with data analysis, inventory management software, and forecasting strategies
• Leadership and Management Experience
• attention to detail
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Desire to create a team-oriented environment and the ability to coach and guide team members
• Excellent organisational, planning and problem solving skills
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand for long periods of time in a warehouse environment
• Bachelor's or associate degree in business, systems engineering, supply chain management, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in Inventory Management
• CPIM certification will be preferred

For more job description examples,  check out HRMantra's comprehensive list of  job description templates .

What is a job description used for?

Employers use job descriptions to post job advertisements and contact qualified candidates. Employers may also keep job descriptions as part of their internal documents to help maintain accountability in the workplace and/or use them for payroll administration or other clerical purposes.

Job seekers use job descriptions to assess whether they are suitable for the position and prepare for the hiring process. They can use the details mentioned in the description to help them perform their best during the interview and ask the right questions.

Why is the job description so important?

When a job description effectively communicates the right information, it attracts the right candidates and creates a positive employer brand and recruiting experience. More than half of job candidates believe that the quality of a job description is “very or extremely influential” on their decision to apply for a role.

In addition, job descriptions can help employers maintain accountability in the workplace. If a job description is too vague or poorly written, it   may be challenging for leaders to identify poor performance or areas for improvement during employee evaluations .

How do you write a good job description?

Writing a good job description involves keeping your description detailed but concise. You want to provide as much information as possible about the role, but you also want to communicate the information well enough for job candidates to easily understand it.

What do you write in a job description?

A good job description should include the following components:

• Title  : The title should contain the name and brief description of the vacancy.
• Purpose  : The purpose is the explanation of why the job exists. It should include a high-level overview of the role and state the scope of the role's responsibility within the organization.
• Responsibilities  : This is a list of the day-to-day and “big picture” responsibilities that the role requires. More importantly, this section should explain how one’s results impact the team and the organization. Any tasks unique to your field/industry should be addressed here.
• Qualifications and skills  . This section should outline hard and soft skills. Employers may want to discuss these with existing employees before finalizing the job description to ensure they are looking for the right skills.
• Education:  This should mention the educational qualification (BA, MS, JD, etc.) that the candidate must possess to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post.
• Required Experience:  Required experience is the minimum number of years of experience (duty, internships, graduate work, etc.) a person must have to be qualified for the position.
• Preferred qualifications:  These are qualifications that are nice to have - they are not required, but candidates who have them may have an advantage in the hiring process. Preferred qualifications may include certifications or experience in a particular field.