Job Descriptions and Job Listings

4. Personnel, Job Descriptions

A job description is a written narrative of the major duties and responsibilities of a job. The most important part of a job description is the identification of the duties or tasks that are essential to the successful performance of the job.  According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), essential functions are those tasks or functions of a particular position that are fundamental to the position as opposed to those that are marginal.

Elements of a Job Description

1. Employment Information.

  • job title and a short description of the job and its main purpose
  • library system name and geographic location of the job
  • salary range and special benefits
  • hours of work
  • hire date and starting date

2.  Job Functions.

  • list of duties or tasks that are essential to the successful performance of the job
  • “report to”; supervisory responsibility; and any other working relationships
  • any special working conditions (e.g., shift or weekend work, travel, periods when leave cannot be taken, etc.)

3. Requirements – minimum qualifications needed to perform the essential job functions:

  • education
  • experience and work history
  • knowledge, specialized skills, and attributes
  • physical demands, i.e., “must be able to lift 50 pounds”
  • special requirements, i.e., “must have a valid drivers license and be able to drive a vehicle”
Advertising a Job

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Resources

Lawson, Judy, et al.  The New Information Professional: Your Guide to Careers in the Digital Age.  New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2010. (020.23 L425)

Stueart, Robert D. and Maureen Sullivan.  Developing Library Leaders: A How-to-do-it Manual for Coaching, Team Building, and Mentoring Library Staff.  New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2010. (020.3 S933)