Job analysis is the process of gathering, examining and interpreting data about the responsibilities, duties, skills, knowledge and abilities required for a job. It looks at the tasks and activities involved in a job and breaks the job down into its core components.
The key outcomes of a job analysis are a job description and a job specification. The job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the role, while the job specification sets out the skills, qualifications and competencies required to perform the job successfully.
Job analysis serves several important functions in organizations:
- Recruitment and selection – The job description and specification allows recruiters to identify and hire candidates suitable for the role. It provides a benchmark to assess applicants against.
- Training – The data from job analysis informs the design of training programs to provide employees with the skills and knowledge for their job.
- Performance appraisals – Job analysis provides a basis for developing performance standards and evaluating how well employees are performing their assigned duties.
- Compensation – Job analysis provides detailed pay information for the job which informs compensation levels and setting pay grades.
- Job design – Understanding job components allows organizations to design efficient workflows, reporting structures and responsibilities.
In summary, thorough job analysis is crucial for acquiring the right people for the job and enhancing workforce performance and productivity. It provides the fundamental knowledge organizations need about their jobs.
The Job Analysis Skills workbook has been developed to meet the needs of a wide range of audiences.
Potential audiences include companies providing training to their employees, individuals looking to develop their own job analysis skills, coaches and mentors providing one-to-one supports, educators teaching job analysis skills, and learning professionals providing courses.
This workbook is flexible and can be used within a variety of learning and work environments.
When learners have completed this workbook they will be able to define the key concepts associated with job analysis skills and will be able to:
- Explain the role of job analysis and the organization.
- Describe four job analysis methods.
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of job analysis interviews.
- Detail three types of job observation.
- Implement a Critical Incident Technique.
- Understand how to implement a Position Analysis Questionnaire.
- Critically evaluate job analysis techniques.
