Most people who work on the same job for years never stop to review how their tasks may have changed over time. Even if you know the tasks, assignments, or deliverables are different from when you started, do you know that you could be leaving money on the table? If you have been in your role for at least two years, then this span is ripe for shifts to occur in the organization causing a domino effect on roles and responsibilities. The “additional duties as required” is a catch-all category on job descriptions where incremental tasks can accrue. After a while, your responsibilities evolve into something completely altered without you realizing it’s not the original job you signed up for. Because of this “catch-all” bucket on job descriptions, managers and employees should periodically review how tasks have shifted based on the business demands. Make it a priority to have conversations to clearly outline the new role and identify the proper training for optimum performance. Before any more time passes, this is a great season to update your job description and determine what has changed since you stepped into the role.
Why should you invest the time to rewrite your job description?
There are 3 super strategic reasons that will set you up for success in the near future:
- Your role is a justification of the work required, and an updated job description provides a realistic view of your tasks, responsibilities, and the skills necessary to perform the job.
- The revised information, once completed and approved, will help to refresh your resume, and can double as a training plan for skills you need to enhance.
- Based on how the work has evolved, an updated job description may also support a title change and possible salary increase, a nice bonus for the tasks you are already executing.
As companies enhance their business strategy, the need to acquire new skills for competitive advantage is imperative for success. These advancements, no matter how small, can have a direct impact on your role, and ultimately your career. It’s essential to your future that you are forward thinking and research #futureskills for your industry to understand how your role will transform. Adjusting your perspective for the new world of work can lead to a second career that you may not have considered.
So, just how should you approach rewriting your job description?
- First, discuss the idea with your manager and get his/her support for taking on this project. This is critical because you will need your manager’s approval to communicate the updated description to Human Resources who will conduct a compensation analysis for current salary trends.
- Next, obtain the latest description on file for your role. If one does not exist, this is your opportunity to create it from scratch.
- Once you have the details, pinpoint what is different, removing outdated tasks and responsibilities and adding the new ones.
- Don’t forget to analyze the skills, certifications, education, and experience required to successfully perform in the role. These are the qualifications that provide the basis for how salaries are determined.
- Gauge how your role stacks up against others by performing a Google search to find job descriptions similar to yours.
Note: Job titles will vary from company to company and across industries. You may have to search for a few different titles to uncover roles that are similar to yours. This is an opportunity to engage your connections and gain insight into how their companies describe comparable positions and qualifications.
Finally, review your findings with your manager for input and use the occasion to discuss expanding your function. A fundamental strategy for career advancement is to add value by assuming key responsibilities and demonstrating your leadership, technical, and business skills.
