subject: The Biggest Recruitment Mistakes Made – Job Descriptions [print this page] I was having a conversation with a very senior level director who had left a good position to seek a more challenging role; he made a comment that I have heard often about how companies fail to inspire candidates by using very poor job descriptions. I have used the analogy before that for a company and the right candidate to come together is like a courtship between two people.
We all remember when we met that very special person that then became a very close long-term relationship, it may have been that bolt to the heart or it may have been a very good friendship that blossomed into romance, in the early days you both always showed your best side, looked for the right thing to say, how to say it, what to say and how to say it. Desperate to impress and win the heart of your prospective mate.
Looking at how companies attempt to attract the right people is usually nothing like this, very generic, impersonal, unfeeling, uninspiring probably rewrites from previous relationships. Let's take a standard Job Description and turn the role into that of a Housewife.
How far would the Alpha Male get if he presented the following job description before the relationship started?
Role: Housewife
Description
You will be responsible for all household and cooking duties. You will be required to be attentive to the needs of the Husband and his extended family at all times. Love, care, and kindness are all attributes that must be exhibited by you. Caring for the husband is crucial, and it is expected that you will provide for his emotional, spiritual and physical needs (regardless of time, personal feelings or health). You will be expected to maintain personal hygiene and take care of your physical body through proper eating and regular exercise. While there is not a strict dress code, it is expected that between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm, that you will have makeup applied and will not be wearing pyjamas or other elastic clothing. It is expected that you will not cry more than 1 time per month, for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Duties
Household:
Cooking 2 hot meals and one packed lunch per day
Sweeping/mopping at least once per day
Dusting at least twice per week
Vacuuming at least once per week
Straightening up at least once per day, preferably before 5pm
Loading and unloading dishwasher and not leaving items in sink
Scrubbing bathrooms and not leaving toilet seat in lowered position
Doing the laundry as often as necessary so that clean paired socks and underwear can easily be located
Catering for frequent business footballing events
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications/Requirements:
Must have a high threshold for pain and a high tolerance for nagging, bothering, begging, crying, and loud noises
Must be willing and able to stand for extensive periods of time, to crawl on the floor, to enter tight and cramped spaces, and to climb chairs and tables to obtain objects in difficult to reach places
Will be required to frequently lift items of 10-20kgs
Must be willing and able to operate on 4-6 hours of sleep
Should be able to handle multiple difficult situations at once
Should be well versed on the phone and in writing
Must possess negotiation skills to handle requests from both children and adults
Can calmly handle stressful situations without yelling, throwing, hitting, storming out of rooms, or slamming doors preferably
Applications for this role will only be accepted by email, website application form or text message.
The end!
Sound familiar? Maybe it's a lot like the last Job Description you reviewed
The follow up to this post will change the above description to one that will win hearts!
