Skip to main content
  • Personal
  • Business
  • Foundation
    Close
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
  • mySHRM Login
  • MySHRM
    • Dashboard
    • Account
    • Logout
SHRM
  • Membership
    • Membership

      As a SHRM Member®, you’ll pave the path of your success with invaluable resources, world-class educational opportunities and premier events.

      Membership Tiers
      • Professional
      • Student
      • Global
      • Executive
      • Enterprise
      Membership Benefits
  • Certification
    • SHRM Certification

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Fees & Options
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me?
      Prepare for the Exam
      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance your HR credibility.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

      Seminars

      Stand out from among your HR peers with the skills obtained from a SHRM Seminar.

  • Events
    • Events

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations.

      • SHRM26 Annual Conference
      • BLUEPRINT 2025
      • Talent Conference & Expo
      • Linkage Institute
      • The AI+HI Project 2026
      • See More
      State Conferences

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

      Seminars

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

  • Resources
    • Resources

      Stay up to date with news and leverage our vast library of resources.

      • Flagships
      • HR Research
      • Legal & Compliance
      • Latest News & Trends
      • Tools & Guides
      • Webinars
      HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      Educational Programs

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

  • Community
    • Find a SHRM Chapter

      Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

  • Shop
    • SHRM Store

      Shop for HR certifications, credentials, learning, events, merchandise and more.

      Workplace Essentials
      Learning
      Merchandise
Become a Member
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
Close
  • Personal
  • Business
  • Foundation
  • Membership
    back
    Membership
    • Membership

      As a SHRM Member®, you’ll pave the path of your success with invaluable resources, world-class educational opportunities and premier events.

      Membership Tiers
      • Professional
      • Student
      • Global
      • Executive
      • Enterprise
      Membership Benefits
  • Certification
    back
    Certification
    • SHRM Certification

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Fees & Options
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me?
      Prepare for the Exam
      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance your HR credibility.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

      Seminars

      Stand out from among your HR peers with the skills obtained from a SHRM Seminar.

  • Events
    back
    Events
    • Events

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations.

      • SHRM26 Annual Conference
      • BLUEPRINT 2025
      • Talent Conference & Expo
      • Linkage Institute
      • The AI+HI Project 2026
      • See More
      State Conferences

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

      Seminars

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

  • Resources
    back
    Resources
    • Resources

      Stay up to date with news and leverage our vast library of resources.

      • Flagships
      • HR Research
      • Legal & Compliance
      • Latest News & Trends
      • Tools & Guides
      • Webinars
      HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      Educational Programs

      Attend a SHRM state event to network with other HR professionals and learn more about the future of work.

  • Community
    back
    Community
    • Find a SHRM Chapter

      Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

  • Shop
    back
    Shop
    • SHRM Store

      Shop for HR certifications, credentials, learning, events, merchandise and more.

      Workplace Essentials
      Learning
      Merchandise
Become a Member
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
SHRM
mySHRM Login
  • MySHRM
    • Dashboard
    • Account
    • Logout
Close

  1. Topics & Tools
  2. Tools & Samples
  3. Job Description Guide

Job Description Guide

Writing the perfect job description is the first step to hiring the best candidate for your organization. That's why a SHRM membership provides access to more than 1,000 job description templates to assist your hiring process.

View Job Description Templates
Premium Job Description Manager

Create, maintain and organize job descriptions online without any software downloads.

Explore Job Description Manager

What is a Job Description?

A job description outlines the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a position. It provides a clear reference for both employees and managers to gauge job performance and clarify expectations.

Job descriptions are also recruitment tools that clarify role purpose, establish titles and pay grades, and create reasonable accommodation controls. 

How to Write a Job Description
Happy workers looking at a laptop screen

How to Write a Job Description

  1. Determine the Needs and Requirements for the Role: Interview existing employees about the knowledge, skills, abilities, physical characteristics, environmental factors and credentials/experience needed for the role. Reference other resources like salary surveys and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  2. Define Essential Functions: To aid in evaluating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation requests, define which tasks are a requirement, the frequency of tasks, consequences of not performing tasks, alternate methods of performing tasks, and potential for task reassignment.
  3. Create the Job Description Structure: Aim to standardize the structure of your job description within your company. Include standard components like job title, salary, functions, and more. 
  4. Add Disclaimer & Signature Lines: Add a disclaimer statement stating that other duties may be assigned without notice and a signature line for the employee and supervisor.
  5. Submit for Feedback & Approval: From upper managment and the position supervisor

For a more detailed guide on creating an effective job description, view SHRM's job description how-to-guide.

How-to-Guide: Writing an Effective Job Description

This step-by-step guide outlines the considerations and process for creating a job description optimized for recruiting and ongoing measurement, with specific focus on all of the standard components to include.

Write an Effective Job Description
Toolkit: Performing a Job Analysis

This toolkit explores how job analysis can pinpoint necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise for job performance, establish selection and promotion criteria, design training objectives, set performance measurement standards, and aid in determining pay levels.

Learn More About Job Analyses
Comprehensive Guide: Interviewing Candidates for Employment

Learn how to conduct effective candidate interviews, with information about various methods, legal considerations, preparatory steps, proper questioning techniques, legal compliance, and post-interview procedures for both interviewers and candidates.

Explore Interview Guide

Popular Job Descriptions

HR Manager Job Description

This role will lead and direct the routine functions of the HR department including hiring and interviewing staff, administering pay, benefits, and leave, and enforcing company policies and practices.

HR Generalist Job Description

This role will run the daily functions of the HR department including hiring and interviewing staff, administering pay, benefits, and leave, and enforcing company policies and practices.

Recruiter Job Description

This role will research, develop, and implement effective recruiting and staffing strategies to attract a diverse pool of qualified and capable talent for the organization.

General Job Description Template

Use this template as a guideline to create your own job description. It includes standard fields such as title, departement, job summary and more.

Search All Job Description Templates

Filters

HR Daily Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest HR news, trends, and expert advice each business day.

Success title

Success caption

Manage Subscriptions
Our Brands

SHRM Foundation Logo
SHRM Executive Network Logo
CEO Circle Logo
SHRM Business Logo
SHRM Linkage Logo
SHRM Labs
Overview

  • About SHRM
  • Careers at SHRM
  • Press Room
  • Contact SHRM
  • Book a SHRM Executive Speaker
  • Advertise with Us
  • Post a Job
Advocacy

  • Workforce Development
  • Workplace Inclusion
  • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
  • Workplace Governance
  • Workplace Health Care
  • Workplace Immigration
  • State Affairs
  • Global Policy
  • Advocacy Team
  • Take Action
  • Generation Cares
  • The Section 127 Coalition
Member Resources

  • Ask An Advisor
  • SHRM Newsletters
  • SHRM Flagships
  • Topics & Tools
  • Find an HR Job

© 2025 SHRM. All Rights Reserved
SHRM provides content as a service to its readers and members. It does not offer legal advice, and cannot guarantee the accuracy or suitability of its content for a particular purpose. Disclaimer

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

  1. Privacy Policy

  2. Terms of Use

  3. Accessibility

Join SHRM for Exclusive Access to Member Content

SHRM Members enjoy unlimited access to articles and exclusive member resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Limit Reached

Get unlimited access to articles and member-exclusive resources.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join to access unlimited articles and member-only resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join the Executive Network and enjoy unlimited content.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join and enjoy unlimited access to SHRM Executive Network Content.

Already a member?
Unlock Your Career with SHRM Membership

Please enjoy this free resource! Join SHRM for unlimited access to exclusive articles and tools.

Already a member?

Your membership is almost expired! Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew now

Your membership has expired. Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew Now

Your Executive Network membership is nearing its expiration. Renew now to maintain access.

Renew Now

Your membership has expired. Renew your Executive Network benefits today.

Renew Now