Job Descriptions are Changing, Here's How

As an organizations’ needs evolve with advancements in technology, traditional job descriptions have proven to be too narrow a constraint on the scope of a role. 

Increasingly, job descriptions are outcome-focused, skill-focused, and team-based. As Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez explains in Harvard Business Review, this shift of approach creates "a more agile, responsive, and innovative organization better equipped to meet future challenges." 

While changes in job descriptions don’t impact the job application process much — it does remind us of the importance of a sometimes neglected element of cover letter and resume writing — which is that we must emphasize the outstanding observable outcomes that we were able to generate in previous roles.

Here's an overview of three types of job descriptions you may bump into in 2023:

Outcome-focused role descriptions

An outcome-based job description allows potential employees to clearly understand their employer's expectations and what they will be required to deliver in the big picture. Additionally, "this approach provides employees with flexibility to determine the best way to achieve those results, fostering innovation and initiative," according to Nieto-Rodriguez. 

An outcome-focused approach requires a vision beyond the short-term tasks that make up our jobs and helps employees "see what their future at your company looks like," explains Leah Daniels of Appcast, a recruitment marketing platform.

Skills-focused role descriptions

A skill-based job description allows potential employees to highlight their skills, capabilities, and talents regardless of their specific degree or former positions. 

"This approach acknowledges that skills acquired through experience, education, and training are transferable across different industries and contexts," according to Workforce Solutions. 

The key advantages of skills-focused job descriptions include: 

1. Enhanced clarity and precision regarding the role's requirements 

2. Better candidate matching based on skills that align with the job's demands

3. Improved diversity and inclusion efforts in that skills can be prioritized over particular industry background

Team-based role descriptions

A team-based job description is similar to an outcome-focused job description in that it focuses on an objective, outcome, or deliverable.

However, in this case, job descriptions refer to the responsibility of the whole team, rather than individuals. Team-based role descriptions empower job seekers to leverage their skill sets to decide on the best course of action as a group, with frequent checkins.

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