Job Searching: What that Job Description Really Means

A job description is the primary document used to create a job posting or vacancy announcement. A job description will identify the position summary, primary tasks, working conditions, educational requirements, prior experience needed and additional licenses and certifications. Typically a job description is written by a functional expert who knows the intricacies of the position. Job postings on the other hand are often written by recruiters who may not know anything at all about the position they are trying to fill.

To a potential employee reviewing an actual job description is gold. It's like having all the answers to the test before you get asked a single question. Imagine going to an interview knowing all the primary responsibilities of a position and being able to tailor your every response exactly a company's particular need. You would be an interviewing machine - unstoppable - able to land any job, anywhere, at any time.

The next time you are in the hunt for new employment - do a little investigative work. Call up the human resource department and see if you can get your hands on a job description. If they say no (just as you might expect), Google or Bing your desired position and see what other companies are saying about the position. Check out the many employment websites and see if you can put a few more pieces together. You can also try searching for your desired position with the words "job description" after it and you will be amazed at the amount of data you will find. The more information you have, the more prepared you will be.