As contracts Job descriptions are becoming more prevalent today than they were just a few years ago. They are often equivalent to an employment contract. They provide the employee with a list of responsibilities, expectations, and benefits. Some employers require employees to read and sign job descriptions before beginning work. They may then be required to sign new descriptions at each job review.
Some employers require their employees to write their own descriptions.
In both cases the job description becomes a de jure if not de facto employment contract. As employer's search tools Employers may also use job descriptions while conducting a job search to help determine their specific needs before announcing the search, studying r sum s, or interviewing candidates. In this case the job description helps the employer delineate those qualities needed for the job. Again, it should be treated as an official document as it may have bearing on the employer's compliance with affirmative action guidelines. Ethically, it should be shared with all final candidates before they are offered the position.