Tips
- Use clear, succinct language. You want applicants to read and understand the entire job description; you don’t want them to get lost in language.
- Don’t use acronyms – write it out!
- NOTE: DU’s job system has a 3,960 character limit. Characters include every letter, space, character, etc., so you reach this limit quickly (e.g., 890-word text had more than 6,000 characters!). If your job description exceeds that limit, BODR will ask you to eliminate text to make it fit.
- Focus on broad categories of responsibilities. You don’t have to list every single responsibility the successful candidate will have.
- Example: If the position requires campus committee work, describe this as: “Represents the department in campus meetings or on campus committees.”
- You don’t need to include every committee on which the person may serve!
- NOTE: Overly detailed “Essential Functions” sections could constrain flexibility by creating the impression the list is all encompassing.
Templates
- Click on the following link to download a copy of SAIE’s job description for permanent, benefitted, appointed positions: APPOINTED Job Description Template
- Click on the following link to download a copy of SAIE’s job description for temporary, non-benefitted, non-appointed positions (e.g., 1,000 hour jobs): NON-APPOINTED Job Description Template
See Preparing a Job Description and Posting a Benefited Position for more details