Difference Between a Job Description and a Job Specification: A Comparative Guide

More than 60% of job seekers read the job description and job specification carefully before applying for a job opening. As an employer, it becomes essential that you put up a well-written description and specification for job vacancies at your company. But how are the two different? This blog will discuss the detailed differences between a job description and a job specification, their prerequisites, and examples to help you understand how these two are different. 

Job Description vs Job Specification: Comparison Table

Here is a comparison table for job descriptions vs job specifications to briefly discuss the difference between the two: 

Parameter	Job Description	Job Specification
Description	It describes the job. It is a summary of what employees will do after getting hired.	It describes the job seeker. It specifies what candidates must possess to get hired.
Purpose	Its purpose is to define clear expectations of an employer.	Its purpose is to identify qualified candidates.
Origin	It is drafted after a job analysis.	It is drafted based on the job description and industry standards.
Contents	It lists the role, responsibilities, and scope of the job.	It lists the qualifications and skills a candidate must possess.
Use in Recruitment	It helps identify skill gaps and overlapping duties.	It helps shortlist candidates based on set criteria.
Evolution	It changes according to the role and organizational needs.	It changes according to the industry standards of the role and location.

Difference Between a Job Description and a Job Specification: A Detailed Overview

Both job description and job specification assist employers in communicating the scope of a job opening and hiring the right candidate. However, there are significant differences between a job description and a job specification. Let us discuss them in detail: 

Purpose

Employers draft a job description to communicate the job role and responsibilities to the potential employees. This description helps the recruiting staff to understand what kind of candidate a department is looking for. 

A job specification helps the recruiting team understand the level of qualifications, skills, and experience required to select a candidate.

You can choose an HR course to upskill your HR professionals in drafting job descriptions, job specifications, and other recruitment strategies.

Uses

Employers use a job description to clarify the scope of the job and define expectations while interviewing candidates. They also refer to job descriptions later to evaluate the job performance of the hired candidates.

On the other hand, the HR department uses a job specification to set criteria for comparing and shortlisting candidates during the recruitment process. It further helps them to design training programs according to the qualifications mentioned in the job specification. 

Process of Creation

After a careful analysis of the company’s requirements, a job description is prepared to identify the essential duties and tasks associated with a job role. 

A job specification is prepared after thorough research of industry or regulatory standards to define specific qualifications. It is prepared from the job description. 

Advantage

A job description helps organizations streamline their recruitment process and saves time spent on interviewing unsuitable candidates. It also helps them identify overlapping duties and skill gaps they need to fill. 

Alternatively, a job specification makes it easy for recruiters to screen resumes of candidates. It also helps the employer make decisions about appraisals and promotions. 

What is a Job Description?: The Prerequisites

A job description is a brief and organized document that provides essential information about a vacant job role in an organization. The human resources department creates this document to invite applications for the job role from potential candidates. An ideal job description includes the following: 

• Job title
• Job location
• Job summary
• Role and responsibilities
• Qualifications & skills
• Salary and benefits
• Call-to-action

Check out this business analyst job description for a better understanding of how to write a job description. 

What is a Job Specification?: The Prerequisites

Job specification is a part of a job listing that highlights the qualifications and qualities a candidate needs to perform a particular job. Employers often classify these requirements into compulsory and desirable. A job specification includes the following: 

• Educational background
• Skills
• Experience 

Job Descriptions vs Job Specifications: Examples

Let us now understand the difference between job description and job specification with examples. A company, ABC Fashion, has a job vacancy for a digital marketing manager. The job description and job specification for the same will look something like this: 

Job Description – Digital Marketing Manager About Us: ABC Fashion is an eco-friendly clothing brand in Delhi. The company has 250 employees who work in various departments to bring the best environment-friendly apparel to the customers.  Job Title: Digital Marketing Manager Job Role: We are looking for a digital marketing manager. The job requires the candidate to develop, implement, track, and optimize our digital marketing campaigns across all platforms to enhance our online brand reputation.  Duties and Responsibilities: – Plan and create marketing campaigns for social media, email, and blogs.  – Include SEO/SEM best practices in digital marketing strategies. – Assess return on investment (ROI) and other key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the performance of campaigns.  – Optimize campaigns according to the latest industry trends.  – Collaborate with influencers to increase brand awareness online. Qualifications  – A bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or a related field.  – At least two years of experience in digital marketing or a related field. – Experience in managing digital marketing budgets and forecasting ROI. – Proficiency in digital marketing tools and platforms, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, etc. – Familiarity with marketing automation software such as HubSpot. – Strong understanding of SEO, SEM, email marketing, social media marketing, and content marketing. – Excellent leadership and team management skills. – Ability to think creatively and develop innovative digital marketing strategies. Benefits – Yearly performance-based incentives – Work-life balance with flexible hours and remote work options – Comprehensive health and wellness benefits – Employee perks and discounts Work Hours: You will be required to work five days a week from the office. Four work-from-home days are allowed in a month.  If you are ready to apply for this exciting opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to career@abcfashion.com.

Job Specification – Digital Marketing Manager Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or a related field. Skill Requirements:  Proficient in marketing research. Highly creative individual well-versed in the fashion industry. Excellent communication and strategic skills. Should know how to use the latest digital marketing tools. Ability to work under pressure. Experience: Minimum two years of experience in the digital marketing field.

Conclusion

There is a considerable difference between a job description and a job specification. However, both are integral to the hiring process. They supplement each other and are required to prepare a final job listing. A job description, after a thorough analysis of company requirements, is the base for creating job specifications, which you eventually include in your job post. 

Ready to write a job description for your company? Share with us in the comments below if you have any tips to make job descriptions and specifications more appealing. Also, do not forget to check out our guide on how to write an inclusive job description to promote diversity.