JOB ANALYSIS PROJECT

The purpose of this exercise is to give you experience in conducting a job analysis as well as writing a job description and a job specification.

To complete this exercise you should:

1. Select a job in your chosen field or area of study. You should not pick semi-skilled or skilled jobs. Choose a professional job such as manager, financial analyst, accountant, generalist or specialist in human resource management (HRM).
2. Select at least two methods to conduct your job analysis. Questionnaire and interview or observation and interview are the two most common.
3. Select a person(s) to interview, observe, etc. You will need to contact a person who works in the type of job you have selected. If you have selected a position in HRM, call the HR department of a company in the immediate vicinity, explain the reason for your call, describe the project and its purpose, have the secretary connect you with the appropriate person, and set up an appointment.
   
   Make sure the job you analyze is a professional position. You may select a position in which a family member or friend is employed. However, you will not benefit from having developed a new contact in the work force. This contact could become important when you start looking for a job.
4. Conduct your job analysis, using the methods you have chosen. You should include copies of the methods you used in the final project. If you use an interview, include the interview questions; a survey, include the survey, etc.
5. Type a complete job description for the position. Prioritize the job duties in order of their importance (use a scale that shows the level of importance of the task), and indicate the amount of time spent on each task. Also, indicate the criticality of error if this task is performed incorrectly. You will need to describe the job duties in some detail. Simply listing a duty using one or two words is definitely not sufficient. Also, you should consider grouping duties together according to functions or broader categories of duties. Each description should begin with a job summary and then detail the job duties and responsibilities.
   
   Prepare an abbreviated job specification specifically focusing on the knowledge, skills and abilities important to success in the job.
6. Please identify and give the telephone number of the individual(s) you interviewed.
7. Write a memo explaining the methods of job analysis you used, why you chose them, and describe their strengths and weaknesses.