FAQ Categories

Understanding The Job

Why is understanding the job so important?
What is a Job Analysis?
What's the best way to do a Job Analysis?
Who can perform a Job Analysis?
How long does it take to perform a Job Analysis?
Can Brainbench help me perform a Job Analysis?

Why is understanding the job so important?

There are two big reasons:

1. To ensure you are hiring the right people.
2. To ensure you are protected in the event of a legal challenge.

Pre-hire assessments are supposed to predict performance on the job. Unless you can clearly state what performance you are looking for in a job, you can't define what you are trying to predict. If you can't define what you are trying to predict, you can't select the right assessment to use. You also can't evaluate whether the assessments you are using are making a difference.

Additionally, the legal basis for using any selection procedure, whether it's an assessment or an application form, or an interview question, is that it is related to job performance. When legal challenges arise, the best defense is clear proof that the procedure is connected to job performance.

What is a Job Analysis?

Job Analysis refers to the procedures you use to gain an understanding of the job you are hiring for. You use the results of a job analysis to formulate your selection process for a job, and to select the assessments you will use.

What's the best way to do a Job Analysis?

There are many ways to conduct a Job Analysis. No matter what method you use, the key question that must be answered is:

"What key attributes are required for high performance and are difficult to teach once the person is on the job?"

For some jobs, the critical attributes are obvious. For example, a medical doctor must have a degree and license to practice medicine. A lawyer must be licensed to practice law. A data entry clerk should be able to type at a certain number of words per minute. For other jobs, however, the key elements are less obvious. For example, what are the most important attributes to look for when hiring a security guard or a sales person?

The techniques for Job Analysis range from an informal appraisal of a job description to a lengthy analysis involving focus groups, surveys, and analysis of performance data. The right approach for you is hard to determine without knowing more about your specific needs. For more information regarding this, please contact our customer support at 703-674-3356.

Who can perform a Job Analysis?

Anyone can perform a Job Analysis. Human resources professionals, consultants, and industrial/organizational psychologists all perform Job Analyses. A common approach is for a consultant or otherwise experienced professional to help you organize your approach and review the results.

How long does it take to perform a Job Analysis?

As you might expect, the amount of time to perform a Job Analysis depends on the approach you take. Typically, the time ranges from 1 day to 12 weeks.

Can Brainbench help me perform a Job Analysis?

Absolutely. Our consultants can help you, from formulating the right approach, to conducting surveys, to assimilating data and reviewing results.