When an employer is looking to fill a position, more often than not they will write a comprehensive job description, but there is a high chance that they may not write an accompanying in-depth person specification, according to dental jobs website DentReps.
What Exactly is a Person Specification?
Well, it can be best described as a document which details the characteristics of the person who would be the right fit for the position, which enables the employer to hire correctly at the first time of asking. It is likely the document would contain details of what skills and personality a person should have to do the job properly. Sometimes, the necessary qualifications of the candidate would be documented, as well as details of the experience the candidate should have in order to be considered.
The person specification is excellent for outlining the necessary “soft skills” that a candidate should have. For example, areas such as team work and attention to detail could feature. The specification is useful for the candidate also, as they will be able to see if they have the necessary requirements to apply, which filters out any unsuitable candidates before you need to interview them, which makes the recruitment process more efficient.
Beware – Avoid Discrimination
You will have likely been aware of all the chat about tackling discrimination this year, so it is important to be more careful than ever when writing your specification. It is essential you avoid even any hints of discrimination. This is why we would recommend that you get a colleague to proof read your document after you have completed it. Make sure you don’t refer to areas such as sexuality, gender, race and religion. This is why only referring to a candidate’s working characteristics which will directly impact their ability to do the job successfully should be documented.