Know what you want

Defining a job may be the most critical aspect of the hiring process, according to Knowledge Workers Inc., an Englewood, Colo., human capital planning firm. A poor description leads to wasted time and interviews and, potentially, a hire that does not help an organization reach its goals. Just as in systems or software development, the only way to achieve a positive end result is to know where you want to go before you start.

A job definition needs to include the major responsibilities of the job and the qualifications a candidate should have, including:

What candidates need to "be" — key aptitudes, competencies and attitudes. What they need to "know" — education, knowledge, skills, experiences and tools. What they need to "have" — education, certifications, salary and other logistical requirements. Source: Knowledge Workers Inc.