A written job description should include which elements?

• A. Personal preferences of the supervisor.
• B. Hours of work only.
• C. Required duties, skills and knowledge, reporting relationships.
• D. Salary ranges only.

Answer: (C)

Focusing on what the role actually entails and how it fits in the organization provides the clearest, most useful job description. The essential elements are the required duties, the skills and knowledge needed to perform those duties, and the reporting relationships that show who the position reports to and, if applicable, who reports to it. This combination creates an objective, actionable baseline for hiring, training, performance expectations, and evaluations, and it helps ensure legal clarity by avoiding vague or subjective language.

Including personal preferences of the supervisor isn’t appropriate because a job description should reflect the role's genuine responsibilities, not individual likes. Stating hours of work alone misses what the job actually requires on a day-to-day basis. Listing salary ranges only provides compensation information and leaves out what the job involves and how it fits within the organization.