What is a Job Position

This article is for HR professionals.

Definition of Job Position

A job (or job position) is a position in an organizational structure in which a specific person, worker, employee works. It defines his or her specific role in the organization, in particular the job description, responsibilities, the location in the company structure, and the requirements for what the person should know, be able to do, or be equipped with for the job.  

• A person joins an organization in a specific job that is specified in his or her contract of employment. It is therefore also an important concept in the employment relationship.  

Key Elements of a Job Position

• Job Title: The name of the position (e.g., "Marketing Manager") that reflects its nature and level.
• Purpose and Objectives: A summary of why the position exists and its contributions to the organization.
• Duties and Responsibilities: The specific tasks and activities the role entails.
• Reporting Structure: Details of who the position reports to and any supervisory responsibilities.
• Qualifications and Requirements: Education, experience, skills, and other prerequisites needed for the role.
• Work Environment and Conditions: Any special working conditions, like remote work or physical demands.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Metrics used to evaluate success in the role.

What is the difference between a job and a position?

• In common practice, these two concepts are confused and not distinguished
• HR professionals sometimes differentiate these two terms by saying that a position arises and ceases with a specific person who works in it, and a job is permanent and exists before the arrival (vacant position) and exists after the departure of a specific worker until it is filled by someone else.

Job position is intended to be occupied by an employee

• In small and medium companies, each employee has usually individual job position
• Individual jobs are also typically held by managers because their role in the company is individual
• In larger companies, one job position is occupied by several people, typically this refers to blue-collar (where job duties are identical)
• For HR professionals, shared job descriptions and specifications, make the work much easier
• The bigger the team and the whole company, the more shared job positions are

See how you assign an employee to a job position.

How to describe the job position?

You need to describe the job position in two situations.

When you are looking for a suitable candidate

• to select the right candidate
• the description focuses on the requirements for the candidate himself

For work management needs

• the description also includes a detailed description of the job content and responsibilities
• placement in the organizational structure
• and necessary work equipment or authorization
• see how to describe a job position for labor management needs

How to name jobs?

Think about job titles before creating them

• If you are a smaller company, you will probably use a few basic job positions or have an individual one for each person
• Larger companies will have universal job positions, especially for blue-collar professions

Recommendations and tips for naming positions when searching for candidates

• When searching for candidates, we should name the job position imaginatively and attractively
• The name is important because it must attract the candidates we need.

Recommendations and tips for naming job positions in the employment contract

• Stick to the customs in your company
• The name must be unambiguous and should correspond exactly to the specific location in the organizational structure