Define Job Requirements

Before filling a job, it is critical to analyze it to determine what's required for optimal performance. Many factors should be analyzed, such as:

• job performance (key result areas)
• specific job requirements (education, experience, skills)
• company requirements (cultural fit, values)
• co-workers (manager, peers)
• optimal behavior for the job

There are many ways of strategizing and understanding the specific behaviors that lead to the most effective performance in specific jobs, given the realities of your organization's methods, markets, processes, and management.

The PRO (Performance Requirements Options) is a three-page questionnaire that gathers from the perspective of the person completing it a more objective view of what the job requires in terms of behavior. It is then possible to gain a clearer view of similarities and differences that might exist in various individuals' impressions of the job.

Other ways to define the job include asking people who hold the position to take the Predictive Index Survey or to run some statistics. Using different approaches, the position profile obtained describes the kinds of drives and behaviors necessary for effective performance. If a candidate possesses the behavior the job requires, he or she can achieve higher degrees of agreement from the beginning, align the job requirement to his or her individual strategy, and ultimately help the company improve selection, management and retention efforts.