Destination: Inspiration!

Person Specifications

Introduction

• The aim of this session is to introduce you to person specifications.• These are incredibly useful documents that tell you about the skills

and qualifications that you need in order to carry out a certain job role.• In this session, you will learn how to read a person specification in

order to determine whether or not you could carry out a specific role;• Create your own person specification for the job role of your choice.

Session Objectives

• By the end of this session, you will be able to:• Explain the purpose of person specifications• Find a person specification for the job of your choice•Write a person specification for a specific job role

What is a Person Specification?

• A document that details the essential and desirable skills, qualities and qualifications that a person needs to successfully carry out a role.• Every job within an organisation will

have a person specification.

Employers use Person Specifications to explain who they are looking for in a specific job role.

Job seekers use Person Specifications to determine if they are the person an employer is looking for.

Person Specification vs. Job Description

• Job Description• Purpose of the role• Who you report to• Activities carried out• Responsibility

• This is what the job involves

• Person Specification• Essential Skills & qualifications• Desirable Skills & qualifications• Personality traits• Specialist requirements

• This details the sort of person who would be able to do the job

• How does a Person Specification differ from a job description?

Person Specification Contents

• Essential• The person MUST be able to do

this or they will not be considered for the job

• Desirable• It would be great if the person

could do this but if they can’t, it won’t stop them from getting the job

• Experience• Skills (job knowledge)• Qualifications• Personal qualities• Special circumstances

Task 1

• Use the internet to find a job specification (not a job description) for a position in the animal industry that you would like to do.• Highlight in one colour the skills and qualities that you already have.• Highlight in a second colour the skills and qualities that you still need

to develop.• Are you ready to carry out that job role yet?• How long do you think it will take you to develop any missing skills?• This is the first stage of carrying out a skills audit.• We will be working on skills audits later in the module.

Task 2

• Download the person specification template from the lesson on 3D Learning.• Use the National Careers Service website to research your dream job

within the animal industry.• https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

• Now use the information on this website to create your own person specification for that job role.• When you have finished, upload your work to 3D Learning using the

assignment link: Person Specification Task• This task is purely formative and does not contribute to your final grade.

Summary

• Person Specifications are useful documents for both employers and employees.• They allow the employer to show the sort of person they are looking

for.• They allow potential employees to determine whether or not they

should apply for a position.• Complete the tasks in this session today and you will not only learn

how to read a person specification but also how to write one.• These skills will help you to find work in the career of your choice.