COMMENTARY: When Last Have You Looked at Your Job Description?

July 15, 2025

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By Garfield Joseph

What Is a Job Description, Really?

At its core, a job description is more than a list of tasks. It’s a contract of expectations. It defines your role, outlines your responsibilities, and sets the standard for how your performance will be measured. It’s a roadmap that connects your daily work to the broader mission of your organization.

But here’s the catch: roles evolve. Organizations shift. Priorities change. And if your job description hasn’t kept up, you might be navigating with an outdated map.

Why You Should Revisit It

1. Reality Check
Are you doing what you were hired to do? Or has your role quietly expanded (or shifted) over time? Comparing your current responsibilities with your original job description can reveal gaps, growth, and even hidden opportunities.

2. Performance Alignment
If your performance is being evaluated against outdated criteria, you may be missing recognition—or accountability—for the work you’re actually doing. A current, accurate job description ensures fairness and clarity.

3. Career Development
Understanding how your role has evolved can help you identify new skills you’ve developed—and areas where you need to grow. It’s a great starting point for career planning and professional development.

4. Organizational Health
When everyone is clear on their roles, teams function better. Reviewing job descriptions across departments can reduce duplication, clarify responsibilities, and improve collaboration.

Beyond the Job Description

While your job description is a foundation, it should never be a ceiling. Some employees treat it as a boundary—“That’s not in my job description”—but the most successful people see it as a launchpad.

Taking initiative, stepping up when needed, and contributing beyond your formal duties are traits that set high performers apart. Whether it’s helping a colleague, leading a new project, or learning a new skill, going above and beyond is often what opens doors to leadership, recognition, and growth.

And just as importantly, your job description should never be used as a reason to avoid collaboration. In today’s interconnected workplaces, success often depends on your ability to work across roles, departments, and disciplines.

A Moment of Reflection

Ask yourself:
– What am I doing today that’s not in my job description?
– What’s in my job description that I no longer do—or never did?
– Are there responsibilities I’ve taken on that should be formally recognized?
– Does my job description reflect the value I bring to the organization?
– Am I using my role as a platform to grow, or as a box to stay in?

What You Can Do Today

Pull out your job description. Read it with fresh eyes.
Highlight what’s changed. Be honest and thorough.
Start a conversation. Talk to your manager or HR about updating your role formally.
Document your contributions. Keep a record of projects, initiatives, and responsibilities you’ve taken on.
Use it as a growth tool. Let it guide your next steps—whether that’s training, promotion, or realignment.

Final Thought

Your job description is not just a formality. It’s a mirror. It reflects who you are in your role—and who you’re becoming. So take a moment. Dust it off. Read it. Reflect. And if needed, rewrite your story.
Because the best careers aren’t just lived. They’re intentionally shaped.