如果你是一位人力资源管理经理，或者你是人力资源管理的学习者或者感兴趣的人，你一定对Job description 和Job specification不陌生，但你也许并没有分清哪个是“张三”哪个是“李四”。

通常，Job description被译成“工作描述”或“工作说明”，而Job specification被译成“工作说明”或“工作规范”，或者还有其它的翻译。其实，这只是中国人按照字面的直译，在实际工作中，你就会发现很难弄清“工作描述”和“工作说明”分别对应着什么。

我们还是求证于外国教材吧，没有办法，谁让这些词都是泊来品。

Robert L. Mathis, John H. Jackson, Human Resource Management ---

A job description indicates the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a job. It identifies what is done, why it is done, where it is done, and briefly, how it is done.

While the job description describes activities to be done, it is job specifications that list the knowledge, skills, and abilities an individual needs to perform a job satisfactorily.

John M. Ivancevich, Human Resource Management ---

Job description. The principal product of a job analysis. It represents a written summary of the job as an identifiable organization unit.

Job specification. A written explanation of the knowledge, skills, abilities, traits, and other characteristics (KSAOs) necessary for effective performance on a given job.

Gary Dessler, Human Resource Management ---

The job description is a written statement that describes the activities and responsibilities of the job, as well as important features of the job, as well as working conditions and safety hazards.

The job specification summarizes the personal qualities, traits, skills, and background required for getting the job done.

从以上三个人的定义看，job description 即是某个岗位的“职责说明”(a list of what the job entails)，它要解决的是岗位名称、任职者的权力、职责、隶属关系等等，job specification即是“任职资格”(a list of a job's human requirements, or what kind of people to hire for the job)，它要解决的是胜任此职位所需要的知识、技能、个性、品质以及其它为完成工作所需的个人特点，这个“任职资格”可以独立成文，也可以包含在“职责说明”中，即job specification 可以单独存在，也可以包含在job description中，　就连Gary Dessler也说，it (The specification) may be either in a separate document or on the same document as the job description.

另外，在MARKETING (Kerin and Hartley,13e,Mc Graw Hill Education, 2017, P585)还有这样的描述，说明job specification也可以表述为job qualification：

Effective recruitment and selection of salespeople is one of the most crucial tasks of sales management. It entails finding people who match the type of sales position required by a firm. Recruitment and selection practices will differ greatly between order-taking and order-getting sales positions, given the differences in the demands of these two jobs. Therefore, recruitment and selection begin with a carefully crafted job analysis and job description followed by a statement of job qualifications.

普遍的情况是，“职责说明”和“任职资格”放在一起，而且任职资格紧跟职责说明，如上述例子的followed by，构成我们常说的“岗位说明书”。在这种情况下，job description可被译成“岗位说明书”。

中国的“岗位说明书”一般包含以下内容：

1、基础信息

2、工作职责

3、工作联系

4、主要权力

5、主要责任

6、任职要求

其中，第六项的“任职要求”就是 job specification。

那么，外国的 Job description（岗位说明书）一般包含哪些内容呢？例如：

Title of the position

Department

Reports to (to whom the person directly reports)

Overall responsibility

Key areas of responsibility

Consults with (those who the person works with on a regular basis)

Term of employment

Qualifications (necessary skills and experience required)

前七项分别是：职衔、所属部门、直接汇报人、总体责任、主要分工、向谁咨询、任职期限，最后一项是“资格”，即“任职资格”。可见外国人也是把二者混在一起。

实例，供参考：

某国际贸易（上海）有限公司
 　　　　- 招聘库包货员/发货员/理货员/搬运工/仓库保管/搬货员 Packer/Shipper

　　职位要求：
　　职能种类：普工/技工　　工作方式：兼职
　　招聘人数：1人　　学历要求：中专/高中
　　工作经验：2年以上工作　　报酬：面议
　　招聘范围：上海 黄浦　　传真号码：不公开
　　发布日期：2010/2/7
　　工作地址：浦东新区外高桥保税区
　　联系电话：电邮联系

 
　　岗位职责：
　　Job Classification:

　　职位描述：
　　仓库包货员/发货员负责及时精确挑拣、包装、搬运货物及发货，应做到货物堆放安全，仔细记录产品数量并反馈到物流部门，将数据输入电脑。确保库内货物数量准确。仓库包货员/发货员是产品和客户之间的最后一道关卡，要将SPIROL的形象传递给客户。
　　Narrative Description:
　　The Packer/Shipper is responsible for timely and accurate picking, packaging, movement, and shipment of finished goods. They are expected to package goods in such a way to ensure safe storage and shipment, carefully document product quantities and make accurate document notes for presentation to the logistics department, as well as ensure accurate processing of computer entries. The Packer/Shipper is responsible for the organization and the “presentation” of product in the warehouse and for shipment, and ensuring the accuracy of on hand inventory. This is the last person to handle the product before it is passed to the customer and must ensure it is presented with the image SPIROL desires to portray.

　　工作职责：
　　1. 根据要求清点货物数量。
　　2. 包装货物，确保货物运输过程中包装箱不破损。
　　3. 根据要求在产品外包装上贴标签。
　　4. 根据装箱单要求备货并按时发货。
　　5. 来货清点、产品入库。
　　6. 快速准确完成SPIROL内部书面工作。
　　7. 整理打扫仓库区域地面、桌面、工具。
　　8. 根据上级要求处理产品挑拣工作。
　　9. 如遇紧急状况及时报告上司。
　　10. 富于创新精神，对工作不断改进，能积极提出降低成本、改进业务流程的建议。
　　Responsibilities:
　　1. Accurately count and package according to procedure and specifications.
　　2. Prepare items for shipment including packing in shipping containers in a manner to protect against damage during shipment. Ensures that shipping containers (boxes or barrels) are constructed and secured properly to ensure safe arrival under normal shipping/handling conditions.
　　3. Generates and applies general and bar-coded labels to Spirol shipping containers according to procedure and in such as way to support Spirol’s quality image.
　　4. Ensure that all available shipments are made according to the work assignment they are given and documented on the packing slip
　　5. Confirms accuracy of incoming shipments and performs review of packing slip to goods and locates or moves the product onto or from the warehouse racks or into the shipping area for shipment or storage as directed.
　　6. Completes Spirol control paperwork clearly, accurately and efficiently.
　　7. Cleans and organizes the warehouse including all floors, desktops and equipment and ensure that the area meets all Spirol cleanliness standards.
　　8. Perform functions as instructed by the supervisor which may include other areas such as product sorting.
　　9. Observes all company safety rules and regulations. Report any unsafe conditions to supervisor.
　　10. Promotes continuous improvement by taking the initiative to identify issues and provide solutions with the goal of reducing cost and improving performance.

　　考核标准：
　　1. 仓库货物/发货做到100%无差错，包括检查产品明显缺陷、包装是否符合规范。
　　2. 产品包装零缺陷，不得有客户投诉包装不规范及标签错误。
　　3. 标签符合SPIROL标准。
　　4. 保持仓库区域干净、整洁，工作台面不得有散落产品，以免发生混料。
　　5. 遵守公司规定。
　　6. 不得无故经常缺席。
　　7. 认真完成上司安排的其他任务。
　　8. 工作态度积极、有良好团队合作精神。
　　Authority:
　　Standards of Performance:
　　1. 100% of all items have been prepared adequately for warehousing or shipment. This includes a visual review of the items for obvious defects or discrepancies and verifying that the item packaged properly.
　　2. Maintain zero defects for parts packaged. This standard applies to both internal and external customer rejections. No customer returns or complaints for insufficient packaging or labeling.
　　3. General and Bar code labels are applied accurately and meet Spirol’s quality standard.
　　4. Warehouse must be clean and orderly, keeping desks free from loose parts which may cause mixed product.
　　5. Comply with all Company policies, procedures, safety rules and regulations.
　　6. Excessive absenteeism unacceptable.
　　7. Successfully completes all other tasks as assigned by supervisor..
　　8. Employee has a positive team attitude.

　　要求：
　　1. 年满18周岁
　　2. 高中学历、受过高等教育尤佳
　　3. 能学习与装箱单、其他内部文件相关的简单英语。
　　4. 可举重物28公斤。
　　5. 如有需要在60天内要能操作叉车。
　　Recommended Qualifications:
　　1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
　　2. Must be a high school graduate advanced education preferred
　　3. Ability to learn key English related to the packing slip and other internal documentation.
　　4. Must be able to lift up to 28 kgs repetitively.
　　5. Able to safely operate a fork lift truck within 60 days of employment. (if applicable)