Which statement best distinguishes a job description from a job specification?

Which statement best distinguishes a job description from a job specification?

• A. A job description lists duties and responsibilities; a job specification lists required human qualities
• B. A job description lists required education; a job specification lists reporting relationships
• C. A job description is about compensation; a job specification is about work conditions
• D. A job description is a training plan; a job specification is a marketing plan

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a job description describes the role itself—what the job does, its duties, responsibilities, and where it fits in the organization—while a job specification outlines the person needed to do that job—the qualifications, education, experience, skills, and personal attributes required. The statement that best distinguishes them is that a job description lists duties and responsibilities, whereas a job specification lists the required human qualities. This captures the core difference: the description is about the job, the specification is about the person. Other options mix up which elements belong to each document (for example, education and reporting relationships, or focusing on compensation or plans that aren’t central to the description/specification distinction).

The main idea here is that a job description describes the role itself—what the job does, its duties, responsibilities, and where it fits in the organization—while a job specification outlines the person needed to do that job—the qualifications, education, experience, skills, and personal attributes required. The statement that best distinguishes them is that a job description lists duties and responsibilities, whereas a job specification lists the required human qualities. This captures the core difference: the description is about the job, the specification is about the person. Other options mix up which elements belong to each document (for example, education and reporting relationships, or focusing on compensation or plans that aren’t central to the description/specification distinction).