What is the difference between a job description and job specifications?

A job description outlines the primary duties and responsibilities of a given position in a company, while a job specification outlines the qualities and qualifications required of someone in the role. Both are useful in evaluating whether an applicant is a good fit for a job.

The job description includes the title, duties, reporting structure, equipment used and potential challenges in a given job. The description may also have goals and skills required. The specification includes the personal qualities, experiences, training, skills and personality needed by someone to succeed. The description and specification both result from a job analysis conducted by human resources.