You are in : Jobs > Career Articles

Kelly Industrial

Understanding your job description and roles

Tue, 06 May 2008 10:36

Understanding your job role and description is the most important aspect when applying for a new position or starting a new job. This will ensure that you ultimately understand the tasks and duties that you are expected to fulfill in order to earn your remuneration and also add value to the company you work for.

“When applying for a job you first need to fully understand the job roles and tasks required of the position and then make sure that you do not have any limitations that could stop you from fulfilling them,” says Shaun Day, Managing Director of Kelly Industrial, leading providers of human resource and people management solutions.

“A job description, combined with the roles and responsibilities of a position should provide the employee with clearly defined parameters within which to function, and an understanding of the organization’s standards that need to be met in order to effectively execute their tasks.

“Concerns over your ability to fulfill these tasks should be discussed upfront with your recruiter,” continues Day. “If you have any physical limitations or lack the skills required of the position then address them from the start.”

Once you have clarified what your deliverables are, and have gone through the application, testing and recruitment process, be sure to talk through how these deliverables relate to your remuneration package, and how your remuneration is linked to your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

It is also important to be able to read your pay slip, in order to understand how you are remunerated for fulfilling the responsibilities of your job. Day offers some tips on understanding this aspect of your job:

Understand the deductions on your salary: Every company is entitled, by law, to deduct UIF and PAYE. Every month a certain amount of your salary will be deducted for the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Pay As You Earn. Ensure that you understand the benefits of these deductions.

Differentiate between NET and GROSS salary: The GROSS salary is the entire payment package before any deductions are made. The NET salary is what you will take home after all the necessary deductions have been made.

Understand the benefits offered: Different companies will offer different benefits. Discuss benefits such as medical aid, provident fund and retirement annuity. Remember that these benefits are directly dependent on the company you are applying to.

Enquire about which tax bracket you fall under: Depending on your income, you will fall under a certain tax bracket. High earners will pay a higher percentage of tax while low level earners will pay significantly less tax. It is important to be attentive to which tax bracket you fall under.

“Beginning a new job can be very daunting, so don’t be afraid to ask questions about what you should be doing, and how you should be doing it,” says Day. “Your line manager is your first point of call if you have any queries, be it job or pay slip related, so be sure to speak up if you need assistance,” he concludes.