​​Job Analysis

• What is the concept of a job analysis?  Job analysis is a concept that has been defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Justice.  The job analysis provides a detailed look at a particular job or job classification.  It is a process used to identify all of the specific tasks (work/objectives) required to perform a particular job and the specific knowledge​, skills,​ and abilities required to be able to perform each task. 

• Why Do We Use It?  Title 2. Administration, Article 10, §250 states, “All phases of the selection process, including recruitment and examining, eligible list creation, appointment, and completion of the civil service probationary period, shall provide for the fair and equitable treatment of applicants and employees on an equal opportunity basis without regard to political affiliation, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, medical condition, age, or marital status.”   Although, job analyses are most often used in the examination process they may also be used to conduct job audits, support classification specification revisions, resolve return to work issues and other personnel and/or management functions.

• Is This Something New?  Job analysis was originally developed to comply with the 1978 ​Federal Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures.  These guidelines actually mandated that selection examinations be "content-valid" (i.e., job related).  In 1990, the "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA) was introduced and additional steps in the job analysis process were added for determining "essential job functions".  Job analysis provides a foundation for content valid and reliable examinations.

• Who Conducts Job Analyses?  The Selection Unit staff work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to complete the job analyses.  SMEs are departmental employees who have either served in or have directly supervised the targeted classification.  If you are currently a permanent Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) employee, you could be asked to be a DHCS SME for your classification or a classification you supervise.