WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A JOB DESCRIPTION
A good job description should include a company overview and job overview, as well as an explanation of the associated responsibilities, skills & qualifications, and work environment. Below are some general guidelines for writing each of these sections effectively.
1. COMPANY OVERVIEW
Providing an accurate, concise description of your business is a great way to attract the right employees. Think of this section as an advertisement for your company -- why should prospective employees want to join your team?
Some useful things to include here are:
- Core company values
- Mission statement
- Brief history of your organization
- Anticipated growth
- Business goals
2. JOB OVERVIEW
In a few sentences, describe the purpose, importance, and fundamental qualities of the position being offered. No need to be too specific or comprehensive here -- the idea is to provide a zoomed-out image of the role the applicant would be filling in your company.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
This is where you’ll outline the specific day-to-day responsibilities of the job. Bullet-point format is typically the most practical way to present this information.
4. NECESSARY SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
List in bulleted format the skills & qualifications that are absolutely essential to this position. Consider as many specific conditions of the job as possible in order to create a complete list of qualifications an applicant must have in order to succeed.
5. PREFERRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
List in bulleted format the skills & qualifications that are not essential, but would make an applicant more eligible for the position being offered.
6. WORK ENVIRONMENT
Describe the environment in which the applicant would be spending most of their time. In this description, include information about:
- Company culture
- Pace of work
- Amount of collaborative vs. independent activity
- Who the employee will report to (or vice versa)
Counseling Psychologist Job Description
Below is our counseling psychologist job description. You can post it as-is to an online job board like ZipRecruiter, or download and customize it to match the unique aspects of your business. Keep in mind that adding a custom company overview and description of the work environment (outlined above) will help you draw in the right applicants.
Counseling Psychologist Job Description
Job Overview:
Our Counseling Psychologist will work with patients to manage a variety of mental health conditions, emotional problems, and difficult life situations. Our ideal candidate will be empathetic and intuitive while also offering concrete tools and methods to meet the individual needs of each client.
Responsibilities:
- Schedule client consultations and assess needs
- Use psychometric tests to verify assessment
- Build a relationship and rapport with each client
- Discuss issues and provide advice and counseling to each client
- Develop individualized treatment plans for each client and discuss implementation strategies
- Adjust and update strategies as needed
- Comply with all federal and state privacy regulations
- Perform group sessions as needed
Necessary Skills & Qualifications:
- Doctorate in counseling or clinical psychology
- Valid state license
- Strong interpersonal and listening skills
- Ability to establish a solid relationship with clients
- Comfortable working with a variety of mental health conditions
- Solid diagnostic and problem-solving skills
Preferred Skills & Qualifications:
- Minimum of one year of experience as a counseling psychologist
- Flexible schedule

Create a free account with ZipRecruiter to post this job description to their online job board.
Post to ZipRecruiter3 STEPS TO TAKE WHEN HIRING EMPLOYEES
ENSURE LEGAL COMPLIANCE
Hiring employees can be an intimidating and time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve created a hiring compliance checklist to help you get over the legal hurdles with ease. From obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to confirming work eligibility, our guide covers everything you need to know.
SET UP PAYROLL
Even if your business only has a few employees, setting up a payroll service can save you time for running your business and also ensure that your company is compliant with important federal requirements, such as employee withholding.
ACQUIRE WORKERS' COMP INSURANCE
Workers’ compensation insurance provides financial and legal protection for your business and its employees.
Whether or not you need workers’ comp insurance for your company depends on the nature of the job, the employer-employee relationship, and the unique regulations of your state.