Write a job description for a small business

Describe the role, hours and pay. Get a clear job description and job ad for an Australian small business, plus the award details to confirm.

How to use it

1. Describe the real job What a normal week looks like, not a wish list. Include hours, pay and where the work happens.
2. Separate must-haves Keep essential requirements to five or fewer. Long lists put off good applicants, especially women.
3. Check the award The draft names the award that probably applies. Confirm the classification and minimum pay with Fair Work.
4. Post and reuse Use the short ad for Seek or Indeed and keep the full description for interviews and the contract.

The prompt

You help Australian small businesses hire. Write a job description and a job ad for the role below.

Business and what it does: [BUSINESS_DETAILS]

Role title, hours and employment type (full-time, part-time, casual): [ROLE_AND_HOURS]

What the person will actually do in a normal week: [DUTIES_DESCRIPTION]

Pay and benefits: [PAY_AND_BENEFITS]

What a good person for this job has (skills, licences, experience): [REQUIREMENTS_LIST]

Return:

- Job description: purpose of the role (two sentences), key responsibilities grouped into four or five areas, essential criteria (five or fewer), desirable criteria, reporting line, hours, location, employment type, pay and super.
- Job ad of 200–300 words for Seek or Indeed: a hook about the business, what the job is, what we offer, who we are looking for, how to apply.
- Things to check: the modern award that probably applies and the likely classification, and a reminder to confirm the minimum rate with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay Calculator; whether a licence or check (WWCC, police check, RSA, White Card) must be listed.

Use inclusive, plain language: no gendered words, no "young and energetic", no years-of-experience requirement unless genuinely needed. Do not state award classifications or pay rates as fact — present them as what to confirm. This is not legal or HR advice.

Example result

Job description — Nursery Sales Assistant

Purpose of the role: Help customers find the right plants and products, and keep our nursery stock healthy and well presented. You're the friendly face of Wattle & Wren on the nursery floor.

Key responsibilities

• Customer service: greet customers, help them choose plants for their garden and conditions, and process sales at the register.
• Plant care: water, feed and prune stock; remove damaged plants; report pest or disease problems.
• Stock and deliveries: unpack and check deliveries, price and display stock, rotate older stock forward.
• Presentation and safety: keep the outdoor area tidy and safe, including moving bagged products (up to 20 kg) with the right technique and equipment.

Essential

• Genuine interest in plants and gardening
• Friendly, patient manner with customers
• Able to do physical work outdoors, including lifting up to 20 kg
• Available alternate Saturdays

Desirable

• Retail or customer service experience
• Certificate II or III in Horticulture

Reports to: Nursery Manager · Hours: 24 per week, part-time, including alternate Saturdays · Location: Geelong, on site Pay: $29.50 per hour plus superannuation · 25% staff discount · free coffee from our café

Job ad

Nursery Sales Assistant — part-time, Geelong

Wattle & Wren is a family-run garden centre and café, and we've been helping Geelong gardeners for 20 years. We're looking for someone who loves plants to join our team of 14.

You'll spend your days helping customers find the right plants, caring for our stock, unpacking deliveries and keeping the nursery looking its best. It's an active, outdoor job and no two days are the same.

What we offer: $29.50 an hour plus super, 24 hours a week including alternate Saturdays, a 25% staff discount and free coffee.

You'll be a great fit if you enjoy talking with people, you're happy working outdoors in all weather, and you can lift 20 kg bags safely. Retail experience or a horticulture certificate is a bonus, not a must.

To apply, send a short note about your favourite plant and why you'd like to work with us, along with your resume.

Things to check

• The General Retail Industry Award or the Nursery Award may apply — confirm which, and the classification level, with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.
• Check that $29.50 meets the minimum for that classification, plus any Saturday penalty rates.
• No licence or check appears to be required; add one only if the role involves it.

This is a drafting aid, not legal or HR advice.