Työnkuvista

Työnkuvista is a Finnish term referring to job descriptions and the body of documents that define the tasks, responsibilities, qualifications, and other details of a position. The singular työnkuva describes an individual position, while työnkuvista can denote multiple such descriptions or the concept as a whole.

A työnkuva outlines the purpose of a role and the key duties it entails, along with reporting lines and working conditions. It serves as an internal tool to align expectations across recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee development. While not typically a stand‑alone legal contract, a well‑defined työnkuva informs employment terms and supports compensation decisions and workload planning.

Common elements often found in työnkuvat include the job title and department, a concise purpose or summary, main responsibilities and tasks, required education, experience and competencies, authority and decision-making scope, supervision relationships, and working conditions such as hours or travel. Some descriptions also reference salary bands, career level, or job family classifications to aid evaluation and progression.

Creation and maintenance usually involve collaboration between human resources and the hiring manager or department head. They should be reviewed and updated to reflect organizational changes, and communicated to employees. In practice, työnkuvat are used in recruitment, onboarding, performance appraisal, and development planning, helping to anchor expectations and support consistent management across teams.

Best practices emphasize keeping työnkuvat as living documents that evolve with duties and technology, avoiding rigidity, and incorporating input from employees to ensure accuracy and fairness.