What is Job Order?
Definition: A job order is a client's formal request for a staffing agency to fill a position, containing job requirements, qualifications, compensation, and other details needed for candidate sourcing and placement.
Also known as: JO, Job Req, Client Order, Staffing Order, Work Order
Quick Summary
TL;DRA job order is a client's formal request for a staffing agency to fill a position. It includes job requirements, qualifications, pay rate, duration, and other details needed to source and place candidates. Effective job order intake is critical—poor intake leads to poor matches and wasted effort.
Key Facts
What It Is
Client request to fill position
Definition
Critical Element
Quality of intake
Success factor
Key Components
Requirements, rate, duration
Standard content
Common Issue
Incomplete information
Industry challenge
Why Job Order Quality Matters
A job order is only as good as the information it contains. Incomplete or inaccurate job orders lead to mismatched candidates, wasted recruiter time, frustrated clients, and low fill rates. Many staffing challenges trace back to poor job order intake—recruiters work hard on the wrong things because they didn't fully understand the requirement.
Common Pain Points
- 1Incomplete requirements leading to mismatched candidates
- 2Hidden must-haves discovered only after submissions
- 3Pay rates that don't attract qualified candidates
- 4Unclear or unrealistic client expectations
Effective Job Order Intake
Thorough intake sets up successful placements.
- 1
Capture Core Requirements
Job title, responsibilities, required skills and experience, education, certifications, location, schedule, and duration. Get specifics, not generalities.
- 2
Clarify Must-Haves vs Nice-to-Haves
Which requirements are truly non-negotiable? Which are preferences? Understanding this prevents rejecting good candidates for unimportant reasons.
- 3
Confirm Compensation and Terms
Bill rate, pay rate, overtime, benefits eligibility, assignment length, temp-to-perm possibility. Ensure rates attract qualified candidates.
- 4
Understand the Context
Why is this position open? What does success look like? Who's the hiring manager? What's the interview process? Culture fit factors? Context helps position candidates.
Result
Invest time in intake to save time in filling.
Job Order Deep Dive
Job Order Components
Complete job orders include: position title and department, reporting structure, key responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, compensation (bill rate, pay rate, benefits), schedule and location, assignment duration and start date, interview process, and any special requirements or considerations.
Job Order vs Job Requisition
Terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but job requisition typically refers to internal approvals (headcount authorization), while job order specifically means the request to a staffing agency. A requisition may generate multiple job orders to different agencies.
Managing Job Order Volume
Not all job orders deserve equal effort. Prioritize based on: fillability (realistic requirements and rates), relationship value (key client vs one-off), margin potential, and likelihood of placement. Strategic prioritization improves overall fill rate and profitability.
Common Misconceptions
- All job orders are equal priority
- Job descriptions contain all needed information
- Intake is just paperwork
- More job orders always means more placements
Job Order Quality Impact
| Intake Quality | Submission Quality | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Thorough intake | Well-matched candidates | High fill rate |
| Basic information | General matches | Some success |
| Minimal details | Guesswork submissions | High rejection |
| Incomplete/inaccurate | Mismatched candidates | Wasted effort |
How intake quality affects outcomes
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Fill Job Orders Faster
Quick resume formatting for rapid submissions