Job aids are a fantastic way to get a process in front of your team. But…sometimes, job aids get convoluted. Why? Because of information overload. So, below we are giving you our best tips for making job aids that work.

Before you continue: Your job aid should be an extension of a process or procedure in your company manual (CM). Job aids should not replace your CM but condense a task in it for more efficient use.

 

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1. Think Less is More

If your employee has to pull out the magnifying glass to read your job aid, you may want to look at that. Job aids are meant to be aids, not make life more difficult. If you find your job aid is too busy and your employees end up missing or ignoring some of the topics, either:

• Condense the information to the most important points
• Make two or more job aids. It’s OK to not have just one on the same topic.

Cramming everything into one sheet of paper never really worked (well, maybe for Scantrons). It defeats the purpose and it renders the job aid ineffective.

 

2. Target the User

Remember who you’re making this for. Who is the ultimate user of this job aid? If, for example, this is for a quick-service restaurant or even a busy medical professional, think about:

• How much time do they have to read this?
• Can they quickly glance at the job aid for reference and get the information needed?

Think simplicity and vital facts when making a job aid. If your user needs this information for quick and easy reference, wonder if that’s what you’ve created for them.

 

3. Add Design Elements

Design elements don’t have to be pictures. Of course, pictures help tremendously depending on the context, so have at it if it helps the user with the job. But don’t go crazy. A job aid doesn’t need to have pictures. In fact, adding pics to a job aid that doesn’t need it can be distracting.

For an example of a job aid that looks classy and not inundated with pictures, check out the cover picture on this blog. We created this checklist, so we think it rocks! No need for pictures, just simple, easy-on-the-eye, classic design.

 

Last Words…

If an employee gives you feedback that the job aid has too much info, listen to them. They’re the ones on the front-line operation. If you feel the information is necessary, work with your instructional designer on a way to either condense the information, or to make it into multiple job aids.

 

Who Are We?

We are Miranda Park Learning, your instructional design experts. When you need to create meaningful job aids for your team that get “to the point,” contact us. We’re here to help you deliver the right training systems to your team.

 

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Picture: Screenshot from a Miranda Park Learning Job Aid

This blog was written by Miranda Park Learning and has been verified unique by Copyscape