When hiring, it helps to have a well-written job description to guide your hiring decision. Basically, you compare what the candidates have to offer to the description then choose the best match. This approach to hiring began with the move from the Political Patronage or "spoils system" to the more effective and efficient Civil Service or "merit system." This results not only in hiring more qualified employees but also in making your decision legally defensible if a candidate ever challenges your decision. Hiring qualified employees is critical to the success of the organization and it all starts with the job description based on a thorough understanding of the needs of the organization