Job aids assist employees in performing their work tasks. To give you an example: the laminated sheet you may have at the top of your keyboard that tells you how to use the function keys, is a job aid.
Job aids can be used in conjunction with training or on their own. For instance: many companies, who implement a training program, supply a training manual for reference after the program.
Believes that in some cases job aids are more effective than training altogether. If there is a training session on how to use the photocopier, chances are employees are going to forget what they heard and many won’t attend the training at all because, "they were too busy". But if there’s an instruction card stuck to the machine, that can provide the help people need, in a manner that’s more effective and cheaper than training.
Types of Job Aids

To get your creativity flowing, here are a few examples of job aids:

* Training Manual: A manager may use a training manual to outline the proper questions to ask during a performance review.
* "Cheat Sheets": This may seem like something from school, but many people make small reference cards to remind them how something works, i.e. how to check voice mail. You may find these cheat sheets tucked under a few phones in your office.
* Checklists: Useful for tasks that have to be done in order, i.e. steps to be completed in a credit check, how to set-up a piece of machinery, etc.
* Posters: Safety posters show employees the proper way to use dangerous machinery.
* Worksheets: Pre-made worksheets or forms could be used for hiring new employees, for example. An "Application for Employment" is a type of worksheet.

A Few Ideas for Designing a Job Aid

Find Out What Employees Need Help With the Most
You may have noticed that some employees are having more trouble remembering certain tasks than others. Are they always asking you the same questions on how to perform certain tasks? Are certain mistakes common? Gather as much information you can about what employees need to know.

1. Ask What Works Best For Employees

When you’re gathering your information, ask employees what type of job aid would work best for them. One thing to remember is that the only person who knows what works best is the person who is using the job aid - that’s why talking to employees is so important. It seems many managers feel they know what’s best for employees - and implement something that no one feels comfortable using.
It’s very common for employees to create their own job aids. These provide valuable insight into what is needed. For example: A manufacturing company, that had changed its location, found its productivity wasn’t as high in the new building. The managers couldn’t figure out the problem until they talked to the employees in that department. Apparently, the employees had written the best settings for individual machines on the pillars inside the old building. When they moved they lost that job aid. If managers had known this they could have transferred the information onto paper.
Now if your employees didn’t write their information on the building, it might be just the case of copying and distributing a job aid that an employee has already designed.

1. Write Your Directions Carefully

It’s surprisingly difficult to write directions, so devote a lot of attention to this step. The directions must be easy to follow for everyone who will be using them. Consider the order in which things should be done. Also pay strict attention to the wording - will people understand what you’re trying to say? When you’ve finished writing the directions, give them to some employees to see what they think.

1. Keep Up-To-Date

Be prepared to revise job aids on an on-going basis to keep them up-to-date. A job aid is useless if it says to use a certain function, when the company got rid of that function three years earlier. Keeping out-of-date job aids could do more harm than good. Some Additional Notes to Consider On Job Aids
Design: Equipment and production designers strive to design equipment that is so easy to use that job aids aren’t necessary. For example: if a machine is dangerous to someone who puts a hand in a certain way - the machine should be designed so you can’t possibly put your hand in that area at all.
Posters: Creating a poster for a job aid isn’t just a matter of writing the information on a big piece of paper. There is a certain element of design that must be considered so people actually read it. Talk to your graphics department, or read design books to get the information you need.
Checklists: Checklists are meant to do everything in order - not simply the tasks you want to do.
Conclusion
Whatever job aid you use, make sure it’s relevant to the needs of your employees. I suggest using some job aids over others. For instance: an employee is more likely to use a job aid like a checklist that remains at his or her desk, than a thick training manual that is kept at the other end of the office. Remember to think logically when designing your job aid and to get as much feedback as possible.