Caregiver job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

8

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 1-2 of 5

very little to some preparation

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS 2025–35 · broader occupation

Data Government data groups this job as Personal Care Aides (O*NET-SOC 31-1122.00). O*NET figures on this page are for that occupation; BLS pay and projections are for the broader BLS occupation, labelled where shown.

1. Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor. importance 4.7 of 5
2. Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance. importance 4.7 of 5
3. Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists. importance 4.5 of 5
4. Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services. importance 4.5 of 5
5. Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care. importance 4.4 of 5
6. Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles. importance 4.4 of 5
7. Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands. importance 4.2 of 5
8. Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them. importance 4.2 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Assisting and Caring for Others, Getting Information, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Training and Teaching Others and Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Train family members to provide bedside care.
• Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.
• Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.

Knowledge areas: English Language, Transportation, Customer and Personal Service, Psychology and Education and Training.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: MEDITECH software, Appletree, Computer reading software, Mi-Co Mi-Forms, August Systems Visit Wizard, Email software. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for the broader occupation.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2 of 5 (very little to some preparation). Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a caregiver.

The most common answer among caregivers surveyed by O*NET is a high school diploma or equivalent (48%).

Job title: Caregiver
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Caregiver to provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
- Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.
- Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in service orientation, social perceptiveness and active listening
- Working knowledge of English Language and Transportation
- [Software your team uses, e.g. MEDITECH software or Appletree]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

BLS projects employment in the broader occupation Home health and personal care aides to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 760,500 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

• Read a real caregiver posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only caregiver work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (service orientation and social perceptiveness); caregiver interview questions turns them into practice questions.