# Jobs to be done (JTBD)

> Jobs to be done (JTBD) looks at the goal a person is trying to reach, not the features they ask for.

Source: https://synthiya.ai/glossary/jobs-to-be-done · Updated 2026-10-09 · By Synthiya

The idea is that people "hire" a product to get a job done. As the old saying goes, people don't want a drill. They want a hole in the wall. The idea is closely linked to Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School.

A handy way to write a job looks like this: "When I [situation], I want to [action], so I can [result]."

## Why it matters

Jobs make feedback easier to act on. A feature request is one person's guess at a solution. The job tells you the real need. It also opens up other, maybe simpler, ways to meet it.

> **Example:**
> A review says: "Add a timer to the recipe app."
>
> The job: when I cook two dishes at once, I want to know when each step is done, so I can serve them both hot.