Five Warning Signs in Job Descriptions

 

Let's face it: A lot of us are guilty of only reading the summary of a job. We frequently wish to apply as soon as we can to beat the competition after we find a title that interests us, skim a couple of the requirements, and look at the salary.

However, doing so will only make you more likely to be let down in the future. Because you are not a true fit, recruiters will either disregard your application or worse yet, you will land a job that is not a good fit for you.

It's best to keep an eye out in advance for small cues in order to avoid that hassle. Fortunately, they are frequently easy to spot from the start within the job descriptions themselves. Here are a few important warning signs.

1. Vague Job Descriptions

Job searchers should always have a clear understanding of the role's responsibilities as well as the qualifications and skills needed, so they can decide whether they are qualified for the position.

"How will the potential employer function as a manager if they can't explain what a job entails? An employer who lacks focus and a position with undefined objectives are both indicated by an unclear job description, which should be a huge red flag for job searchers, according to Daniel Shoch, the recruiter at RippleMatch.”

The opportunity may be a hoax if the job requirements are vague.

"Scammers will post job requirements that are straightforward and can quickly qualify a sizable population. According to Justin Lavelle, Chief Communications Officer of BeenVerified, the qualifications might be as straightforward as being 18 years old, a citizen, and having an internet connection. No years of experience or degrees of education are required beforehand.”

2. Too Many Requirements

Both inadequate prerequisites and job descriptions with too many requirements should be avoided, according to job searchers.

According to Jennifer Tardy, founder of Jennifer Tardy Consulting, LLC, "job descriptions with TONS of fundamental qualifications imply that the employer honestly has no concept of what they are seeking, or what it actually takes to get the job done."

This will either make it extremely difficult to pass the screening process or difficult to live up to expectations once hired.

3. One-Sided Job Listings

Job descriptions should ideally be reciprocal, explaining how the role and company will benefit you in addition to a laundry list of what the employer needs.

According to Karly May Green, HR Manager @Builtvisible, "If the job spec simply discusses what they expect from you and nothing about what they can offer in return, this is a clear red sign for a poor business culture that won't invest in you and your development." "A good job description should give a balance between the two and leave you with no doubt that this is a business where you can grow, develop, and be valued."

Mentions of competitive pay are only a few pieces of firm information to keep an eye out for.

4. Mentions of Outlandish “Earning Potential”

If a job offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is especially true when employers refer to "earning potential" rather than a specific wage.

As Val Streif of Pramp, a platform for mock interviews for job-seeking engineers, software developers, and product managers, explains, "Job descriptions that state an 'earning potential of a wide range (i.e., £45,000-£200,000) are jobs to STAY AWAY FROM”. This almost always means that it's commission-based, and you'd expect to make the lower end of this range, but they want to entice applicants by putting six figures as Very few (if any) of the persons in this position are making their potential earnings, much like a multi-level marketing scheme. Most people do so.

When you initially start a job, you should be suspicious of commission-based positions, especially if they overstate your potential commission, says Streif.

5. Indicators of Poor Work-Life Balance

It's common for a job description to list flexibility as a helpful trait, but if flexibility is over-emphasized in a description through repeated references to qualities like "able to change directions quickly," "able to work independently immediately," or "agile," it may be a sign of chaos in the workplace, according to Amy M. Gardner, Certified Career Coach.

Yet another dubious phrase? "Must be able to endure very demanding environments" or "must be willing to wear numerous hats."

According to Kyle Elliott, the founder and career consultant behind CaffeinatedKyle.com, "[These] can be symptoms that the organisation is short on staff and doesn't respect work/life balance."

The lesson of the tale? Observe those job descriptions closely. It's not necessary to carefully review every single job posting with the appropriate title, but it is advisable to read the entire job description if it is one for which you are contemplating applying. Keep in mind: A few extra minutes of work today could result in huge rewards later.