Summary

The article discusses seven obnoxious job ads that deserve to be discarded, along with the companies that write them.

Abstract

The article criticizes job advertisements that mislead job seekers, such as those that require extensive experience for entry-level positions, demand a university degree for basic jobs, and omit salary ranges. It also highlights the bait-and-switch ad, the role without the title ad, the riddled with spelling mistakes ad, and the "everything but the kitchen sink" but pays like shit ad. The author argues that these practices are exploitative, predatory, and indicative of poor company culture.

Opinions

Job ads that require 3-5 years of experience for entry-level positions are exploitative and misleading.
Demanding a university degree for basic jobs is nonsensical and unnecessary.
Job ads without salary ranges are predatory and waste job seekers' time.
The bait-and-switch ad is a favorite of companies that burn out employees.
The role without the title ad is deceptive and undervalues employees.
Job ads riddled with spelling mistakes indicate poor company culture.
Companies that offer low salaries for highly skilled positions are unrealistic and delusional.

Thanks Bob, that’s a great anecdote. I think you’ll be perfect for the role. Now, even though it’s a manager position, you won’t have that as a title and oh, did I mention the job is entry level pay? Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

7 Obnoxious Job Ads That Deserve to go in the Bin

Along with the companies that write them

The “we expect 3–5 years experience” but call it “entry-level” position.

Perhaps the most common and egregious offender on the list, responsible for slowly sucking the soul out of anyone who has just gotten out of college and is trying to get their career started. Oh you thought “entry-level” meant that the job was entry level? That’s adorable. No, “entry-level” means entry level pay, not work.

These are the companies you should steer clear of like the Coronavirus, because they are clearly looking to exploit desperate people in between jobs. No one with the experience they’re after would accept such a shitty salary unless they were desperate.

The conditions and people in such companies generally suck as well, because when you’re that shameless in a job ad, imagine what you’re like day to day.

The “must have a university degree” ad.

Another common one, and it’s usually as common as it is nonsensical. You want an accountant? Sure, that person needs to have a degree and professional certification to do that job. Some average office job in the business world that has no special requirements though, that’s ridiculous. Some of the smartest people I know in the business world don’t have a degree and in some companies, that even means you can’t go past a certain level in seniority.

Newsflash: a degree doesn’t make someone better and in the case of the liberal arts right now, possibly makes them worse. The last person I’d want working for me is a gender studies graduate.

The job ad with no salary range

Ugh, is anyone else tired of this annoying little practice? It’s the most predatory of ways to get new employees because you’re trying to get them for as little as possible right from the start, regardless of how good they are. Not only that, in most cases you’re wasting a shitload of their time with interviews, only to tell them at the end that you can’t offer what they want.

For Christ sake, put a damn salary range in your job ads. Let people decide if it’s worth their time and yours at the outset.

Double points for douchiness if you don’t put a salary range in but say “competitive (or worse, great) salary and benefits” when it’s at the bottom of the industry standard.

The bait and switch ad

A favourite of many businesses who make a past time of burning people out to save as much money as possible. The job ad is a basic description for an IT administrator, but when you get to the company you find out the list of responsibilities you have is like one of those medieval scrolls that a messenger would roll out before reading to the king.

The job description says an 8 hour day, but by the end of the first week you realise that the 8 hours only referred to what was in the job ad, you need another 4 to do everything else.

The role without the title ad

You look at the description and it has you developing a new capability and processes at the company, managing a couple of staff and taking on senior responsibilities. You’d normally think “wow, what a great opportunity!” Except for the fact that the job title is “supply coordinator” or “business analyst”.

What!?

You expect me to do all that, and won’t even give me the title of manager or something else that accurately describes what I do? Oh and of course then there’s the real rub – the pay is for a pure business analyst. All the other stuff you’re expected to do, that’s “opportunity.” Yeah thanks, I’ll pass.

The riddled with spelling mistakes ad

I mean come on, seriously? At least run your shit through spellcheck on MS Word. It even checks grammar! Maybe go the extra mile and use something like Grammarly or the Hemingway editor. Seriously, when you can’t even write a basic job ad with correct spelling, I can’t imagine what working for you is like.

The “everything but the kitchen sink” but pays like shit ad

I see these more often than I care to. Company wants someone with incredible credentials – anyone in the industry knows that this person would be at the top of their pay scale and of ridiculous value. Yet the powers that be of company X are offering half of what they should.

Most of us just chuckle while we think “get the fuck outta here.” The management of said company probably goes to flea markets on the weekend expecting to find Excalibur available for a few bucks.