Lost in translation: Decoding bizarre job descriptions

The job hunt is full of unwelcome surprises: ghosting from recruiters, varied salary ranges, or absurdly long and unpaid work samples. But what if the ridiculousness started even earlier? Say, as early as the job description?

Have you ever seen a job post that sometimes borders on the absurd? Maybe an entry-level role with impossible demands or remote positions requiring full-time availability for part-time pay? If you’re confused, so are we.

We’ve gathered a collection of ludicrous job descriptions from our peers on the job market—and you’re in for a treat! Exploring these examples reveals that the real challenge in landing a job often lies in deciphering the job description itself. It goes without saying that the following stories are serious red flags.

Here to help us decipher these job descriptions and figure out the root cause of these misconnections is Anessa Fike, CEO and Founder of Fike + Co., a consulting firm that specializes in interim or fractional work, HR, and talent executive leadership. She is here to unpack why some companies miss the mark.

POV: You’re job hunting and stumble upon some outlandish job descriptions

The part-time full-time ruse – Andrew’s tale

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, cybersecurity consultant Andrew shares the curious case of his wife’s administrative job hunt. She stumbled upon what seemed like a standard remote position offering $11 an hour—but the devil was in the details: “The job demanded full-time availability—a staggering 40 hours a week on standby—but the pay would only cover the actual hours worked. Imagine being tied down, full-time, but your paycheck only reflects a fraction of that time.”

Fike doesn’t mince words: “First of all, if you are a company, please don’t do this—ever. The audacity!” She says this shows a company is seeking a full-time employee’s commitment while only willing to dish out part-time pay. She sees this as a significant misstep in workforce planning, offloading the burden unfairly onto employees.

Bait and switch: The writer’s plight – Isabella’s encounter

Isabella, a Philadelphia-based freelance writer, encountered a job listing that seemed like every writer’s dream. The description promised an opportunity to create “dynamic, thought-provoking content” across various topics. Eager to showcase her creative talents, Isabella applied, only to discover that the reality was starkly different during the interview. “The role was solely focused on producing SEO-heavy, affiliate marketing articles—a far cry from the original advertisement. The ‘thought-provoking content’ they initially touted was merely a facade to lure in writers,” Isabella recalls, feeling completely misled.

Fike chimes in, “Yikes! Seems like they SEO-ed their own job description using clickbait words.” She warns job seekers about such misleading listings, advising them to ask thorough questions and seek insights from current employees through informational interviews, for example. “This type of shift from what was written to what they actually needed could be seen as false advertising as well, which is a major red flag,”

The overqualified junior – Samantha’s unrealistic tech role

Samantha, a software developer from Seattle, came across a junior developer position with incongruously high requirements. “The job demanded proficiency in numerous programming languages and experience with several database systems, machine learning, and cloud computing, all for a salary barely above entry level. It seemed like they were looking for a tech wizard with years of experience but only willing to pay for a novice. These unrealistic expectations make breaking into the tech industry so daunting for newcomers.”

“This absolutely sounds like someone who doesn’t really understand development and engineering wrote the job description,” Fike notes. “It’s likely that this organization doesn’t know what it needs, and they would overwork this person while underpaying them,” she adds, cautioning job seekers against applying to such misleading listings.

Globe-totting analyst – Lucas’s travel-heavy role

Lucas, a data analyst from Austin, recounts an unusual job requirement he encountered: an entry-level data analyst position demanded readiness for international relocation and extensive travel up to 75% of the time.

“It’s completely unrealistic and impractical, especially for someone just starting out and seeking stability,” Fike comments. She criticizes the company’s lack of proper planning and foresight. “This indicates that the company might not make sound business judgments,” Fike observes, warning job seekers about the potential pitfalls of such unreasonable demands.

The 40-skill IT support – Michael’s experience

Michael’s experience starts with an entry-level IT support listing in Cleveland. “The job description was overwhelming, requiring advanced skills in over 40 areas. I’m talking about skills and knowledge you’d expect from someone years into their career, not fresh out of school. And the icing on the cake? The salary was listed as ‘entry-level compensation’. That’s a hard pass from me.”

Fikes observation: “They were essentially looking for an experienced professional but offering entry-level compensation.” She believes this indicates a lack of understanding about the role within the organization. “A job description with so many requirements is a glaring sign that the team doesn’t understand what they’re looking for,” she advises, urging job seekers to be cautious of unrealistic job postings.

The two-in-one receptionist – John’s double-duty dilemma

John, a budding entrepreneur from New York City, encountered a peculiar job listing for a receptionist role at a marketing firm. “Initially, the job seemed standard, involving tasks like greeting clients and handling paperwork. However, it also required the applicant to assist in the office manager in ‘all operational capacities’, including taking over their duties in their absence.” The description then took an odd turn, stipulating a constant happy and positive demeanor around the office manager. “It also demanded the candidate to be always on call and readily available for the manager’s needs,” he said.

Fike bluntly says, “Despicable! So many companies try to ‘get a deal’ on people. It’s abhorrent. If you get a gut feeling or an instinct that a company is trying to do this, run the other way.” She advises job seekers to trust their instincts in these kinds of situations.

The underpaid environmental expert – Ashley’s disheartening offer

Ashley, a recent Master’s graduate in environmental science from San Francisco, came across a job posting that left her both surprised and disappointed. She found an environmental consultant position that seemed perfect for her qualifications. However, the salary offered was barely above California’s minimum wage. “I mean, I’ve spent years studying and accumulating debt,” she says, “and this job expects me to manage complex environmental assessments for what amounts to a beginner’s paycheck.”

Fike responds, “What a company shows at the outset often only gets worse. With its low pay, this job description clearly shows that the organization doesn’t value its people or their expertise.” She advises job seekers to avoid such positions, as they likely indicate deeper organizational issues and a lack of appreciation for specialized education and skills.

Decoding the dynamics of job descriptions

So, after all these crazy job descriptions, we can only think of one simple question: why?

Why are some job descriptions so crap?

“Sometimes it’s just a lack of knowledge and experience of the person writing the job description,” says Fike. Many organizations lack consistency in their job descriptions, missing the chance to effectively communicate the role’s potential impact and story. She criticizes the habit of listing numerous requirements, stating, “It signifies to the candidate that the company really doesn’t know what it needs in the role it’s hiring for.”

A major oversight in many organizations is the failure to update job descriptions as roles evolve, which can lead to inaccurate information being shared on the job description—thus leading to a significant disconnect between the job posting and the actual responsibilities of the role. Fike explains that companies tend to quickly assemble descriptions from previous listings, leading to inaccuracies. The process should involve a collaborative effort, she says, “between talent [acquisition] and the hiring manager, and even those who are doing or have done the role.”

A serious concern is the limitation these descriptions place on the diversity of applicants. Fike explains, “Overly demanding requirements deter a wide range of qualified candidates, particularly impacting women and underrepresented groups who tend to apply only if they meet most of the criteria.”

The disconnect between perception and reality

There exists a notable gap in how HR professionals and candidates view job descriptions. While HR sees them as part of a bigger picture, candidates often regard them as the definitive outline of a role. Fike offers practical advice for jobseekers facing exaggerated job descriptions: “If you meet 50-60% of the requirements in a job description, go for it,” she suggests, as it’s rare for candidates to meet 100% of the criteria.

However, if a job description is absurdly unrealistic or inequitable, it’s likely a sign of deeper organizational issues. In cases with minor discrepancies, she encourages candidates to still apply but to use the interview process to seek clarity and understand how the requirements contribute to success in the role.

Keep calm and carry on applying

With all these ludicrous job descriptions, it’s clear that job seekers need to navigate the market with both eyes open. Confronted with demands that stretch the imagination and offers that test credulity, the astute job hunter should approach with curiosity and caution. Always ready to probe further in interviews and unafraid to question the finer details, remember: if the job description sounds too unbelievable, it might just be a flight of fancy. So keep your wits about you and your reality checks handy—the job hunt is an adventure in itself!

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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