WHAT EMPLOYERS REALLY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY:
ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION
You’ll make under $7 an hour.
ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION IN AN UP-AND-COMING COMPANY
You’ll make under $7 an hour; we’ll be bankrupt in a year.
AN UP-AND COMING SOFTWARE COMPANY
We want you to get your hopes up, but there’s no chance we’ll be the next Mircosoft.
PROFIT-SHARING PLAN
Once the higher-ups share it, there won’t be a profit.
COMPETITIVE SALARY
We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY
We have no time to train you; you’ll have to introduce yourself to your co-workers.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER
Inc. Magazine wrote us up a few years ago, but we haven’t done anything innovative since.
IMMEDIATE OPENING
The person who used to have this job gave notice a month ago. We’re just now running the ad.
SALES POSTITION REQUIRING MOTIVATED SELF-STARTER
We’re not going to supply leads; there’s no base salary; you’ll wait 30 days for your first commission check.
SELF-MOTIVATED
Management won’t answer questions.
WE OFFER GREAT BENEFITS
After 90 days, you can join our HMO, which has a $500 deductible and a $50 co-pay.
PENSION/RETIREMENT BENEFITS
After three years, we’ll allow you to fund your own 401(k).
If you behave, we’ll give a 3 percent matching contribution.
SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC, FUN, HARD WORKING PEOPLE
. . . who still live with their parents and won’t mind our internship-level salaries.
CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE
We don’t pay enough for you to dress well; a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.
COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
We have a lot of turnover.
EXCITING AND PROFESSIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
Guys in gray suits will bore you with tales of squash and weekends on yachts.
JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM
We all listen to nutty motivational tapes.
FUN WORK ENVIRONMENT
Your co-workers will be insulted if you don’t drink with them.
A DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT
We booze it up at company parties.
MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED
You’ll be six months behind schedule on your first day.
SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS REQUIRED
If we’re in trouble, you’ll go on TV and get us out of it.
SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED
Some time each night and some time each weekend.
SALARY RANGE $24K-$32K
We’ll offer you $22K to start.
A HIGHLY VISIBLE POSITION
You’ll give boring speeches on your own time.
FLEXIBLE HOURS
Work 40 hours; get paid for 25.
DUTIES WILL VARY
Anyone in the office can boss you around.
WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED
Those who missed the last round of lay-offs, that is.
MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL
We have no quality control.
COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERRED
Unless you wasted those four years studying something useless like Philosophy,
English or Religion.
CAREER-MINDED
Applicants must be childless (and remain that way).
APPLY IN PERSON
If you’re old or ugly, you’ll be told the position has been filled.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
We’ve filled the job; our call for resumes is a formality.
SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE
You’ll need it to replace three people who just left.
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST
You’re walking into a company in perpetual chaos.
REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS
You’ll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.
GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Management communicates; you listen, figure out what they want, and do it.
ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD
You whine, you’re fired.