How to find “red flags” in a job description

Generic copy and pasted jobs and descriptions

If you see a very broad or generic job description, this usually means that they don't really know what they are looking for in a candidate. This is especially true for a copy and pasted job description, as it shows that the company wasn’t able (or didn’t bother) to put together a specific job description for the position.

Confusing job titles

A confusing or misleading job title can mean that the company is unsure of what they want or is hoping that one hire will fulfill multiple open needs. If the job title doesn’t match the ask, move on.

Overly long job descriptions

If the key responsibilities in the job description are overly long and filled with a vast amount of responsibilities, especially for an associate or entry level position, that’s a big red flag. Again, it shows that the company is hoping that one hire will cover multiple job openings or that they haven’t taken the time to prioritize their needs.

Unpaid overtime or other unreasonable requirements

In an industry that requires overtime or for you to be on call outside of working hours, they should be explicit in stating that in the job description. If a job description that wouldn’t typically require it states that a role requires unpaid overtime or other unreasonable requirements (think: “available 24/7”, “available on weekends”, etc.) that’s a red flag. Before applying to a job there, make sure to reach out to an employee working there to double check the working environment. 

Sloppy/poorly written

Job descriptions should be clearly written, proofread and edited. If they aren’t, it isn’t a good sign. Job descriptions are a representation of an organization and how they work and most companies take them very seriously. Best case, a sloppy job description demonstrates that the company didn’t even bother to carefully put together a job description, which is an indication that they’re cutting corners in other areas as well. Worst case, intentional typos and bad grammar are sometimes used by scammers hoping to find people who are easy to dupe (the thinking being that someone less likely to notice a typo may ignore other red flags as well). If it’s poorly written, move on!

Unclear jargon in the description

If the job description has lots of jargon like “ninja”, “shark” or “guru” to describe the role/position, definitely do a deep dive into the company and try to connect with someone who works there. This language isn’t descriptive and is sometimes a red flag of an organization with a toxic culture. 

Lack of clarity 

If you read a job description beginning to end and you still don’t really understand what the job is, don’t apply. A good job description should explain what they want this position to accomplish. If the job description is unclear when you read it, that lack of clarity likely translates to confusion within the company about this role and its purpose.

Terms like “we are a family”, etc. 

Companies that use terms like “we operate like a family”, or “we’re together 24/7” can prove to become toxic workplaces. If you see terms like that in a job description, make sure to speak with people who work at the company to see what the work environment looks like.