Job ad listings. Too often, poorly written job ads will take your resume without giving you anything in return except feelings of rejection. Here’s how to avoid setting yourself up for that fall.

Road To Nowhere - Bad Job Ad Listings

Signs to watch for

Job listing is vague

This can happen when non-technical people try to write a technical job listing.

No mention of required skills

Some companies use their job listings as an appeal for affiliate partners instead of trying to actually hire you.

Job listing is incomplete

A typical example would be a high responsibility role that only received a short job description.

Too many requirements

Many companies associate a senior position with a wide breadth of experience but sometimes they go too far.

Impossible requirements

I remember seeing a job listing in 1998 that called for 5 years of Java programming experience when Java itself had only existed for 3 years.

Candidates are asked to specify their salary requirements

This is a sure sign of a company with a very limited budget, such as a company close to bankruptcy.

Job listing illegally asks for personal information

While job ads in Dubai can go as far as specifying a preferred nationality, ads elsewhere may be more subtle but just as problematic by implying that only certain groups of people are wanted.

No clear link between the hiring contact and the job opening

When a small company is growing, the hiring contact might not be from a human resources department or even the department trying to fill a position. The danger here is that the ad was written by someone who doesn’t understand the company’s needs.

No call to action

A job ad shouldn’t read like the ingredients on a cereal box, it should clearly compel you to respond in a specific way.

What should you do when you recognize these signs?

Seek clarification

A poorly-written ad may expose unqualified hiring personnel but hide a good future boss. If the ad is otherwise alluring, contact the company or recruiter – by phone, email or LinkedIn – for extra details before sending in your resume. It’s not important who wrote the ad, but it is important to understand the company’s real needs and most importantly, whether you can fill them or not.

Ignore the ad

Unless you work in an industry sector that rarely has openings, avoid wasting time replying to every listing you see. Even more so when there might be legal issues involved. The time and effort just aren’t worth the ensuing headaches and negativity.

Also useful

Can you read the signs? Subscribe to JobMob via RSS or email and follow me on Twitter for other unconventional ways to get ahead in your job quest.

--Jacob Share

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  Tags: ads, job-description, requirements     Category Filed under: Must-Read Tips