Regarding the other point, you are absolutely right regarding HR in big business, but imagine if you saw a job listing for a computer programmer and the contact was from the *accounting* department.

Muck of what you say is right with a few exceptions.

“No clear link between the hiring contact and the job opening”

In a small business they may not have an HR Department but in big business often HR departments can also not understand what they are recruiting for as they are often not technical. Its a bit much to assume what you have put and to make such a sweeping statement.

Also “Candidates are asked to specify their salary requirements” In England this is common place and would never indicate that a company is going under.”

How do you arrive at the thought they may be going bust by asking a candidate to state what they want at the early stage of the hiring process. Its actually good practice as if the applicant is unrealistic in what they want you can call an end to it there and not waste everyone’s time. It is not an indication of the company going under and to suggest so is lunacy. Its actually the sensible thing to do.

These 2 are not really signs of a poorly written job listing. The rest yes but these 2 I would say no given the examples of each you list.

Two very different sets of skills, but so many of the jobs say Level 3 Accountant when they mean Level 3 Bookkeeper.