ALT-4 Employment Ads Reading between the Lines
A job search is serious business. One that need not be more complicated by confusing or unclear messages in a help wanted ad. Wouldn't it be so much easier if every company ran ads that stated plainly what they're looking for in a new employee? Could it hurt to reveal the name of the company running an ad for what appears to be the career of your dreams? Why do all the job postings I hunt down read like advertising copy?
The truth is, whether it's a classified ad in the newspaper or a glamorous posting on a job search engine, the goal of every company is to attract the most qualified candidates for their open position. So in many respects, the best and brightest of those candidates are the target audience of those carefully worded presentations.
In a perfect world, a translation guide wouldn't be a necessary tool to navigate a successful job search. Unfortunately, brutal honesty doesn't exist in advertising and that requires us to read between the lines. Veteran job hunters will recognize most of these terms. But there could still be a few surprises, especially for those just beginning a career search. Allowing for exceptions to every rule, here are some candid interpretations from an industry insider:
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
What it could really mean: This is a classic with possible multiple meanings, however, it usually means the company can't or chooses not to be inundated with phone calls. It may also indicate a small office without enough staff to cover those anticipated calls. It might also be sign of impending changes at the company; that the person likely to answer those calls is the one being unknowingly replaced.
APPLICANTS OR PRINCIPALS ONLY
What it could really mean: It means this company is only interested in dealing directly with a job candidate. An employment agency or headhunter will often comb classified ads and make contact with a hiring company to offer their placement services. These companies prefer to do it themselves and avoid finder's fees or commissions.
REPLY TO P.O. BOX 4321What it could really mean: Here's another example of a term that could have multiple meanings. The hiring company may not want its employees or competitors to know they are hiring. A reply to a post office box is considered a blind ad or one where the company doesn't identify itself. Their secretiveness could be part of a plan to replace staff members or to test the job market. They may be looking for the availability of a particular skill set and there's no job at all. Sometimes a company may only want to see what kind of response they'll draw- in case the need for certain skills should arise in the future.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE REQUIRED
What it could really mean: It could mean a schedule that changes regularly or that overtime is often required. There are still organizations that operate best with a swing shift. In some company's it a nice way to say you're expected to be available whenever you're needed.
STATE YOUR SALARY REQUIREMENTSWhat it could really mean: Once you reveal this information, a company can then determine whether they even want to contact you based on your response; they may not be able to afford to hire you. It also says they want to know how much you make so they'll know how much they can offer you. They could also be fine-tuning their own salary schedule for a particular skill set.
ASK FOR MR. SWIFTYWhat it could really mean: This is an old screening technique. No one really calls himself "Mr. Swifty". When calls come in asking to speak to this man with the silly name, he can immediately connect it to his job advertisement. He can then accept or refuse the call. It also allows him to track the number of calls his ad generated. It may be worth noting that this technique is not generally used by the more highly reputable firms. They usually employ savvy gatekeepers for that task.
TEAM PLAYERS ONLY
What it could really mean: This means the last person to hold the job did not play well with others. It could be the sign of an office staff that may be a challenge to get along with and the person that vacated the position didn't need an attitude adjustment after all. The thing to note here is that if a company makes a point of including an obvious statement like this in their ad, there could be a problem.
ABILITY TO MULTI-TASK A MUST
What it could really mean: It means you could be juggling a variety of duties or covering more than one position. This company is probably looking for a candidate flexible enough to take on responsibilities not necessarily written into their job description. It could also indicate that you shouldn't be above being asked to make coffee.
NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
What it could really mean: It means someone quit, was fired or left unexpectedly. An established company is rarely surprised with last minute hiring needs. On the positive side, however, if they've acquired a huge account overnight, additional sudden hiring could be a sign of positive growth. It could also be something as innocuous as a brand new start up company, anxious to get their hiring underway.
The bottom line? Ask questions, lots of questions. The time to ask those questions? At the interview or after you've been offered a position, and always before you accept one.
