Job post buzzword (noun): a commonly used hiring term such as “collaborative,” “team player,” or “hard-working” that lacks a clear, consistent definition and is often used without specific context about how the skill applies to the role.
I got these pens printed that say “highly collaborative team player” because I think those are the 4 most highly abused buzzwords in job posts of all time. Maybe next to “pay commensurate with experience.” All of us have heard the phrase before, but most recruiters aren’t sure why buzzwords like these might be harmful in job posts. Instead they think “I am collaborative.” Good job, buddy. Your understanding of the word and skills are not the problem with everyone’s favorite recruiting buzzwords.
The problem is that these words do not have universal meaning. Collaborative. Team player. Hard-working. All those words have different meanings in different contexts. Think software engineer versus farmer. Those 2 people may have completely different definitions of those words based on their lives and day-to-day tasks. A farmer might view collaboration as a delivery at the door while the software engineer expects you to sit next to them for 36 hours straight. Buzzword definitions are shaped by our experiences. Yet when these words are used in job posts, there’s 0 context provided on what people mean so these words mean nothing.
There’s a simple fix for this issue. Just provide context. You want someone that’s collaborative? Tell them who they will collaborate with. What they will work on. Include the scope and scale of the work. It’s not “lead team.” It’s “lead a team of 5 in a department of 500.” Add more details than “we want you” if you expect someone to embody these soft skills based off work experience and your long winded job post.
How To Remove Buzzword Bingo From Mandatory Requirements
This is one of those tactics that’s easy once you know what to look for. The idea here is simple: add enough context so that any person could close their eyes and picture themselves doing the thing - almost like a movie script.
For example...
| Collaborate | Work with a team of four to finish daily cleaning tasks so everyone can go home on time. |
| Analytical | We’ll rely on your analytical skills to review 50 page reports for errors that could cost us millions. |
| Team Player | We need a team player. Someone who will happily volunteer to help with tasks that the three teams you support will need done. |
In all of these examples, as simple as they are, you can see how a little bit of context goes a long way to ensure the recruiter and candidate both understand what the right hire needs to be comfortable doing.
Just For Fun: Buzzword Bingo Card
Most companies aren’t there yet. Instead of clear, concise job posts, they write rambling diatribes filled with skill keywords. So, today I thought we’d have a little fun and give you a job post buzzword bingo card for the next time you need a laugh at work while editing. If you’re looking for a tool to give feedback to others, do not use this bingo card. Use the job post audit here.
In this document you’ll find:
- A bingo card I picked,
- A blank bingo card,
- A list of the buzzwords that don’t need to be in anyone’s job post.
Are there any buzzwords you're tired of seeing that didn't make the list? Comment on this post so I can add them to the download.
