Here is a more comprehensive list of corporate jargon and cliché phrases commonly found in job postings, along with what they really mean:
| Bullshit Expression | What It Really Means |
|---|---|
| Fast-paced environment | Expect tight deadlines, constant changes, and a hectic workplace where everything is always urgent. |
| Self-starter | You’ll have minimal guidance, direction or support from management. Be prepared to figure things out on your own. |
| Wear many hats | You’ll be doing the jobs of multiple people for the price of one. Expect to be overworked and underpaid. |
| Dynamic | The responsibilities will constantly change based on the company’s needs. Your job description is meaningless. |
| Passionate | You must love the company and your work to an unhealthy degree. Prepare to sacrifice work-life balance. |
| Competitive salary | The pay is average at best compared to similar roles elsewhere. They won’t compensate you fairly. |
| Rockstar, ninja, guru | They want a superhero who will work tirelessly to meet unrealistic expectations. Huge red flag. |
| Work hard, play hard | Long hours are the norm and you’re expected to participate in forced “fun” company activities. |
| Attention to detail | Prepare for tedious, micromanaged work and harsh punishments for even tiny mistakes. |
| Results-oriented | Only the end results matter, regardless of the process. Expect unreasonable targets and high pressure. |
| Team player | You must always put the team’s needs above your own, even if it means working extra hours for no additional pay. |
| Flexible | Your schedule and responsibilities can change at any moment based on the company’s whims, not your needs. |
| Growth opportunity | They want to sell you on future advancement because the actual role is lackluster. Chances of promotion are slim. |
| Multitasker | You’ll be juggling multiple simultaneous responsibilities with no support while being micromanaged. |
| Entrepreneurial spirit | Be prepared to take on huge amounts of responsibility and risk with very little reward or job security. |
| Competitive benefits | The benefits package is standard or subpar compared to other companies in the industry. |
| Proven track record | You must have many years of experience doing the exact same thing. They are unwilling to train you. |
| Proactive | You’ll be expected to take on tasks and solve problems without being asked, even if it’s outside your job scope. |
| Ability to work independently | You will be given very little direction, feedback or support from your manager and team. |
| Strong communication skills | Expect to give frequent presentations, write long reports and handle difficult conversations with unhappy clients. |
| Thrives in ambiguity | Priorities and goals will be unclear. You’ll need to be comfortable with uncertainty and lack of direction. |
| Collaborates cross-functionally | Be prepared to attend tons of meetings and deal with competing priorities from other departments. |
| Go the extra mile | You must always be willing to work overtime and go above and beyond your job description. |
| Sense of urgency | Tight deadlines, high stress and constant fire drills will be the norm. Everything will always be last minute. |
| Influence without authority | You’ll have to get buy-in from other teams and motivate people who don’t report to you. |
| Synergy | Buzzword that doesn’t really mean anything. They just want to sound smart. |
| Disruptor | Either the company or candidate is expected to shake things up in a vague, undefined way. |
| Open-door policy | Managers will say they want to hear feedback but won’t necessarily act on it. |
| Bandwidth | Asking if you have the time and mental capacity to take on more work on top of your core responsibilities. |
| Circle back | Let’s discuss this at some undefined later date, if I don’t forget about it completely. |
| Move the needle | Make improvements that have a noticeable impact on key metrics, even if they are minor. |
| Lots of moving parts | Warning that the organization, team or project is disorganized and chaotic with many dependencies. |
This covers many of the most common and egregious examples of corporate jargon, clichés and buzzwords that show up frequently in job descriptions for roles in marketing, management, content creation, tech writing and other non-technical positions at tech companies and startups. The key is to read between the lines and not take the fluffy language at face value. Look for postings that are more direct and specific about the actual role and company.
Citations: [1] https://simpletexting.com/blog/most-common-corporate-lingo-used-in-job-ads/ [2] https://datapeople.io/article/skip-corporate-jargon-corporate-cliches-soft-skills/ [3] https://www.deskbird.com/blog/corporate-buzzwords [4] https://www.mediabistro.com/employer/blog/job-descriptions/an-exhaustive-list-of-jargon-cliches-and-buzzwords-to-avoid-in-your-job-listings/ [5] https://www.predictiveindex.com/learn/hire/resources/ebooks/100-words-and-phrases-to-use-in-your-job-ads/ [6] https://www.tuudo.fi/en/2023/06/12/employer-have-you-fallen-into-these-cliches-in-job-advertisements-7-overused-phrases-and-tips-to-avoid-them/