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EMPLOYER TALK
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"ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION:"
You'll be making under $7 an hour.
"ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION IN AN UP-AND-COMING COMPANY:"
You'll be making under $7 an hour; we'll be bankrupt in a year.
"AN UP-AND-COMING SOFTWARE COMPANY:"
We want you to get your hopes up, but there's no chance we'll
be the next Microsoft.
"PROFIT-SHARING PLAN:"
Once it's shared between the higher-ups, there won't be
a profit.
"COMPETITIVE SALARY:"
We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
"JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY:"
We have no time to train you; you'll have to introduce
yourself to your co-workers.
"NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER:"
Inc. Magazine wrote us up a few years ago, but we haven't done
anything innovative since.
"IMMEDIATE OPENING:"
The person who used to have this job gave notice a month ago.
We're just now running the ad.
"SALES POSITION REQUIRING MOTIVATED SELF-STARTER:"
We're not going to supply you with leads; there's no base
salary; you'll wait 30 days for your first commission check.
"SELF-MOTIVATED:"
Management won't answer questions.
"WE OFFER GREAT BENEFITS:"
After 90 days, you can join our HMO, which has a $500
deductible and a $25 co-pay.
"PENSION/RETIREMENT BENEFITS:"
After 3 years, we'll allow you to fund your own 401(k) and,
if you behave, we'll give you a 5% matching contribution.
"SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC, FUN, HARD WORKING, PEOPLE:"
...who still live with their parents and won't mind our
internship-level salaries.
"CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE:"
We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up;
well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.
"COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT:"
We have a lot of turnover.
"EXCITING AND PROFESSIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT:"
Guys in gray suits will bore you with tales of squash and
their weekends on yachts.
"JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM:"
We all listen to nutty motivational tapes.
"FUN WORK ENVIRONMENT:"
Your co workers will be insulted if you don't drink with them.
"A DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT:"
We booze it up at company parties.
"MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED:"
You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.
"SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS REQUIRED:"
If we're in trouble, you'll go on TV and get us out of it.
"SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED:"
Some time each night and some time each weekend.
"SALARY RANGE $24k-$32k:"
We'll offer you $22k to start.
"A HIGHLY VISIBLE POSITION:"
You'll give boring speeches on your own time.
"FLEXIBLE HOURS:"
Work 40 hours; get paid for 25.
"DUTIES WILL VARY:"
Anyone in the office can boss you around.
"WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED:"
Those who missed the last round of layoffs, that is.
"MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL:"
We have no quality control.
"COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERRED:"
Unless you wasted those four years studying something useless
like philosophy, English or religion.
"NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE:"
We've filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal
formality.
"SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE:"
You'll need it to replace the three people who just left.
"PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST:"
You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.
"REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS:"
You'll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the
pay or respect.
"GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS:"
Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they
want and do it.
"ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD:"
You whine, you're fired.
"ASPIRATIONS FOR GROWTH WITHIN OUR COMPANY:"
We loooooove brown-nosers.
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[From the archives]
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