A job ad is often the first impression a company makes on a potential candidate. According to a recent survey by Meinestadt.de, 85% of professionals say the job listing is their most important source of information during their search. Yet many ads still feel generic and empty, filled with vague buzzwords instead of clear insights.
The study surveyed 3,000 working professionals across industries and revealed a clear disconnect:
Phrases like “wide scope for creativity” (58.1%), “dynamic work environment” (57.7%), and “flat hierarchies” (56.6%) were flagged as meaningless clichés.
What candidates really want:
- Details about actual job tasks (58.2%)
- Job security (50.2%)
- Salary information (49.0%)
Some participants described red flags in open responses:
- “When an ad says things like ‘go the extra mile’ (code for exploitation) and highlights a fruit basket - that’s a no-go.”
- “If there’s nothing but a link to their website, with no info about training or onboarding – I move on.”
Interestingly, nearly half of the skilled professionals surveyed (49%) already feel they can pick and choose jobs due to the talent shortage. But only 30.8% are actively using that advantage to switch roles – suggesting that the real competition for talent is only just beginning.
Source: https://t3n.de/news/bullshit-floskeln-1570269/
