Erin Kissane of Knight-Mozilla OpenNews recently took an informal survey on Twitter with a simple question:
Straw poll: If you’re a woman or minority in your field, what language turns you away from job descriptions? Language that feels inviting?— Erin Kissane (@kissane) November 14, 2014
The answers, which Kissane logged in Storify, were insightful and addressed quite a few topics. Some of these things employers may be communicating on purpose. Some, not so much.
"Get ready for long hours" Good help can be hard to find, but implying that a job requires 80-hour weeks can spook talent. If that's what you want, so be it, but be careful and be upfront. Buzzwords like "ping pong" or talking up the in-office perks can make it seem like you expect people to live at the office.
@egabbert @kissane @meaganewaller "do you like ping pong?"— pamela marie (@pwnela) November 14, 2014
@aworkinglibrary @kissane please god do not make me play ping pong or rockband or show you how incredibly bad I am at Rainbow Road— marie (@eyemadequiet) November 14, 2014
@kissane Off: Emphasizing playtime junk like ping pong tables. This is a job, not DashCon. Don't try to sell me on a ball pit.— Cathy Leamy (@metrokitty) November 14, 2014
@kissane - : kegerators, ping pong tables, guru/etc. + : cont ed, lunch & learns, coworkers with side projects (means time/energy to pursue)— Christa Hartsock (@_hartsick) November 14, 2014
@kissane @beep often I see the phrase 'stress resilient' which to me translates as 'we don't care about your health'— VIXU (@itsVIXU) November 14, 2014
@kissane "no 9-5 mentality". Meaning you have to be flexible and always available, as if you don't have other responsibilities besides work.— Maaike de Laat (@maaike) November 14, 2014
@kissane Free dinner. Culture of long work hours and devalued labor.— Bena (@benaunicornio) November 14, 2014
@kissane I'm an accountant. "Ability to multitask" = we will give you too much work with no guidance on priorities.— aca902 (@aca902) November 14, 2014
"We're looking for bros that like to rage" Again, you probably aren't saying this on purpose. But language matters, and potential applicants are reading into your words to get an idea of the internal culture.
@kissane obv "he/him" pronouns. words like "rockstar/guru/ninja/cowboy" too much emphasis on perks & not enough on supporting learning.— social justice wario (@meaganewaller) November 14, 2014
@kissane Things that tend to suggest the company has bro-culture: "Be one of our amazin' guys" / "We're looking for rockstar X"— Creampuff Quil ✨ (@robotlolita) November 14, 2014
@kissane Anything that requires me to identify as a rockstar / ninja / superhero. I like modest language.— Virginia Murdoch (@virginia) November 14, 2014
I'm a MoC that works in IT... stay away from anything in the vein of "work hard play hard"... it's a bunch of bros with VC money. @kissane— Ralphie Numbers (@CyMadD0x) November 14, 2014
"That the ends justify the means" Business is competitive, but try not to sound like you're going to get ahead by any means necessary. Enthusiasm is good. So is a bit of humanity.
@kissane Not big on descriptions that sound like crushing competition only way to go.— whimsicalwalney (@whimsicalwalney) November 14, 2014
@kissane A former intern just wrote to me after she being weirded out by an interview at a startup that wanted “aggressive” team members.— Georgy Cohen (@radiofreegeorgy) November 14, 2014
@kissane Any job description asking for "the best, top level, elite" etc. hits all my impostor syndrome nerves.— Stephanie Soniat (@stephaniesoniat) November 14, 2014
@kissane Stuff about how “world class” or “at the top of their fields” the team is. Immediately gives me the impression I’m not good enough.— Christine Ricks (@christinericks) November 14, 2014
@kissane I also don't want to "take anything to the next level" or work with anything on the "bleeding edge".— melinda minch (@nein09) November 14, 2014
Salary requirements Money is an inevitable and necessary topic when it comes to hiring, but maybe don't demand a number out of the gate. It can come off as an attempt to push down wages.
@kissane oh, also: salary requirements! giving them is usually a bad negotiating strategy, but so many companies try to convince you to— sonia saraiya (@soniasaraiya) November 14, 2014
@kissane Cont’d: Requests for salary or references up front. No mention of benefits.— Mandy Brown (@aworkinglibrary) November 14, 2014
@kissane Not inviting: salary reqs, assignments with application, blanket benefits statement (or none), 50%+ travel expected— Angela Shetler (@ashetler) November 14, 2014