The Fallacy of Job Posts That Yield a High Quantity of Applicants

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a study of the top phrases in job postings that turn off job seekers, including “must handle stress well,” “willing to wear many hats,” “responsibilities may include those outside the job description,” and more. The article’s argument is that those phrases likely disguise a disturbing workplace reality; a phrase like “must handle stress well” could be code for “this company is unsupportive” or “we don’t prioritize work-life balance.”