For me one of the most red flags of red flags is the phrase "fast paced environment". Basically that is a fancy way of saying "we're going to overwork you and expect you to act normal".
"Fast-paced environment" = We say YES to all client wishes and deadlines, then let the workers figure out how to meet those deadlines. Then we take credit for the project meeting the deadline after getting countless hours of free labor from our employees (via salaried OT exempt). Then we lay off said workers the second business starts to drop.
My manager, 20 years ago, told me something that stuck in my mind - the more someone in workplace is friendly and / or try to be your friend - the more toxic he will reveal to be when problem arises. 20 years later not once that rule has failed me.
@7:34 -- I was an intern (different role) at Blackmore over 10 years ago. It is a tiny business owned and operated by a financial executive that benefits from free labor from college undergraduates under the label of "unpaid internship" as a legal technicality. The staff were 100% interns - the hierarchy was 1 Owner -> 12-15 Unpaid Interns all sitting around one conference table. Absolutely a low-quality employer. Spot on.
The normalization unpaid internships is so upsetting honestly. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist and we were told to be grateful to be paid anything at all after grad school/before licensure. Not to mention that it’s still illegal for grad students to be paid for their internships.
Really? My understanding was that since '10-'11 or so, in America anyway, unpaid internships are illegal if any of the work output benefits the bottom line in any way whatsoever, and may even have a negative impact on the bottom line. They have to prove it's a purely educational experience for the intern. Imagine a museum visitor + job shadow sort of thing. It's very difficult to prove this, not to mention this arrangement is typically not useful to the company. What I often see instead is the individual is offered something like $15-18/hr. for something like 20 hours a week. While I haven't looked for it, I haven't seen any unpaid internship in ages so I wonder where you are seeing this?
@@benc6503 again, this is very specific to certain fields, especially within healthcare. It is expected to provide hundreds of hours of unpaid labor for mental health therapists and dietitians as part of the licensure process.
Yeah it’s outrageous. Here to be a MFT you need a graduate degree with 4 unpaid 8-month full time practicums. You also need something like 10 years of experience to apply…what people in their mid-30s can afford to work for free for literally years!? Most just get a masters of social work and get listened that way. Takes half the time and insurance companies recognize the credential.
@@h3lio5 Not sure what state you're in, but in California, the process of being licensed as a LCSW is very similar to LMFT. Same graduate school, post-grad licensure hours, etc. Only real difference is that license lends itself more to hospitals and schools than LMFT (which is more appropriate for private practice) but still many LCSWs are in private practice as well.
I saw a job that wanted an employee who knew several different languages and had years of experience $38,000 to $42,000 a year in Denver! That's basically crumbs and just over minimum wage.
That last application sounds more like they're trying to find a wife rather than an executive assistant... Especially that "tidy items in the home and perhaps grab coffee for the both of you". That 120% sounds like they're trying to get into the secretary's pants more than anything.
@@triopsate3 It sounds like a stiff way to cover how cold they sound, with demanding they have coffee made for them. "Make me some coffee...oh, but you can also grab a cup, I guess."
@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley That does sound possible as well. So I guess our options for the CEO are: horny and trying to get into the secretary's pants or cold, uncaring and ridiculously demanding. Guess the only real constant is that the place is probably an actual hellhole to work at.
I can almost guarantee that Victoria is not the CEO. Victoria is the CEO's over controlling wife. I, unfortunately, have experience in this kind of environment. Fully toxic.
Employers are really crazy with their time commitment requirements for unpaid internships. An internship should be a sort of learning experience such as OJT or just getting the experience to build from. To me, if it is unpaid then it should be perhaps an 12 week (3 month) timeframe, 6-12 hours a week, and you are working in an assistant role to help someone with the tasks. This allows you to learn, build experience, get a recommendation. And even then, if unpaid, the employer should give a stipend of some sort that covers local transport costs if coming to office or something like a meal allowance - such as, if working 6 hours a week, they get $25 stipend as a meal coverage. However a 6-month, full-time hours commitment, with 100% responsibility expectations, for FREE?! Downright crazy.
What I would do with unpaid internships is use them for interview practice: Then if you get offered ask for another interview where you then ask them to sell you on why you should work for them for free!
Yup seriously. A local church secretary said NO ONE wanted to work. I just needed a little extra cash I picked up a part time cleaning gig from them. It’s just $10 an hour but she said it would be 12 hours of cleaning per week. I said, ok that’s worth it for some extra cash on the side. But then the church board got mad and said they can only afford 6 hours a week which btw it’s a BIG church there’s no way to clean it all in 6 hours, just barely in 12 at least most of it. Soooo yah now cleaning for $10 and hour only 6 hours a week mehhh yah. No one wants to work… shitty jobs for shitty pay 🤷🏼♀️
Love these videos! Your whole channel is great but you're really opening my eyes how to spot idiots I wouldn't waste time applying to with these ridiculous ads!
Hey! Saw a few of your videos and it's been really cathartic, hearing you lay out in simple and researched terms why the job market is and has been so terrible. I graduated in 2020 and have still yet to really land a job within my field -- it's incredibly demoralizing when you study hard and are good at what you do (I have a BFA in English/Writing) yet no one gives you the time of day for an editing or content writer job. I'm concerned I'll never break into my field but, I need to keep trying. If you or anyone reading has some wisdom, I'd so appreciate that. Wish me luck and, same to you.
In regard to the "About The Job" posting at 8:00: you are truly better off flipping burgers for $15 an hour. The "exposure" doesn't pay the rent, and worse, it could be negative exposure - working for a sleazy company. The "eligible for college credit" is pretty dubious too (keyword: eligible). My guess is that you're not going to get any credit, so you gain literally nothing from working there.
I just saw a 2yr old video in my recommended and i must say that I specifically checked your newer ones to see if you improved the camera position because it was horrible 2yrs ago! you did so it's really good to see!
That 2nd example appears to be a form letter job posting and they were either too lazy to properly edit it or just did not understand how to edit it. Square brackets are for choices of requirements/attributes. You are supposed to focus on the one you want and delete the square brackets. The parentheses are examples for the person editing the form letter to consider. They are supposed to rewrite it to suit and remove the parentheses.
One job posting comment I'm not a fan of is "must be able to navigate through ambiguity". My favorite job criteria I've seen however, is "must be able to dress professionally from the waist up". 😂
Not too long ago I got into a remote part time gig while I looked for a full time job. It was for a start up that is as early as it gets. After the first week where I did onboarding tasks, I invoiced them and got a nasty call afterward. He asked why he should pay me for the time it took to get my work environment setup and study their project code. He then told me the main dev they have isn’t getting paid and he and the co owner basically have no idea about how their product works. The first task I was given was to add columns to a table and I got scolded for adding headers. I never touched the product again.
As an Exec. Asst. I've come across so many postings that want an EA and a PA. Those are two different skill sets and personalities. As an EA I would never want to be so close to my supervisor that I would feel comfortable making dinner reservations for them & a date or touching their clothes.
I just applied at a well known insurance company and one of the questions asked about sexual orientation. WHY??? Is sleeping with someone going to be part of my job duties??? What difference does it make? I feel like this question should be illegal.
Really dig your content, assuming "dig" is not a cringy verb. With that stated, this clip's thumbnail features the most cringy expression in the genre, someone gape-mouthed holding their face like a silent screen era character realizing Simon LeGree has entered the room. (I just looked up _Simon Legree,_ YIKES, did not expect that.) Keep up your valuable work.
Thank so much for the entertainment and please make this a regular thing with the worst you can find: I always remember for as long as I live a job ad for a fish and chip shop server that specified really good maths in I think higher school and not even the lower school leaving certificate! HAHA!!!
I just saw this same job posting executive/personal asst. for my local area. I was appalled at seeing cleaning their house. Umm I DON'T THINK SO!!! GROSS!!! Ridiculous!!! What a joke!!!
All postings want god level talent. They want somebody who can design the hardware circuit, layout the PCB, install the components on the PCB, write the firmware, write the software for the PCB, and somebody to test/debug the hardware, firmware, and software.
11:16: Finish this sentence: " Great copywriter should... Never interview here." The request above it is just a thinly veiled attempt at harvesting free work and ideas. I feel sorry for anyone who goes through this "who's the biggest sucker" show to try to "persuade" this company to interview them. It's like they think we're in the great depression or something.
I have the feeling that there will be an increase in those types of job postings. Based on what I see people posting in LinkedIn, seems like some people have no regard for any rules or even the law. I saw people posting that they should not follow any protocols when interviewing candidates and instead go by "intuition". It's getting really crazy.
Paying someone to clean your personal home is not tax deductible. Clearly the at-home CEO is trying to mix personal housework and corporate work into the same position so that he can (illegally) write off the wages as a business expense.
My absolute favorite from probably 20 years ago when jobs were regularly posted in newspapers. They were looking for a "manuel machinist" as opposed to a manual machinist.
Red flag for me is when a job listing says 20-33$ an hour and they ask what are salary expectations? you tell them 33$ an hour. Your experience can back it, and they say oh no we can only do 20 or 21$ I just don't bother replying back.
I like the jobs with transportation they pay basic but decent rates. You start at $23 per hour and goes up to $28 per hour. But unfortunately I got a lesser paying job but it's putting me into a position to make more in the future.
yeah. i did this. canonical (owner of ubuntu linux) put me through a bunch of flaming hoops in their process. DO NOT DO THIS. waste of time. i had to write an essay - which i'm good at, and was told i was better suited to a role that was not available. we never even got to compensation, which also would have been a waste of time. you should do a video on identity theft scams that look like job adverts! i've run across this myself. i worked it out, but as i was running out of unenjoyment, i started getting a bit desperate.
Yeah, I've applied to a fair number of them, unfortunately. I find out they're scams when suddenly, the job being offered isn't the same as the one I applied for. They of course also want to weirdly hire you without a proper interview, except for maybe via Telegram, or another shady service. By that point, they have my phone number and email and keep messaging me, though I block them. I once was almost fooled by a post and almost gave more info, but I decided to reach out to the person they were impersonating on LinkedIn. The woman was very polite and knew of the issue. She directed me to apply directly on their website instead (which I now try to do, if at all possible). The particular job that the scammer had posted for wasn't an option on the site, though.
Yeah, I applied for a position at Canonical too, since a former coworker was working there (at the time, he's since changed positions) and they not only wanted an essay but a project written in python. I shouldn't have even done it but I thought I had a reasonable chance at the job given my coworker's comments about recommending me to the hiring manager, unfortunately - even though I was completely straightforward the entire time that I wasn't particularly experienced in Python - my Python was "lacking something" and I wasn't moved forward. Probably dodged a bullet, just wish I'd dodged it sooner.
The exact salary requirements, I'd be adding up the salaries for all the different positions, which might run well over 6-figures. And be very specific in the dollar amount. Then know how apoplectic the CEO would have gotten at the "audacity" of basically telling him/her what a twit they actually are. :)
I once started applying for a job and only at the end they mentioned the video requirement that had to be submitted within 48 hours of starting the application. Needless to day, I dipped. I understand asking for fancier steps further down the interviewing process, but to ask right at the jump for candidates to put that much extra effort into an application like that knowing how long it takes to film and edit is a spit in the face. It wasn't a video editing job either.
“How long have you been writing for?” I am not sure when you will read this, and the answer is a temporally changing one. For precision, please apply the self-conceived formula. Given that I was 6 yrs old in 2nd grade (approx Jan 1, 1974) , when I learned to write, I’ve been writing for… Current Date - Jan 1, 1974 = Total time of writing experience. 😂😂😂
Those cleaning duties at the CEO's place are probably his "nasty stuff" after he finishes his gig with the assistant. Half of it she'll wear home on her skirt. I speak from experience in seeing my own former workplace. It wasn't just a toxic workplace, it was a nuclear waste workplace. I worked there for six years, so what does that say about ME??
Some job postings, especially these days, are fake. Companies have to have job postings to show that there were no discriminatory hiring practices when someone was selected, so they make it sound super hard to work there or make the application tedious so that the one person they really want to hire can get that job; at which point they change the job description/title so that the person they hired has a normal role. If you see a posting so unhinged, it is likely that. Ignore it and move on.
16:00 the code. This is something they ask you in a form or in an interview. Just to test if you have read it all. Usually if it is on a browser based form you wont be able to get to the publication to check, because the form will clase and you wont be able to finnish it. Job duck (which at this point I hate, use apple pie as code) I dont apply anymore if I see job duck
Two more red flags - ==== 1) An application system that requires you to include a cover letter. ==== Especially when the job posting says nothing about it. And especially when the vast majority of applications don't impose this requirement. Almost no one actually reads them, and I'm not going to double the amount of time I spend on an application for something that might only improve callback rates by about 10%. 99%+ of the time, you have absolutely NO idea who is going to read it. You have no idea what mood that person will be in, the role this person has in the process, or even if the hiring manager, what kinds of problems he (she? See you don't even know.) is dealing with. So it's all pathetic Oliver-Twist style begging. "Oh puh-leeze sir! Give me a job sir! Shall I perform a song and dance sir? I'll ride a unicycle backwards while singing the Star Spangled Banner and juggling bowling balls on fire! Just please give me a job sir!" This dreak is worthless and will never help your cause. It's literally a better use of my time to apply to another job. If I only discover this near the end of the application process, there's a 50/50 chance of 2 outcomes. 1a) I realize the whole thing is a wanton waste of time, and I rage quit, pressing the X at light speed while I nope out of there as fast as I can. 1b) I still realize it's a waste of time, but I'm feeling snippy, so I copy-paste a little blurb I wrote about why cover letters are a waste of time, then say "fuck it" and apply anyway. Either way I make a mental note not to apply to any other positions there. ==== 2) An application system that requires you to fill out your graduation year. ==== This should be obvious, but it opens up the company to legal liability. It's very thinly veiled age discrimination. Realistically, to get a bachelor's degree, if you don't do so by age 25 or so, you probably never will. Things like full-time jobs, kids, and life in general make the process far more lengthy and difficult. Occasionally you hear about the rare 80 year old who got a degree after 20 years of 1 class per semester, but that's the exception, not the rule. When I was getting my bachelor's degree, I only had one classmate who was just over 40 years old; everyone else was late teens, most early 20s, some mid 20s. No one in their 30s. She had a full-time paraprofessional job, and raising small children at home. She was a nice lady, but looked haggard, rough, and like she was constantly tired, though she was one of the best students as well. She was also, for obvious reasons, attending part-time, which meant the process would take 7-8 years rather than 4-5. It's not hard to see why many wouldn't be able to complete the program even if they begin. So, if you see graduation year, that's something like a 3 year age range. Not hard to do the math. Some systems even tried to do this with high school, which is even worse, as that's a 1 year range. There is absolutely no good, viable, logical, business reason to ask this question. This information can only ever be used against you in a discriminatory fashion. If you are just out of college and kind of desperate for a job, and think this information might help you get hired, then okay, I get it. But if you do so, think about it very hard. Formulate an exit plan, and follow through on it within 3-4 years. Keep applying, keep interviewing. The company is obviously oriented towards youth, and will find a reason to get rid of you eventually. You do NOT want to be hung out left to dry. I've seen this happen to people, so this isn't theoretical. If I see that, I leave the process, immediately. I'm not completing the application, it's a waste of time. I will freely call out any company that does this.
I have experience as a personal assistant. I did everything cooking, paying bills, traveling with children, event planning, preparing medications, training housekeepers, head hunting candidates, etc.
I had a recruiter reach out with an internship.... after visiting the site you would have to pay for individual classes and contribute a final presentation and create a webpage on their site. I saw several that were done and posted and it made me a little sad.
Off video topic subject, but... How to formulate a DEFLATING starting interview when I know the interviewers might be AFRAID of my skills, experience even attitude? HOW to formulate such introductory DEFLATING interview? It's a real problem. Help!
I refuse to fill out excessively long applications when I am some rando fill out an application on a webpage. Too soon for that, if I do at all. I also 100% refuse to take phycological or critical thinking test just for consideration for interview down the road that "might" happen. Fuck that. After a couple of interviews, if we're both interest, then maybe... but doubtful, stop wasting everyone's time with shit that doesn't prove anything in terms of job performance. They won't stop doing this shit until we refuse to accept it
In my experience as someone who was in the workforce 40 years, please be vERY careful with "personal assistant" jobs. Some of these are scams, and I have personally experienced a couple that were nothing but a front for human trafficking. PLEASE never go to anyone's home to interview for any job period EVER. Be safe out there and good luck hunting :)
Fir the first listing, the brackets (referred to as quotes in the video) might be mark-up for a different publishing program. For printed books, to aviod missing itallics or bold, the input document is required to have specific markers to denote alternative fonts. Maybe a double underscore around italicized words, for example. The fact that the keywords are in brackets tells me this job posting was written possibly for a wiki or was meant as an input for some other publishing program.
Of course that last job application is a great opportunity. They are obviously searching for Will Stockdale who has exactly the experience they are looking for as a PLO (Permanent Latrine Orderly). He is also an Air Force and Infantry veteran.
The "34" thing is a test that he uses to make sure canidates read through the entire job description. I've used this strategy for minecraft servers, to ensure people have read through the rules before they apply.
I've watched plenty of videos. All have been helpful but, I would not mind a slight new perspective. I've spoken with a government contractor, I am interviewing for a job that is trade based. Your advice is more geared to the executive but how would you adjust approaching from a tradesman (electrician, Plumber, HVAC) point of view?
@@ALifeAfterLayoff The interview its self. Should I be prepared to answer the same regurgitated questions as a tradesman as opposed to some IT or executive? What is your biggest weakness, Strength, why should we hire you... tell us about yourself... etc. What kind of money were you expecting... not even sure how to go about that one.
Please note that records are likely not going to be kept for unpaid internships and co-ops. This will pose a problem for background checking. Also paid ones might not be kept on record like normal payroll employees which also pose a problem with background checking.
I have a question, for excel stuff, if i can't pay for actual courses with the certificates at the end, but i find a 12 hour youtube video that is basically an excel course, could i just link the video, would i have to record myself going along with the video? how could i quantify that to count for like, a certification or something?
Brian, have you created a presentation on both managers and applicants participating in recruitment as a game? Using techniques like bluffing in poker and trying to win by collecting so many of the tokens as possible (money. Insurance, paid time off, free labor, etc.)
Can you make a video or give some advice, I’m a supervisor and I feel like I do a pretty good job, I keep moral up and I’m good with my bosses. Another opportunity opened up which pays way more with no stress of being over others. I like my current job. I know you’ve made videos about how you can be easily replaced but I figured it may be a little different situation when you are running a department with more than 10 people.
"Have some self respect" Self respect doesn't put food on table, pay the bills etc.. so honestly at this point I'll take anything paying 13-16$ a hour has im extremely desperate to get a job at all, retail, fast food etc... no one wants me
For me one of the most red flags of red flags is the phrase "fast paced environment". Basically that is a fancy way of saying "we're going to overwork you and expect you to act normal".
"We're a family"
"Attention to details"
"Must remain professional at all times"
"Work hard play hard"
"Team player"
"Looking for/we only hire rockstars"
@@jackcarraway4707 all those just tells me they have a high turnover rate with their employees.
"Fast-paced environment" = We say YES to all client wishes and deadlines, then let the workers figure out how to meet those deadlines. Then we take credit for the project meeting the deadline after getting countless hours of free labor from our employees (via salaried OT exempt). Then we lay off said workers the second business starts to drop.
That’s EXACTLY it.
I know this isn't meant to be a roast channel, but I love that you roasted the crap out of these toxic employers!
This CEO position is not an invitation for a job. It's the request for a trauma bond.
My manager, 20 years ago, told me something that stuck in my mind - the more someone in workplace is friendly and / or try to be your friend - the more toxic he will reveal to be when problem arises. 20 years later not once that rule has failed me.
@7:34 -- I was an intern (different role) at Blackmore over 10 years ago. It is a tiny business owned and operated by a financial executive that benefits from free labor from college undergraduates under the label of "unpaid internship" as a legal technicality. The staff were 100% interns - the hierarchy was 1 Owner -> 12-15 Unpaid Interns all sitting around one conference table. Absolutely a low-quality employer. Spot on.
WOW 😯 that’s fucked
The normalization unpaid internships is so upsetting honestly. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist and we were told to be grateful to be paid anything at all after grad school/before licensure. Not to mention that it’s still illegal for grad students to be paid for their internships.
Really? My understanding was that since '10-'11 or so, in America anyway, unpaid internships are illegal if any of the work output benefits the bottom line in any way whatsoever, and may even have a negative impact on the bottom line. They have to prove it's a purely educational experience for the intern. Imagine a museum visitor + job shadow sort of thing.
It's very difficult to prove this, not to mention this arrangement is typically not useful to the company. What I often see instead is the individual is offered something like $15-18/hr. for something like 20 hours a week.
While I haven't looked for it, I haven't seen any unpaid internship in ages so I wonder where you are seeing this?
@@benc6503 again, this is very specific to certain fields, especially within healthcare. It is expected to provide hundreds of hours of unpaid labor for mental health therapists and dietitians as part of the licensure process.
@@avamartinez1220 That's sad...very common in Brazil and some other countries.
Sad to see it's getting common worldwide!
Yeah it’s outrageous. Here to be a MFT you need a graduate degree with 4 unpaid 8-month full time practicums. You also need something like 10 years of experience to apply…what people in their mid-30s can afford to work for free for literally years!? Most just get a masters of social work and get listened that way. Takes half the time and insurance companies recognize the credential.
@@h3lio5 Not sure what state you're in, but in California, the process of being licensed as a LCSW is very similar to LMFT. Same graduate school, post-grad licensure hours, etc. Only real difference is that license lends itself more to hospitals and schools than LMFT (which is more appropriate for private practice) but still many LCSWs are in private practice as well.
The first company is so “lean” they had to hire a 12 year old freelancer to write their job posting.
I saw a job that wanted an employee who knew several different languages and had years of experience $38,000 to $42,000 a year in Denver! That's basically crumbs and just over minimum wage.
That Victoria who wants a combined personal assistant and maid reminds me of Meryl Streep's character as a toxic boss in _The Devil Wears Prada._
That last job application is sinister.
That last application sounds more like they're trying to find a wife rather than an executive assistant... Especially that "tidy items in the home and perhaps grab coffee for the both of you". That 120% sounds like they're trying to get into the secretary's pants more than anything.
@@triopsate3 It sounds like a stiff way to cover how cold they sound, with demanding they have coffee made for them. "Make me some coffee...oh, but you can also grab a cup, I guess."
@@triopsate3 That is what I took away from it as well.
@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley That does sound possible as well. So I guess our options for the CEO are: horny and trying to get into the secretary's pants or cold, uncaring and ridiculously demanding. Guess the only real constant is that the place is probably an actual hellhole to work at.
the code is 34. . .
thats about it
I can almost guarantee that Victoria is not the CEO. Victoria is the CEO's over controlling wife. I, unfortunately, have experience in this kind of environment. Fully toxic.
Or Victoria's CEO's controlling mother. I was in that situation once, where the mom of the business owner was coming in to check on the staff.
Omg lol that's horrible
Looks like somebody that wears Prada
Employers are really crazy with their time commitment requirements for unpaid internships. An internship should be a sort of learning experience such as OJT or just getting the experience to build from. To me, if it is unpaid then it should be perhaps an 12 week (3 month) timeframe, 6-12 hours a week, and you are working in an assistant role to help someone with the tasks. This allows you to learn, build experience, get a recommendation. And even then, if unpaid, the employer should give a stipend of some sort that covers local transport costs if coming to office or something like a meal allowance - such as, if working 6 hours a week, they get $25 stipend as a meal coverage. However a 6-month, full-time hours commitment, with 100% responsibility expectations, for FREE?! Downright crazy.
Every job post is cringe af.
Some are worse than others.
They are all awful.
I really enjoy your dry sense of humour as you rip into these, absolutely hilarious. These segments are too funny.
If job posting #2 was written by someone whose mother tongue is English, they have grounds to sue their high school for dereliction of duty.
What I would do with unpaid internships is use them for interview practice: Then if you get offered ask for another interview where you then ask them to sell you on why you should work for them for free!
High energy: *Please let us know why we should underpay and expect you to do 15 peoples jobs*
I bet that the business owners that write out these ads will complain that no-one wants to work when they don't get any applicants.
Yup seriously. A local church secretary said NO ONE wanted to work. I just needed a little extra cash I picked up a part time cleaning gig from them. It’s just $10 an hour but she said it would be 12 hours of cleaning per week. I said, ok that’s worth it for some extra cash on the side. But then the church board got mad and said they can only afford 6 hours a week which btw it’s a BIG church there’s no way to clean it all in 6 hours, just barely in 12 at least most of it. Soooo yah now cleaning for $10 and hour only 6 hours a week mehhh yah. No one wants to work… shitty jobs for shitty pay 🤷🏼♀️
10:09 questions from employers... I hated these on indeed, I always typed: attached see Resume lol 😆
Love these videos! Your whole channel is great but you're really opening my eyes how to spot idiots I wouldn't waste time applying to with these ridiculous ads!
Thank you for your amazing work! These job postings are dreadful!
These are great - please do more!
Secret code is 34 times a month you’ll be under his desk “cleaning”
😂😂
Yeah that's exactly what my first thought was. Rule 34 is a red flag the size of all soviet union
Hey! Saw a few of your videos and it's been really cathartic, hearing you lay out in simple and researched terms why the job market is and has been so terrible. I graduated in 2020 and have still yet to really land a job within my field -- it's incredibly demoralizing when you study hard and are good at what you do (I have a BFA in English/Writing) yet no one gives you the time of day for an editing or content writer job. I'm concerned I'll never break into my field but, I need to keep trying. If you or anyone reading has some wisdom, I'd so appreciate that. Wish me luck and, same to you.
Good luck mate, don't be disheartened- getting a job can really be a numbers game sometimes, especially when you're breaking into the field
In regard to the "About The Job" posting at 8:00: you are truly better off flipping burgers for $15 an hour. The "exposure" doesn't pay the rent, and worse, it could be negative exposure - working for a sleazy company. The "eligible for college credit" is pretty dubious too (keyword: eligible). My guess is that you're not going to get any credit, so you gain literally nothing from working there.
I just saw a 2yr old video in my recommended and i must say that I specifically checked your newer ones to see if you improved the camera position because it was horrible 2yrs ago! you did so it's really good to see!
Finally! Love these. 😂
That 2nd example appears to be a form letter job posting and they were either too lazy to properly edit it or just did not understand how to edit it. Square brackets are for choices of requirements/attributes. You are supposed to focus on the one you want and delete the square brackets.
The parentheses are examples for the person editing the form letter to consider. They are supposed to rewrite it to suit and remove the parentheses.
😂
Guess they expect the applicant to do that for them. Typical.
One job posting comment I'm not a fan of is "must be able to navigate through ambiguity".
My favorite job criteria I've seen however, is "must be able to dress professionally from the waist up". 😂
Not too long ago I got into a remote part time gig while I looked for a full time job. It was for a start up that is as early as it gets. After the first week where I did onboarding tasks, I invoiced them and got a nasty call afterward. He asked why he should pay me for the time it took to get my work environment setup and study their project code. He then told me the main dev they have isn’t getting paid and he and the co owner basically have no idea about how their product works. The first task I was given was to add columns to a table and I got scolded for adding headers. I never touched the product again.
It's good for young people to see this stuff. Be prepared and act respectfully, but recognize red flags and don't be afraid to walk away.
50 Shades of Internship. 🤦♂️
As an Exec. Asst. I've come across so many postings that want an EA and a PA. Those are two different skill sets and personalities. As an EA I would never want to be so close to my supervisor that I would feel comfortable making dinner reservations for them & a date or touching their clothes.
11:11 The “finish this sentence” prompt should also begin the sentence with an indefinite article (“A great copywriter should”).
I just applied at a well known insurance company and one of the questions asked about sexual orientation. WHY??? Is sleeping with someone going to be part of my job duties??? What difference does it make? I feel like this question should be illegal.
Really dig your content, assuming "dig" is not a cringy verb.
With that stated, this clip's thumbnail features the most cringy expression in the genre, someone gape-mouthed holding their face like a silent screen era character realizing Simon LeGree has entered the room. (I just looked up _Simon Legree,_ YIKES, did not expect that.) Keep up your valuable work.
"Dig" isn't cringy, just old school. And I think it's a cool word that's aged well
Thank so much for the entertainment and please make this a regular thing with the worst you can find: I always remember for as long as I live a job ad for a fish and chip shop server that specified really good maths in I think higher school and not even the lower school leaving certificate! HAHA!!!
I just saw this same job posting executive/personal asst. for my local area. I was appalled at seeing cleaning their house. Umm I DON'T THINK SO!!! GROSS!!! Ridiculous!!! What a joke!!!
Why wouldn’t they just hire a cleaning company like a normal person…?
All postings want god level talent. They want somebody who can design the hardware circuit, layout the PCB, install the components on the PCB, write the firmware, write the software for the PCB, and somebody to test/debug the hardware, firmware, and software.
11:16: Finish this sentence: " Great copywriter should... Never interview here."
The request above it is just a thinly veiled attempt at harvesting free work and ideas. I feel sorry for anyone who goes through this "who's the biggest sucker" show to try to "persuade" this company to interview them. It's like they think we're in the great depression or something.
I have the feeling that there will be an increase in those types of job postings. Based on what I see people posting in LinkedIn, seems like some people have no regard for any rules or even the law. I saw people posting that they should not follow any protocols when interviewing candidates and instead go by "intuition". It's getting really crazy.
Paying someone to clean your personal home is not tax deductible. Clearly the at-home CEO is trying to mix personal housework and corporate work into the same position so that he can (illegally) write off the wages as a business expense.
My absolute favorite from probably 20 years ago when jobs were regularly posted in newspapers. They were looking for a "manuel machinist" as opposed to a manual machinist.
Red flag for me is when a job listing says 20-33$ an hour and they ask what are salary expectations? you tell them 33$ an hour. Your experience can back it, and they say oh no we can only do 20 or 21$ I just don't bother replying back.
I like the jobs with transportation they pay basic but decent rates. You start at $23 per hour and goes up to $28 per hour. But unfortunately I got a lesser paying job but it's putting me into a position to make more in the future.
cant stop watching these series
These are truly amazing. So many of these corporate stooges are so completely out of touch.
yeah. i did this. canonical (owner of ubuntu linux) put me through a bunch of flaming hoops in their process. DO NOT DO THIS. waste of time. i had to write an essay - which i'm good at, and was told i was better suited to a role that was not available. we never even got to compensation, which also would have been a waste of time.
you should do a video on identity theft scams that look like job adverts! i've run across this myself. i worked it out, but as i was running out of unenjoyment, i started getting a bit desperate.
Yeah, I've applied to a fair number of them, unfortunately. I find out they're scams when suddenly, the job being offered isn't the same as the one I applied for. They of course also want to weirdly hire you without a proper interview, except for maybe via Telegram, or another shady service. By that point, they have my phone number and email and keep messaging me, though I block them. I once was almost fooled by a post and almost gave more info, but I decided to reach out to the person they were impersonating on LinkedIn. The woman was very polite and knew of the issue. She directed me to apply directly on their website instead (which I now try to do, if at all possible). The particular job that the scammer had posted for wasn't an option on the site, though.
Yup they were featured on a previous crappy post postings video
Ubuntu. My least favorite linux.
@@TheodoreChin-ih7xz i know. that is me as well. i wasn't too disappointed.
Yeah, I applied for a position at Canonical too, since a former coworker was working there (at the time, he's since changed positions) and they not only wanted an essay but a project written in python. I shouldn't have even done it but I thought I had a reasonable chance at the job given my coworker's comments about recommending me to the hiring manager, unfortunately - even though I was completely straightforward the entire time that I wasn't particularly experienced in Python - my Python was "lacking something" and I wasn't moved forward.
Probably dodged a bullet, just wish I'd dodged it sooner.
Thank you for another good laugh 😂.
My pleasure!
The exact salary requirements, I'd be adding up the salaries for all the different positions, which might run well over 6-figures. And be very specific in the dollar amount. Then know how apoplectic the CEO would have gotten at the "audacity" of basically telling him/her what a twit they actually are. :)
20:56 actually the CEO is 'Miranda Priestly' ... 😂😂
That first one "god level" sounds like an MLM pitch.
Very entertaining. I laughed a few times.
Glad to hear. :)
I once started applying for a job and only at the end they mentioned the video requirement that had to be submitted within 48 hours of starting the application. Needless to day, I dipped. I understand asking for fancier steps further down the interviewing process, but to ask right at the jump for candidates to put that much extra effort into an application like that knowing how long it takes to film and edit is a spit in the face. It wasn't a video editing job either.
I wonder if maybe the 2nd one is a scam. Just by going off the poorly written English, and the idea of an accelerated interview process.
“How long have you been writing for?” I am not sure when you will read this, and the answer is a temporally changing one. For precision, please apply the self-conceived formula.
Given that I was 6 yrs old in 2nd grade (approx Jan 1, 1974) , when I learned to write, I’ve been writing for…
Current Date - Jan 1, 1974 = Total time of writing experience.
😂😂😂
Copy writing employers should not have their own staff end sentences with a preposition in a public document.
It would be better to say “How long have you been writing for, asshole?”
Those cleaning duties at the CEO's place are probably his "nasty stuff" after he finishes his gig with the assistant. Half of it she'll wear home on her skirt. I speak from experience in seeing my own former workplace. It wasn't just a toxic workplace, it was a nuclear waste workplace. I worked there for six years, so what does that say about ME??
The ceiling and the pass around ,lol🎉
Plot twist: they were all entry-level jobs.
The 34 code was for a piddling 34k per year haha!
😂
That Victoria job posting kinda reminded me of the movie Secretary
Some job postings, especially these days, are fake. Companies have to have job postings to show that there were no discriminatory hiring practices when someone was selected, so they make it sound super hard to work there or make the application tedious so that the one person they really want to hire can get that job; at which point they change the job description/title so that the person they hired has a normal role. If you see a posting so unhinged, it is likely that. Ignore it and move on.
16:00 the code. This is something they ask you in a form or in an interview. Just to test if you have read it all. Usually if it is on a browser based form you wont be able to get to the publication to check, because the form will clase and you wont be able to finnish it. Job duck (which at this point I hate, use apple pie as code) I dont apply anymore if I see job duck
Two more red flags -
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1) An application system that requires you to include a cover letter.
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Especially when the job posting says nothing about it. And especially when the vast majority of applications don't impose this requirement.
Almost no one actually reads them, and I'm not going to double the amount of time I spend on an application for something that might only improve callback rates by about 10%. 99%+ of the time, you have absolutely NO idea who is going to read it. You have no idea what mood that person will be in, the role this person has in the process, or even if the hiring manager, what kinds of problems he (she? See you don't even know.) is dealing with. So it's all pathetic Oliver-Twist style begging. "Oh puh-leeze sir! Give me a job sir! Shall I perform a song and dance sir? I'll ride a unicycle backwards while singing the Star Spangled Banner and juggling bowling balls on fire! Just please give me a job sir!" This dreak is worthless and will never help your cause.
It's literally a better use of my time to apply to another job.
If I only discover this near the end of the application process, there's a 50/50 chance of 2 outcomes.
1a) I realize the whole thing is a wanton waste of time, and I rage quit, pressing the X at light speed while I nope out of there as fast as I can.
1b) I still realize it's a waste of time, but I'm feeling snippy, so I copy-paste a little blurb I wrote about why cover letters are a waste of time, then say "fuck it" and apply anyway.
Either way I make a mental note not to apply to any other positions there.
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2) An application system that requires you to fill out your graduation year.
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This should be obvious, but it opens up the company to legal liability. It's very thinly veiled age discrimination. Realistically, to get a bachelor's degree, if you don't do so by age 25 or so, you probably never will. Things like full-time jobs, kids, and life in general make the process far more lengthy and difficult. Occasionally you hear about the rare 80 year old who got a degree after 20 years of 1 class per semester, but that's the exception, not the rule.
When I was getting my bachelor's degree, I only had one classmate who was just over 40 years old; everyone else was late teens, most early 20s, some mid 20s. No one in their 30s. She had a full-time paraprofessional job, and raising small children at home. She was a nice lady, but looked haggard, rough, and like she was constantly tired, though she was one of the best students as well. She was also, for obvious reasons, attending part-time, which meant the process would take 7-8 years rather than 4-5. It's not hard to see why many wouldn't be able to complete the program even if they begin.
So, if you see graduation year, that's something like a 3 year age range. Not hard to do the math.
Some systems even tried to do this with high school, which is even worse, as that's a 1 year range.
There is absolutely no good, viable, logical, business reason to ask this question. This information can only ever be used against you in a discriminatory fashion.
If you are just out of college and kind of desperate for a job, and think this information might help you get hired, then okay, I get it. But if you do so, think about it very hard. Formulate an exit plan, and follow through on it within 3-4 years. Keep applying, keep interviewing. The company is obviously oriented towards youth, and will find a reason to get rid of you eventually. You do NOT want to be hung out left to dry. I've seen this happen to people, so this isn't theoretical.
If I see that, I leave the process, immediately. I'm not completing the application, it's a waste of time. I will freely call out any company that does this.
"Seeking GOD-level talent". Salary range: 80,000 - 100,000. Hopefully they are seeking some very minor god, maybe even a satyr.
I have experience as a personal assistant. I did everything cooking, paying bills, traveling with children, event planning, preparing medications, training housekeepers, head hunting candidates, etc.
Entitlement seems to be the recurring theme.
Last job posting is something out of a movie script, like are they getting source material for the Devil Wears Prada reboot?
Ohhh boy, lol, love this video.
I had a recruiter reach out with an internship.... after visiting the site you would have to pay for individual classes and contribute a final presentation and create a webpage on their site. I saw several that were done and posted and it made me a little sad.
My therapist will be hearing about this.
Off video topic subject, but...
How to formulate a DEFLATING starting interview when I know the interviewers might be AFRAID of my skills, experience even attitude? HOW to formulate such introductory DEFLATING interview? It's a real problem. Help!
I refuse to fill out excessively long applications when I am some rando fill out an application on a webpage. Too soon for that, if I do at all. I also 100% refuse to take phycological or critical thinking test just for consideration for interview down the road that "might" happen. Fuck that. After a couple of interviews, if we're both interest, then maybe... but doubtful, stop wasting everyone's time with shit that doesn't prove anything in terms of job performance. They won't stop doing this shit until we refuse to accept it
Plus the data they are gathering.. How is it that this isn't illegal, considering all the other privacy laws that exist?
In my experience as someone who was in the workforce 40 years, please be vERY careful with "personal assistant" jobs. Some of these are scams, and I have personally experienced a couple that were nothing but a front for human trafficking. PLEASE never go to anyone's home to interview for any job period EVER. Be safe out there and good luck hunting :)
Fir the first listing, the brackets (referred to as quotes in the video) might be mark-up for a different publishing program. For printed books, to aviod missing itallics or bold, the input document is required to have specific markers to denote alternative fonts. Maybe a double underscore around italicized words, for example. The fact that the keywords are in brackets tells me this job posting was written possibly for a wiki or was meant as an input for some other publishing program.
Would it be helpful for someone looking for an assistant to enlist an agency to help find someone?
Ah, but then you have to pay the agency fees, and these folks seem like they're so cheap they pinch pennies until Lincoln's eyes bleed.
Of course that last job application is a great opportunity. They are obviously searching for Will Stockdale who has exactly the experience they are looking for as a PLO (Permanent Latrine Orderly). He is also an Air Force and Infantry veteran.
Ur channel is abouta BLOW up dude
God level starts at 200k even in Smalltown, USA. Actually, higher in Podunk Town since there's no quality of life there.
PPC Manager in NYC would average $110,000 a year + Bonuses. For GOD Tier you are looking at $178,000 + Bonuses, so severely undervalued.
Even C Suite exec support sounds insufferable to me, I can't imagine being a CEO's slave
That one was bad bad.
The "34" thing is a test that he uses to make sure canidates read through the entire job description.
I've used this strategy for minecraft servers, to ensure people have read through the rules before they apply.
Is the post for the executive assistant for Pepper Pott’s job??
I've watched plenty of videos. All have been helpful but, I would not mind a slight new perspective. I've spoken with a government contractor, I am interviewing for a job that is trade based. Your advice is more geared to the executive but how would you adjust approaching from a tradesman (electrician, Plumber, HVAC) point of view?
What are you interested in, specifically?
@@ALifeAfterLayoff The interview its self. Should I be prepared to answer the same regurgitated questions as a tradesman as opposed to some IT or executive? What is your biggest weakness, Strength, why should we hire you... tell us about yourself... etc. What kind of money were you expecting... not even sure how to go about that one.
Please note that records are likely not going to be kept for unpaid internships and co-ops. This will pose a problem for background checking. Also paid ones might not be kept on record like normal payroll employees which also pose a problem with background checking.
I have a question, for excel stuff, if i can't pay for actual courses with the certificates at the end, but i find a 12 hour youtube video that is basically an excel course, could i just link the video, would i have to record myself going along with the video? how could i quantify that to count for like, a certification or something?
I would think that there are people proofreading these posts on the job boards
Lol these were so good 😆
Can I please have the link for the last one? I’d like to throw my hat in the ring. Your help is appreciated. Thank you.
That Dr. Evil application doesn't need an assistant, he need his mom.
These job descriptions can be comedy skits
that CEO one reminds me of working for a manager who i took to referring to (privately) as the Child Emperor. so, you know, great job.
That last one just wants a slave that's probably going to solicit for $3x or is just Vince McMahon in disguise lol
The secret code is 34 probably refers to rule 34 of the internet. And that explains a lot of the other items on the list...
right? major red flag!
You wouldn't believe how many postings on linked in ask: make us a x min video telling us... or write a xx word essay. Or maybe you would believe. 😅
What a lucky find!
Brian, have you created a presentation on both managers and applicants participating in recruitment as a game? Using techniques like bluffing in poker and trying to win by collecting so many of the tokens as possible (money. Insurance, paid time off, free labor, etc.)
That CEO job posting sounds like a crazy 50 Shades of Grey or American Psycho.
Can you make a video or give some advice, I’m a supervisor and I feel like I do a pretty good job, I keep moral up and I’m good with my bosses. Another opportunity opened up which pays way more with no stress of being over others. I like my current job. I know you’ve made videos about how you can be easily replaced but I figured it may be a little different situation when you are running a department with more than 10 people.
"Have some self respect"
Self respect doesn't put food on table, pay the bills etc.. so honestly at this point I'll take anything paying 13-16$ a hour has im extremely desperate to get a job at all, retail, fast food etc... no one wants me
15:53 are they seriously making an allusion to Rule 34 in a job posting?
Never have I seen a redder flag!
That last job posting the CEO is a man named Robert Patin, I guarantee you all after looking at his face, it's definitely a punchable one.