Obviously

"A former newsletter reporter is need to write articles for website dealing with regulatory issues." (from Craigslist)

Just one?

I think I could handle a "Director of Proposal" posting on Craigslist.

Multiple proposals would be a problem.

Work from Home

One of the requirements in a Craigslist posting today for a Content Writer: "Ability to work independently with very little super vision."

So, who needs super vision anyway when there's no watcher to watch.

ISO . . .

Technical Writer Neededddd (Fairfax)

They also might need an editor, or perhaps someone to fix a sticky keyboard.

And after our croissant, we'll smoke a Gitanes.

Describing the kind of person sought, the following was part of an ad on mediabistro.com for an editor position at a consumer magazine in northern Virginia.

You:
---like working on a close-knit team where you can learn every aspect of magazine publishing
---are overflowing with creative ideas
---thrive in a fun, fast-paced environment
---enjoy baked goods on Wednesday

Hard working, creative, fun types are a dime a dozen. I'll pass, thank you very much. Give me a Wednesday doughperson anytime.

I know that when I've done recruiting, I've always hired editors whose refined palate can appreciate the finest Wednesday-only specialties from my local patisserie.

In addition to that attribute, and perhaps even more important, is that they have the self-discipline to indulge in that guilty pleasure only on Wednesdays.

Wednesday's child is full of woe joie de vivre.

Written with a forked tongue?

From craigslist:

"TMCnet, the leading business-to-business Web site serving the IP communications and related technology market, has an opening for a senior-level editor in their Norwalk, CT office."

But further down in the ad:

"We believe in promotion from within . . ."

So either TMCnet doesn't actually believe it, or outside applicants needn't apply, which begs the question, Why do companies intent on promoting from within even bother to place want ads?

Red flags, storm warnings, and writings on the wall

One could conclude from reading want-ads language that many of them are cut from the same cloth; that there is some template out there used by most employers.

The same key words and phrases appear everywhere, whatever the industry. These words apparently reflect the qualities that employers seek in their employees.

Here are some that carry a message—a cautionary one—for job applicants, with my take on how a few of them impact editors.

Creative, persuasive editor: The writers (or authors and content developers) don't like their work reviewed or having to rewrite. They resist working with editors and resent author queries.

Flexibility, must be able to shift gears in this fast-paced environment: The environment is chaotic, unstructured, super-dynamic, and mismanaged. You will need to routinely work late hours and weekends as a result of the absence of viable systems and processes.

Immediate opening: This is a rarity at best. If the company is of any significant size, it will have a bureaucracy involved in recruitment, selection, and hiring. Don’t give up that temp or freelance gig just yet.

Professional work environment: If a company has to state what should be a given, it’s a dead giveaway that the company has problems.

Qualifications, “preferred” and “a plus”: Call them what you will, but these are requirements. Don’t apply without them, hoping for the best. There always will be applicants fitting the bill.

Sense of humor: You’re walking into a somber environment. If you have a sense of humor, you’ll be the odd man out.

Team player: Forget about having the final say. You’ll have responsibility without authority and will be micromanaged every step of the way. “We are a team” (or the variant, “We are a family”) is emphasized only when it suits the needs of management.