Something for the weekend: Employers will typically try to ensure their job adverts stand out and include a good level of detail to attract potential applicants. However, some end up standing out for completely the wrong reasons.
One such job description went viral on Reddit, in its Recruiting Hell subreddit, for its extreme demands. The original poster posted screenshots of an advert for a founding engineer role at AI advertisement firm Icon, adding the caption: “I really have no words.”
They applied for the role as they were “desperate” for a job, but noted that the “description kept bugging” them and the firm has the same requirements for every opening it has.
The job application stated: “Please understand and agree with our values before applying,” followed by a detailed list of requirements.
First on the list was: “Seven-day work week. We will not be outworked. That being said, weekends are more flexible (OK to grab a brunch or dinner).” That’s pretty extreme and terrible for employees’ work-life balance.
Another bullet point asked for driven applicants. “You’re hungry to do what it takes for us to win. You likely have a massive chip on your shoulder and/or a neurodivergent brain.”
Next up was the requirement to work and text on weekends and at night. “It’s okay to send messages at 3am. If someone isn’t an A player, we part ways quickly. Please be okay with this. We do paid trials to help de-risk this.”
Users quickly made their thoughts known in the post’s comments section, with many stating this is a job they would never want to apply for due to the lack of work-life balance.
“This is the type of job that causes burnout in less than six months,” one user commented, while another said: “I’m burned out just reading it.”
Further comments included: “Seriously though, how late are they usually working on weekends that they have to say grabbing dinner is okay?” and: “Big of them, to allow you to eat on weekends?”
Sounds like a rather intense working culture, and not in a good way!
