Do Job Descriptions Still Mean Anything—or Are They Just Legal Disclaimers?

There was a time when job descriptions actually meant something. They were straightforward. They told you what the job was, what qualifications were required, and what kind of experience you needed to have. You would read it and know immediately whether you were a suitable candidate or not.

Does that still happen today?

Modern job descriptions seem to be filled with vague buzzwords and aspirational phrases that often say very little about the actual job. Instead of clear criteria, we now get a list of broad ideals like “cultural awareness,” “inclusivity,” “emotional intelligence,” “team player,” “lived experience,” and an ever-expanding glossary of identity-based preferences. Somewhere along the line, it feels like the actual skills and qualifications took a back seat.

Of course, diversity and fairness matter in every workplace. Nobody is questioning that. But when job ads start sounding more like legal disclaimers or social manifestos than actual job descriptions, you cannot help but wonder what exactly is being hired — the person for the job, or a public image for the company?

It used to be simple. You looked at your experience and training, matched it with the criteria, and applied. Now, it is not always clear what the employer actually wants. In some cases, it seems like everything else is prioritized before the one thing that should matter most — the ability to do the job well.