Should I trust the advertised job description?

Experience level: Beginner

The posted job description and role that you want to apply for is a living and breathing entity that will morph and change during and after the employment process. Set your expectations and mindset right from the beginning to avoid disappointment in the future.

will the Job Description change?

The short answer is “Yes” Sometimes, the employment process can take months and in that time a lot of things within the organizational structure of a company can change. The role that you want can even disappear and there will be a very awkward radio silence between you and your potential employer. Do not get discouraged because it is not about your skillset. Learn from the application process and move on.

A simple tactic to avoid disappointment

It feels awful when you complete three interviews for one position, and then when you get a call with an offer, they tell you that the role has changed and that you will be responsible for something else. It is still relevant, but not what you were expecting. To avoid feeling disappointed, do not believe what the original job posting promises and keep an open mind. Think of the job posting as an entry point to the company that you really want to work for. They have an opening for creative professional like yourself. Period. If they like you and make you an offer, then take it and you will have your foot in the door. Once you are in, you can prove yourself, build trust, and move within the organization to where you want to be. Internal hiring is always preferred by companies.

Stories from the cubicle

Back when I used to work for a geotechnical software company, I agreed to take on a role that I never applied for. I completed a skill testing assignment where I had to create a logo for a company that they were acquiring, and I completed three rounds of interviews and one screening call. So four times in total. I knew that I did well and was expecting the offer.

I got a call from the marketing manager and they asked me if I could take on a six-month contract for a completely different role in social media instead of a brand designer. I was so heavily invested into this application and so desperate that I was willing to go for anything.

The company decided to hire one other person to do the brand work and place me in the social media role even though social media was never advertised as my strength during the interview process. On my first day, I started working on a marketing brochure instead of social media and that was the disorganized shape of things to come.

It was a slippery slope of meetings, comments, and intense expectations that really harmed my confidence. I spent weekends thinking up ideas that were never good enough. Five months in, I was told that my contract will not be renewed and that I had two weeks to wrap up.

Lesson Learned

Waiting longer for the right position will do less damage to your confidence than accepting a role where you are set up for failure, and where expectations are not aligned with your strengths.