Reacting to Job Postings That Are Too Ridiculous to Be True
April 13, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readIn a real job posting for a "visionary" role at a tech company, the employer wrote: "Behold, behold, the company in the eye of the storm... You shall toil. Amen. Cry babies we will scorn." This is not a parody. It is a real document meant to attract talent. On today's episode of The EntreLeadership Podcast, host Dave Ramsey and John Falcons dissect a handful of the most ridiculous job descriptions they could find, then explain the psychology behind why they fail — and how to write one that works.
Why chaotic postings attract chaotic people
The "Lord of the Rings" job description is not just embarrassing; it is a diagnostic tool. "If your posting sounds chaotic, you're gonna attract chaotic people," Falcons says. "Your job description is the first impression of your leadership. If you lead with drama and confusion, don't be surprised when drama and confusion walk through the front door." The core mechanism here is signaling. Every line of a job ad communicates something about how the organization thinks, makes decisions, and treats people. A line like "No honeymoon period you shall have" is not quirky — it is a warning that the company skips onboarding and goes straight to pressure. "Cry babies we shall scorn" tells candidates that vulnerability and questions will be punished. The practical lesson: "You don't have to be boring, but you do need to be clear. Clarity is kind
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:05) **Opening: The Problem with Ridiculous Job Postings** - Dave Ramsey introduces the episode's focus on overstuffed, unrealistic job descriptions that drive away good candidates.
- 2 (01:33) **The "Lord of the Rings" Job Posting** - A tech company's "visionary role" posting uses archaic, dramatic language that obscures the actual job.
- 3 (03:25) **The Unicorn Accounting Role** - A posting demands a CPA with 5-8 years of experience, IPO prep, and Mandarin fluency, but offers a salary of $35,000-$60,000.
- 4 (04:54) **The "Whole IT Department" Software Engineer** - A full-stack posting lists responsibilities that cover back-end, front-end, DevOps, monitoring, and process improvement for one person.
- 5 (07:15) **The "Virtual Assistant" Who is Actually a Marketing Department** - A posting for a "virtual assistant" to create memes for a gambling website actually requires a content strategist, designer, and social media manager.
- 6 (09:59) **The "Entry-Level" Job That Is Not Entry-Level** - A posting for "zero to two years experience" requires supporting the C-suite, drafting earnings releases, and running investor conferences with a "zero tolerance for errors."
- 7 (11:18) **Culture vs. Buzzwords: The Media Specialist** - A posting uses vague, positive adjectives ("tenacious," "collaborative," "brave") but then reveals a reality of 90% billability and a high-pressure pace.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Bad job descriptions don’t just look silly, they cost you great candidates.
In this episode, we react to some of the most ridiculous, overstuffed postings out there and show you how to write clear, honest job descriptions that actually attract the right people.
Next Steps:
- 🎥 Watch our video The Secret to Hiring “A” Players in a Competitive Market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIA0RSHjuIg
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