Job descriptions for graphic designers

I have to laugh every time I read job descriptions for graphic design positions. Since design is the industry I find myself trained for and working in presently, I scan the employment listings from time to time just to see what’s out there.

The job descriptions seem to be written by middle-aged management types, people who don’t quite grasp the computer savvy of younger generations. I say this with respect to the weight given to working knowledge of software as an application requirement. Learning new software is, in my opinion, second nature to people who grew up with computers in the house. I often wonder about how many really good designers don’t get hired just because they’re honest on their resumes about not presently knowing their way around a particular program. People like me can learn the basics of a program in five minutes (Yes, that is an exaggeration.). When I was in college, a former student spoke in one of my classes about how he lied on his resume, stating that he knew a particular program that he didn’t, and as soon as he turned the resume in went online and found a tutorial for said program. This, of course, raises ethical concerns for types like my wife. And myself.

I can understand that companies want to limit on the job training of employees. They instead want as many productive hours as possible (This is at least true for most companies in theory. When my wife worked at a small community newspaper, however, her counterparts at the larger dailies — in the same company — built at most a quarter of the pages she did in the same amount of time. And no one in the management seemed to think this was a problem.). Thus they hope to get new hires who are completely ready for a new job. It saves them time, hassle and money. But it can also equate to underemployment for the new worker, which isn’t good for the company in the long run either. Bored employees are usually no better than unqualified ones.

Another common requirement listed in job descriptions is that an applicant be “detail oriented.” How wonderfully euphemistic! This phrase is so overused it has become meaningless. Did anybody really know what it meant when it was first used anyway? I suppose we can still assume that it means “ditzy blondes need not apply” (Nothing against blondes here; just making use of the stereotype.). Employers don’t want to babysit employees and clean up after they screw up, understandably.

A new one for me today, as I gandered at a position with Omaha Steaks, was under the “Qualifications” section of the listing on Monster.com. It asked for applicants who possessed “Excellent communication and concentration skills.” Communications is a given, but I’d never seen an employer ask for someone with excellent “concentration skills.” I laughed out loud.

I would be comfortable applying for this particular job based on the listing on Monster.com. I don’t have specific knowledge of all of the software they hope for (and I wouldn’t lie on my resume), but otherwise I meet the requirements.

Though I’m not certain I know what excellent concentration skills look like.