Red Flags in Internal Communication Job Descriptions
As we discussed in last week’s blog post, organizations are often confused about what internal communication (IC) is and is not. Here are a few red flags in IC job postings that warn “confusion ahead.”
Ampersands in the title—Nothing says “we don’t know what this job will actually do” better than an ampersand in the title. This recent posting from world beauty leader L'Oréal includes not one but two ampersands. Both ampersands indicate that the job description is not well-defined and that the responsibilities may be ambiguous or overlapping. The ampersands also suggest that the position involves multiple roles or that the employer is trying to combine several job functions into one position. If you like ambiguity and potentially doing the jobs of multiple people, then this IC role’s for you.
Ambiguity about job grade and compensation—Many states now require employers to disclose the salary ranges for positions. Personally, I love this. It gets rid of the “can you afford me or can’t you” dance in the application process. Wisconsin is one of the states that doesn’t yet require salary range disclosures. An IC job posting for the Milwaukee office of Rockwell Automation certainly used this to their advantage.
"Job family" implies that the position is part of a larger group of roles that share similar characteristics, but it doesn’t provide information on the specific duties or requirements of the position. Stating that experience is the determining factor for position level and compensation can lead to ambiguity in the hiring process. Based on this line alone, it sounds like the posting is just to cast a wide net and see who they catch before figuring out what the IC role will do and be paid. That’s a pass from me.
Not understanding the difference between communicators and communication professionals—Let’s go back to that Internal Communications Manager position from Rockwell Automation. The two opening lines are such great red flag examples.
A communicator is anyone who communicates, whether it’s through writing, speaking, or other forms of expression. This is literally anyone in an organization who types an email or opens their mouth during a workday. While communicators may have strong communication skills, they likely don’t have formal training or education in the field.
Communication professionals, on the other hand, have specialized knowledge and skills in the field of communication. This can include individuals who have completed formal education in communication or related fields, such as journalism, public relations, or marketing.
Hiring a communicator rather than a communication professional can give an organization very different results. I highly suspect this job description wasn’t written by a communication professional. Another possible red flag if you’re looking to work with others who strongly understand the business function.
