Q: When is a job description not a job description?

[CatBlack]

A: When is doesn't describe the job.

I've noticed recently that a lot of the "job descriptions" I receive when contacted about roles are simply list of pre-requisite skills/attributes/competencies/experience. When I reply to the effect that "this isn't a job description, what does the role actually entail?" I get told either that this is all that the client has given them, or that all will be revealed at interview. At this point I tell them to stop wasting their time (and mine).

This seems particularly common among the Wipro/Infosys/Sopra Steria/Zensar/Crisil Indian consultancy recruiters.

Is this a new phenomenon, or have I just noticed it? Or are these not actual jobs at all and the recruiters in question are just trying to harvest my information?

[northernladuk]

Been going on since the beginning of time and won't change. Either clients really just want someone to do a 'job' in which case it's inside or the agent is just too lazy to convert what the client wants in to a meaningful profile of work.

One thing that is wrong and needs to change is this.

When I reply to the effect that "this isn't a job description, what does the role actually entail?"

EDIT: OP finally adds a bit of detail that's absolutely key to the discussion in the post after so original text that was here is now irrelevant.

[CatBlack]

Jesus Christ, do you ever change the record? You answered the question in your first two sentences. The rest of your post contributes nothing. Just once it would be great if you could give it a rest. You aren't the only person in the world who understands how contracting works.

For the record the approaches I'm talking about are for FTC/Inside IR35/perm jobs (if his lordship will allow me to use the word "job").

[northernladuk]

Jesus Christ, do you ever change the record? You answered the question in your first two sentences. The rest of your post contributes nothing. Just once it would be great if you could give it a rest. You aren't the only person in the world who understands how contracting works.

For the record the approaches I'm talking about are for FTC/Inside IR35/perm jobs (if his lordship will allow me to use the word "job").

Edit: Try be a bit clearer with what you are asking about in the first post then. Job descriptions have no place in outside IR35 gigs, not really for inside but can happen and yes can be there for FTC/perm. Some clarity in the first post would have been nice. We have plenty of new contractors with outside gigs calling them job descriptions so important to pull them up on it.

[cojak]

Yes, had you put all this info into your first post CatBlack you might have got a different response.

[PerfectStorm]

You find out when you get there. The best laid plans rarely come to full fruition, so there's not much point asking for them.

Do you like the sound of the company, the location, the 'beer test' of the person you spoke with? Go with that.

[SueEllen]

I've never got a job or role description that is accurate from an agent so it is better they don't give one.

I ask when talking to the employer/client.

[WTFH]

I've never got a job or role description that is accurate from an agent so it is better they don't give one.

I ask when talking to the employer/client.

I've rarely met an agent that has a grasp of what I do (or cares), they just see the bottom line. The client, on the other hand, needs to understand the requirement to bring me in and provide information relating to their project.

[TheDude]

I've rarely met an agent that has a grasp of what I do

I work with Scala and the staff for one recruitment firm that specialises placing scala developers describes it's staff as 'functional programming advocates'

Most of the advocacy seems to be via the medium of TOWIE/Love Island style social media posts.

[PerfectStorm]

I work with Scala and the staff for one recruitment firm that specialises placing scala developers describes it's staff as 'functional programming advocates'

Most of the advocacy seems to be via the medium of TOWIE/Love Island style social media posts.

I mean, there is a personality type that goes into recruitment. It's been about pouting holiday pics for some time.