Nothing puts me off a job advertisement more than “a dynamic, fast-paced work environment”.

Not because I’m afraid of hard work. On the contrary – I’m up for invigorating work that I can get my teeth into.

This description, however, suggests 3 things to me:

• The advertiser either used AI or was too lazy to appropriately describe the workplace environment in their role description. So many roles are described this way. This suggests the environment is too fast paced for people to stop and think about what they’re saying and how they could perhaps be a little more creative and impactful with their choice of words.

• Secondly, what are we saying here – that work requirements frequently change? In my many years of working in workplaces, things change constantly – do we really need to call it out? The term “fast-paced” is also subjective. To me, Hussain Bolt is fast paced.

• Finally, and shortly after the use of this phrase in a job advertisement, the description will go on to sell the company ethos on life work balance. It will touch on the importance of mental health, flexibility and inclusivity. This means little when preluded by “the “dynamic, fast paced” terminology. It’s challenging to create a mental image of flexibility, comradery and innovative deep thinking, when contrasted by an image of people running around an open plan office in every direction, papers and laptops in hands, approving this and emailing that, and doing that consistently for 40 plus hours a week.

How about describing it as a vibrant and innovative work environment instead?

Please share your suggestions below.