It’s a familiar story.

The job title made sense. The responsibilities aligned with your experience. Even the benefits ticked the right boxes.

But then you sat down for the interview, and it felt like a completely different role.

Suddenly, the "hybrid" role is actually four days in the office. The "project ownership" turns out to mean covering for a team that left six months ago. And the “supportive leadership” is more of a revolving door.

Where’s the disconnect?

Job descriptions are often written quickly, borrowed from older versions, or edited to sound more appealing than they really are. In some cases, the hiring manager and HR are not even fully aligned on what they need.

So what you see is not always what you get. And for candidates, that mismatch costs time, effort, and trust.

Red flags to watch for

Here are a few signs that the job description might not match the reality:

Vague responsibilities If it’s all buzzwords and no substance, expect surprises.

Too much, too soon “You’ll lead X, own Y, and transform Z” might actually mean you're filling three roles.

No mention of team or reporting lines Often a hint that there's no clear structure.

Language like “fast-paced” or “wear many hats” This is not always bad, but it’s worth digging into what that really means in practice.

How to protect yourself in the interview

Even with the best prep, sometimes surprises still pop up. Here’s how to spot them early:

Ask how success is measured in the role Request examples of a typical week Find out why the role is open and how long it’s been vacant Ask how performance is supported and who you’d go to for help

So where does that leave you?

No one wants to waste time on a role that sounded good on paper but turned out to be something else entirely.

Working with recruiters who genuinely understand the roles they are hiring for and the people they are hiring for makes a huge difference.

At Intelligent Employment, our consultants specialise in specific sectors so we know what to look for and what to ask. That means you are not just getting a job spec. You are getting the story behind it.

If that sounds like the kind of recruitment experience you have been missing, register your CV and we will take it from there.