Job adverts can contain seven signs that a company is combining the duties of several employees into a single position. The list sets out typical phrasings, task volumes and workload scenarios by which a candidate can judge the real scope of the job.
Assigning work normally done by other specialists
Sometimes an employee is expected to carry out tasks previously performed by other specialists: for example, an office manager may be required to maintain personnel records and liaise with the accounting department, or a marketer may be expected not only to run advertising campaigns but also to handle customer enquiries. If such duties take several hours each day, less time remains for the main responsibilities.
In the vacancy, it is advisable to clarify which tasks will be permanent and which will arise only occasionally, and to ask for a description of a typical working week in order to assess the workload.
The advert uses many vague phrases or lists managerial duties
Job postings often include formulations such as “supporting processes”, “miscellaneous tasks” or “other duties as assigned by the manager”, which say little about concrete responsibilities. “Organisational issues” can conceal anything from ordering stationery to organising corporate events.
Another sign is when a regular specialist is expected to perform managerial functions: for example, a salesperson is required to train new hires, prepare plans for the department and be responsible for the performance of other employees, even though the vacancy does not specify a managerial role. It is worth clarifying what authority the employee will actually have.
Not enough required specialists and tasks spill beyond normal hours
Sometimes the description of a single vacancy lists tasks usually performed by a designer, a web developer or other specialists. The company may promise to hire them later, but without concrete deadlines “temporary” help can stretch into months.
Another sign is when the workload clearly exceeds an eight-hour day: a manager must process dozens of requests, reply to client messages and prepare reports, and also be ready for urgent tasks at any time. In such cases you will likely have to finish some work after hours.
The salary doesn’t match the workload and the headcount has been reduced
Sometimes a wider range of duties is offered for the same pay as positions with a lighter workload. We recommend comparing similar offers and asking whether the employer is prepared to pay more for a broader set of responsibilities, or when a promised raise will take place, recording any agreements in writing.
Another situation is when client enquiries used to be handled by three people but the company is now looking for only one manager despite the same volume of requests. You should find out why the department was reduced and which processes were simplified, because without significant changes the new hire may end up handling all the tasks alone.
