Recruiter Buzzword Bingo: A Drinking Game (Please Don't Actually Drink)
Recruiters have developed their own language—a strange dialect where everyone is a "rock star," every job is "exciting," and every company is "disrupting" something. These buzzwords have become so overused that candidates immediately tune out when they see them.
So I created Recruiter Buzzword Bingo. Print this out, and every time you see one of these phrases in a job posting or recruiter message, mark it off. Get five in a row, and you win... the knowledge that recruiting hasn't evolved in 15 years.
(Please don't actually make this a drinking game. You'd have alcohol poisoning by page 2 of LinkedIn job postings.)
The Bingo Card: 25 Buzzwords That Need to Die
Here's your card. These are real phrases from real job postings and recruiter InMails:
| B | I | N | G | O | |-------|-------|-------|-------|-------| | Rock Star | Ninja | Guru | Disruptor | Unicorn | | Synergy | Passionate | Self-Starter | Wear Many Hats | Fast-Paced | | Dynamic | Exciting Opportunity | Cutting-Edge | Thought Leader | Game-Changer | | Competitive Salary | Work Hard Play Hard | Startup Mentality | Move Fast Break Things | Hustle Culture | | Growth Mindset | Team Player | Hit Ground Running | Go-Getter | Drink the Kool-Aid |
Let's break down why these are all terrible.
The "We Think We're Cooler Than We Are" Category
Rock Star / Ninja / Guru / Unicorn
"We're looking for a Marketing Ninja who can disrupt the industry!" You're hiring a marketing manager. Call it that.
Research shows that "quirky" job titles like these actually reduce qualified applicants because candidates searching for "Marketing Manager" won't find your "Marketing Ninja" posting.
Disruptor / Game-Changer / Thought Leader
Every company claims to be "disrupting" something. You're not disrupting anything. You're a B2B SaaS company selling project management software.
And "thought leader"? That's a meaningless buzzword people give themselves when they don't have actual accomplishments to point to.
The "We Want to Pay You Less" Category
Competitive Salary
This means "we pay market rate or slightly below, but we don't want to tell you upfront". If your salary was actually competitive, you'd post the range.
95% of job seekers want salary information in postings. "Competitive salary" is code for "we're not telling you until you've wasted hours interviewing."
Wear Many Hats
Translation: "We're understaffed and you'll be doing the work of 3 people for the salary of 0.75 people".
Startups love this phrase. What it actually means is unclear role definition, no resources, and burnout.
Startup Mentality (at a Company That's Not a Startup)
"We want you to work like you have equity, but we're not giving you equity".
If you're a 500-person company owned by a private equity firm and you're asking for "startup mentality," what you mean is "work 60 hours a week for below-market pay while we extract maximum value."
The "We Have No Idea What This Role Actually Does" Category
Dynamic / Fast-Paced / Exciting Opportunity
"We're looking for a dynamic professional to join our fast-paced team for an exciting opportunity in cutting-edge technology!"
Cool. What's the actual job? This description could apply to literally any role at any company.
Synergy
Nobody knows what this means. It's a corporate buzzword that sounds smart but conveys zero information.
"We're seeking someone who can create synergy across departments." Cool. So... someone who communicates with other teams? Just say that.
The "Red Flag for Work-Life Balance" Category
Work Hard Play Hard
This phrase is consistently rated as one of the biggest red flags in job postings because it signals toxic hustle culture disguised as "fun."
Move Fast and Break Things
This was Facebook's motto in 2012 and it aged like milk. Now it signals "we don't have processes, we don't test things, and when stuff breaks, you'll be blamed."
Hustle Culture / Grind Mentality
Studies show that hustle culture leads to burnout, high turnover, and decreased productivity. Companies that brag about it are waving red flags.
The "Meaningless Personality Traits" Category
Passionate / Self-Starter / Team Player / Go-Getter
These are filler traits that mean nothing.
"We're looking for a passionate self-starter who's a team player and a go-getter with a growth mindset!"
Congratulations, you've described every functional adult human. These traits are universal and provide zero signal about what the job actually requires.
Hit the Ground Running
Translation: "We don't have time to train you, and we expect you to be fully productive from day one".
This phrase signals poor onboarding, understaffing, and unrealistic expectations.
Real Job Posting Examples That Hit Buzzword Bingo
These are real job postings. I didn't make these up.
Example 1:
"We're seeking a rock star marketing ninja with a growth mindset to join our fast-paced, dynamic team! This exciting opportunity offers competitive salary and the chance to disrupt the industry. Must be a self-starter who can hit the ground running and wear many hats. Work hard, play hard culture with startup mentality!"
Bingo count: 12 buzzwords. This posting contains zero useful information about the actual job.
Example 2:
"Thought leader needed for cutting-edge role! We're a game-changer in our space looking for a passionate team player who can create synergy across departments. Must be a go-getter who thrives in a fast-paced environment. Move fast and break things mentality required!"
Bingo count: 9 buzzwords. Still no information about responsibilities, qualifications, or what the company actually does.
Example 3:
"Join our disruptive unicorn startup! Looking for a hustler with startup mentality who can wear many hats. Competitive salary (drink the Kool-Aid and we'll talk equity). Must be passionate, a self-starter, and able to hit ground running in our work-hard-play-hard culture!"
Bingo count: 11 buzzwords + actively admitting they want you to "drink the Kool-Aid." This is a hostage situation, not a job.
How to Actually Write Job Postings Without Buzzwords
If you're a recruiter and you're offended by this article, here's how to fix your postings:
Be specific about the role - "Manage social media campaigns with $50K budget and measure ROI" beats "dynamic marketing ninja with growth mindset".
Post actual salary ranges - $80K-$100K beats "competitive salary".
Describe the work, not personality traits - "Build React components and collaborate with designers" beats "passionate team player who hustles".
Be honest about culture - "Remote-first with core hours 10am-3pm EST" beats "work hard play hard startup mentality".
Skip the corporate jargon - Nobody creates "synergy." They communicate, collaborate, and coordinate. Use normal words.
The Bottom Line
Recruiter buzzwords are so overused they've become meaningless. Rock stars, ninjas, disruptors, and synergy don't tell candidates what the job actually involves or whether they should apply.
Job postings full of buzzwords get fewer qualified applicants because candidates can't tell what the role actually is. And when candidates do apply, they're turned off by vague, jargon-filled descriptions.
Want better candidates? Write job postings that clearly explain responsibilities, requirements, salary, and culture using normal human language.
Or keep posting about "dynamic rock star ninjas with startup mentality who can create synergy" and wonder why nobody responds.
Your move.
Key Takeaways:
- 25 overused recruiting buzzwords that provide zero useful information
- Phrases like "rock star," "synergy," and "competitive salary" are red flags for candidates
- Real job postings hit 9-12 buzzwords while saying nothing about the actual role
- Specific, transparent job descriptions attract better candidates
- Skip the jargon and use normal human language to describe work
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