Honesty Really Is the Best Policy - Especially in Job Descriptions
There’s a simple idea that gets repeated so often it risks losing its meaning: honesty is the best policy. But when you look closely at how organisations communicate especially in recruitment you start to see just how often that principle is quietly ignored. In the long run, honesty doesn’t just benefit the person reading a job advert; it benefits the organisation, the hiring team, and the wider community. Without it, time is wasted, expectations are mismanaged, and trust slowly erodes.
One of the clearest examples of this is the growing trend of vague and overly broad job specifications. Many of the roles I’ve come across recently sound inclusive on the surface, but when you dig deeper, they lack the clarity needed for candidates to make an informed decision. Phrases like “strong communication skills,” “commitment to customer service,” and “experience in innovation and transformation” sound impressive, but they don’t actually tell you what level of experience is required or who the role is really aimed at.
This becomes especially frustrating when organisations give the impression that a wide range of candidates have a realistic chance of progressing, when in reality they already have a very specific profile in mind. If a role effectively requires several years of professional experience in a similar position, then that should be stated clearly. If a degree is expected—or even preferred—then that should be made explicit, along with the type of degree. Without that transparency, candidates are left guessing, often investing time and energy into applications that were never seriously going to be considered.
There’s also a deeper issue here around fairness and opportunity. Many organisations claim they want to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds or non-traditional career paths. That’s a positive goal, but it needs to be backed up with honest communication. If a role genuinely welcomes applicants with alternative forms of experience, then that should be clearly stated. If not, then it’s more respectful to be upfront about the level of experience required rather than creating false hope.
The problem isn’t just about qualifications or experience it’s also about language and assumptions. Job titles, for example, can be surprisingly misleading. Different industries and organisations often use the same title to mean completely different things. For someone trying to break into a new field, that lack of consistency can make the process even more confusing.
I experienced this first hand when I applied for a role titled “logistics operative.” Based on my understanding, that sounded like a warehouse-based position, possibly involving supervision or coordination. During the application process, I was asked whether I had a driving licence. I answered honestly and said "no" but was still offered an interview. That prompted me to re-read the job description more carefully, only to realise that the role was essentially that of a van driver. In their world, the title made perfect sense. In mine, it meant something entirely different.
Situations like this highlight why honesty and clarity are so important. A more accurate job title or a clearer description at the outset would have saved time on both sides. It would have allowed me to make a better-informed decision and prevented the organisation from progressing a candidate who wasn’t aligned with the actual requirements of the role. This isn’t about blame it’s about recognising that small changes in communication can have a big impact.
In the long run, honesty creates better outcomes for everyone. Candidates can focus their efforts on roles that genuinely suit their skills and experience. Employers receive applications from people who are better aligned with their needs. And perhaps most importantly, trust is built rather than undermined. If organisations truly want to attract the right people and support a wider range of applicants—they don’t need more buzzwords or broader statements. They simply need to be clear, direct, and honest from the start.
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