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65% of workers have accepted a job that did not match its description, study finds

The MyPerfectResume survey of 1,000 workers found that 36% had experienced a mismatch between a job description and the reality of a role, while 29% said it had happened more than once.

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65% of workers have accepted a job that did not match its description, study finds
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Almost two-thirds (65%) of workers have accepted a job that turned out to be meaningfully different from how it was described, according to research from MyPerfectResume.

The survey of 1,000 workers found that 36% had experienced a mismatch between a job description and the reality of a role, while 29% said it had happened more than once.

The findings also pointed to a potential retention problem for employers, with 78% saying they would consider leaving within the first year if a role turned out to be meaningfully different from its description.

Just 18% said they completely trusted job descriptions to accurately reflect the reality of a role, while 47% said they trusted them somewhat.

By comparison, 29% said they somewhat distrusted job descriptions and 6% completely distrusted them.

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More than half (55%) of respondents interpreted vague job descriptions as a sign that an employer was hiding downsides or experiencing organisational problems.

Some 42% said vague descriptions suggested a company was hiding downsides, while 13% believed they indicated that the organisation was disorganised.

A further 32% attributed vague descriptions to standard HR language, while 13% saw no negative signal.

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Almost two-thirds (64%) believed companies used vague language for at least one strategic reason, either to appeal to more applicants or avoid discouraging potential candidates.

When asked why employers used vague wording, 56% cited attracting a wider pool of applicants, 40% said it was common HR language and 36% believed it was intended to avoid discouraging candidates.

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Meanwhile, 31% said it was used to simplify job postings, 27% believed employers were attempting to hide downsides and 14% said hiring teams may not realise how the language comes across.

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Burnout or excessive workloads were the most common concern among workers encountering polished workplace language, cited by 25%.

This was followed by unclear role expectations at 21%, high turnover or instability at 18%, poor management or boundaries at 16%, and understaffing at 13%.

Dr. Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume, said: “Job descriptions are often a candidate’s first impression of an employer, but they also set the expectations that determine whether someone stays.

“When a role does not match what was advertised, workers may see that disconnect as a breach of trust. Employers that communicate clearly about responsibilities, workload, and workplace expectations are more likely to attract candidates who are prepared for the role and more likely to stay.”

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