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One of the small mercies I take from dealing with unsolicited emails is scanning the signoffs for unusual job titles.

Oh, you’re a ‘chief conversation starter’? Didn’t know that was a thing. Wow, we have ourselves a ‘maverick entrepreneur’ here, folks.

Both of those are real, by the way.

Then there are those corporate buzzwords that creep in from time to time, both in emails and around the workplace itself. They have become something of a staple, despite the fact that even those who use them are aware of the extreme cringe factor.

A new US-based survey covered by Fortune found that seven in 10 respondents admitted to using business jargon themselves. 10 words or phrases, in particular, stood out as the most annoying:

• New normal
• Culture (e.g., “company culture”)
• Circle back
• Boots on the ground
• Give 110%
• Low-hanging fruit
• Win-win
• Move the needle
• Growth hacking
• Think outside the box

One cannot give 110%, no matter what is said in just about every generic post-match sports interview.

I’d put ‘circle back’ right at the top of my list as well.

Spending two years working from home has fostered a sense of casualness as we return to the office—such as the newfound ability to wear jeans to work—that clashes more with formal phrases like “growth hacking.”

As people start to prioritize work-life balance more and resist hustle culture, these buzzwords can be a jarring reminder of 2010s workplace attitudes that heralded professionalism above everything else.

You don’t need to go into the office, wear uncomfortable pants, and talk about ‘low-hanging fruit’ to get the job done.

The catch here is that the same study showed three-fourths of respondents saying that using these buzzwords can make someone sound more professional.

For companies looking to hire, there are also some pointers to ‘take on board’:

One in five respondents considered jargon in a job description to be a warning sign, with most noting that the language factored in their decision to apply or not. The main offenders for candidates were overly optimistic words that suggested an undercurrent of a more tense work environment, such as “rockstar,” “wear many hats,” and “thick skin.

If I had a rand for every time I’d seen a job posting asking a “rockstar” candidate to carry out three different roles for a salary insufficient for one of the three I’d be doing rather well for myself.

We can do better. Also, more meetings can be emails and the four-day workweek is the future.

[source:fortune]