Between growth and merit: the language of job advertisements

From a linguistic analysis of the recurring expressions in job advertisements and in the descriptions that companies provide about the mission and regarding the search for new personnel "to join the team", we discover how, in addition to there being little material which is mostly standardized, there is always an oscillation between very precise and recognizable semantic fields, linked to the movement, at the growth, to the courage, to thereliability, to theimagination.

First of all, the requested subject is never a person but one resource with a very specific profile, eager to "grow both professionally and humanly" and to "get involved", as well as to "look ahead". With well-defined character traits: dynamic, positive, flexible, tenacious, motivated, creative, autonomous, curious, precise, reserved. In attitudes which, if not characterised, must at least have already existed developed: those relating to problem solving, managing stress, team work, achieving objectives, relationships, organisation, interaction, learning, managing multiple activities at the same time.

To complete the profile, knowledge of English and a second foreign language or availability at all times cannot certainly be missing.

The semantic fields, in short, are mainly found in the metaphors linked to the movement (dynamism, flexibility, achievement, interaction, ...), which is also expressed in the personal characteristics that must lead to growth or in the expressions that the company uses to talk about itself ("innovation means never stopping"; "always one step ahead of others"; "those who are capable of looking ahead"; ...). Another field is that ofreliability (curious, autonomous, precise, reserved, able to manage stress and emotions, organised, devoted to learning, ...). We then encounter expressions linked, perhaps in a curious way, to courage and to theself-denial (tenacity, curiosity, availability, motivation, positivity, achievement of objectives, aptitude for problem solving, resourcefulness, desire to get involved, believe in the project...). Last, but not least, is the semantic field ofimagination (creativity, problem solving, ability to look ahead, planning, innovation, positivity, ...).

To conclude, the linguistic analysis sheds light on the imaginary of companies in which the workers' system also exists. A very precise and recognizable imagery, as well ideological: it is, in fact, a very precise vision of humanity whose compass should rotate between growth is merit; or rather, between precise conceptions of growth and merit.