How I'm Screening Out Vacancies

I just wanted to share my experience with applying for vacancies, because time and resources are obviously limited, and some descriptions cry out, "Do not apply here." So here are the red flags I use for project management, but you'll get the idea and will be able to apply them to other areas.

Nothing in particular means it's project management in IT, but there's no evidence of any other details. Managing IT services? Building infrastructure? Implementing solutions for business logic? Developing new digital products? After 22 years, I'm sure all these areas require specific expertise, so the job description should be specific as well. You just can't write "IT Project Manager" and post it.

Mix of skills is a great filter for greedy people. They want a project manager combined with a system admin and support. That's not "all-rounder" – you're just being greedy and unprofessional, so you'll get what you deserve: incompetence.

Not naming the system you implement. These are not names of ERP systems: SAP, SAP ERP, M365. Why? Well, SAP is the name of the company, for instance. Again, the problem is that you need relevant experience to implement any ERP system, and the experience required is very different for each.

Outdated tech stack. This could be the most arguable one, but in my personal opinion, if you're sticking in 2026 with PHP, C#, RPA, or no-code, you just create more problems than you're trying to solve, so these projects are cursed from the start.

Strange name for the role, like project coordinator or project controller instead of project manager, indicates a major misunderstanding, a probable lack of authority accompanied by full responsibility, as well as a possible intent to pay significantly less.

Developing an in-house ERP system is like reinventing the bicycle, and from an economic viewpoint, it's not viable unless a company is a vast retail network. For a midsize construction company – definitely a no-go, and a waste of resources for a false objective.

AI buzz – because that's not how it works. You don't replace people with AI, and you don't jump over maturity levels. You also can't compensate for incompetence with AI, by the way.