Hiring Is Hard. Warning: Burnout Ahead.

No dark-mode styles — this email renders the same in a dark client.

Does your job ad have burnout red flags?
Practical advice, real data, and honest perspectives for employers who are trying to hire and lead better.
Hey gang!
Normally, we think of burnout as an employee struggle. They’re overworked. Priorities keep changing. Meetings multiply like rabbits.
Familiar stuff we’ve all been managing for decades.
But when 43.2% of candidates (peep our 2026 Toxic Workplace Trends Report ) are feeling frequently burned out at work and list it as a top reason for leaving a job, that makes it an issue we must pay closer attention to.
I Can Smell the Burnout
If you’ve ever experienced burnout, you know you never want to experience it again. And job seekers are getting pretty good at judging which jobs may have them running on fumes. In fact, sometimes we’re putting those burnout warning signs directly in our job ads without even realizing it.
Have you ever used these phrases in a job ad before?
“Must thrive in a fast-paced environment.”
“Ability to juggle multiple competing priorities.”
“Must be comfortable wearing many hats.”
“Looking for someone who goes above and beyond.”
One phrase probably isn’t scaring anyone away. But stack enough of them together?
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
The goal isn’t to pretend that every day at your company is yoga at sunrise. But you can artfully communicate that yours is a healthy, hardworking organization.
Steal This Idea
Some roles at your company might just be demanding at times. But that doesn’t mean you can’t attract the right applicants for them.
Here’s where radical transparency comes in. Throughout your hiring process:
Be honest about workloads.
Explain when busy periods happen.
Talk about how priorities are set.
Tell candidates what support looks like.
And maybe retire “must thrive under pressure” unless being chased by a bear is genuinely part of the job description 🐻
1 Bullet on the Labor Market
(‛cause it’s important, but not that exciting)
With more than double the job growth expected and a steady unemployment rate, analysts are confident the labor market is on solid ground for now. This is encouraging for candidates and a reminder to us employers to bring our A-game: Clear, compelling job ads, employer brands on full display, and none of those burnout red flags!
📈 Want more details? Here’s the latest labor market breakdown .
What Are You Saying?!
Last month we asked everyone their opinion on the ongoing internet debate of whether it is appropriate to bring an iced coffee to a job interview.
The responses we received, and there were many, were all some version of:
❌ No.
🙅♀️ Heck no.
😡 What the $%#! are you thinking?!
Message heard. But candidates disagree (especially our Gen Z friends), so the divide continues!
👉 This month, respond and let us know if you have any tips for preventing burnout on your team. It’s a little more serious than the iced coffee debate, but it’s an important check-in for all of you readers!
No ROI Beyond This Point
As always, I read the replies.
Brian
41 E. All Saints St., Frederick, MD 21701
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12 November 2026 · 15:00 UTC