When a job posting says they have a "fast-paced" environment

[krieger00]

Originally Posted by statisticsnerd

Fast paced = stress, frequent hard deadlines, demanding bosses, people who have no life outside of work, and long hours.

Been there, done that, have no desire whatsoever to return to that kind of environment.

I love fast paced work environment and a challenge it is one of the reasons thing that I am proceeding to have a career in emergency medicine.

[ackmondual]

Originally Posted by hazergore1198

In your experience, do you tend to avoid places like this?

I usually brush off "fast paced" because as mentioned by others, it's relatively meaningless.

Originally Posted by hazergore1198

I'm a software developer, and in my experience, whenever a company says that they are looking for someone that "thrives in a fast-paced" environment or "the ability to work under pressure", it immediately sends a red flag to me. To me, this usually translates as "we have no specs, unit tests, and we don't care about long term viability of the software you write, we just want it shoved out the door as soon as possible under ridiculous deadlines". That, or it's speak for them wanting younger people with great passion and energy, yet willing to work for less money

Don't forget, no scope, no requirements, we want people with certification that you can't get anymore because the vendors no longer offer them.

Originally Posted by shocktop

I'd say everything is fast-paced and its probably a filler word for the job opening post. You won't find a job that says "slow-paced".

For that matter, I love reading the company info sections... we hire intelligent people, self motivated, fun, work life balance.... no company will advertise anyways that they'll be in a mismanaged-to-the-ground hell hole, in the proximity of soul sucking succubae.

[jmellc]

Originally Posted by Teckeeee

Good idea, but that's going to be really tough because if it is that bad, they won't allow you talk to anyone, because they know no on will take the job if they do. Over my 20 plus years of employment talking to an employee about how dysfunctional the place honestly was happened one time. And that place only allowed that because most quit in less than 30 days so it played to their recruiting efforts, or better stated lack there of.

I meant if you happened to know someone there or had mutual friends who could put you in touch with someone. No, the interviewer probably wouldn't want you to talk to anyone.

[DanielSNYC2014]

Fast-paced means ....not boring and get ready to move and shake!
I would prefer faster than slower any day of the week.