What is the Support Human newsletter?

Long answer: it's a weekly roundup of news, jobs, and other noteworthy bits and happenings from around the customer experience world (with some commentary from yours truly thrown in).

Short answer: I'm still figuring it out! This is a work in progress and it will likely evolve as I figure out what works and what doesn't.

What is Bad Job Bingo?

Bad Job Bingo started out as a silly game I played in response to a not-so-silly experience I was having in my job search.

Most jobs I looked at were fine; not amazing, but not actively concerning. But I came across some that were full of flags, which -- over 10 years working in CX and in Tech -- I've learned not to ignore lest I end up in a bad job for the wrong company.

I started to write down those flags, trying to figure out which were serious enough to be red flags and which were just reasons for caution as yellow flags. Putting them on a bingo card made it a fun game for me rather than a depressing exercise I had to do.

Eventually, I had enough entries to fill up a few bingo cards, and I realized it wasn't just a silly game -- it was a real tool I was using to avoid jobs that would be a bad fit for me. Then I realized it could be a helpful tool for others, too.

Thus Bad Job Bingo was born.

How does it work?

Playing Bad Job Bingo is more of an art than a science. However, in general, when I’m evaluating jobs, I’ll mark all of the Bad Job Bingo entries I find in the job description. When I’m done marking entries, I count the entries and:

• If there are no flags at all, I categorize the job as Green Means Go.
• If there are only a few yellow flags, I categorize the job as Eh, It’s Probably Fine.
• If there are a combination of red and yellow flags (but less than 5 total flags), I categorize the job as Tread Carefully.
• If there are 5 flags or more, the job has won BINGO.
• If there are a lot more than 5 flags, or all flags are red flags, I categorize the job as Seriously, Maybe Don’t.

Wait, are you saying I shouldn’t apply for a job that wins Bad Job Bingo?

Not at all! The idea is to give you all the information you need to confidently apply for a job and manage the interview process. I also want to help you to go into a new company and a new role with your eyes open, so that you're able to pick your challenges and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Bad Job Bingo is just a tool to help you find jobs that might be a good fit -- the ratings are mine and a shortcut to help you, but just because a job appears in one of the more negative categories doesn't mean you shouldn't apply if it works for you. (And a job appearing in a more positive category isn't an endorsement, either!).

I can help you decipher culture clues and avoid toxic working dynamics, but what's good or bad for me might not be what's good or bad for you. That's why I highly recommend you make Bad Job Bingo your own.

Why should I listen to your ramblings and rantings about bad CX jobs?

I've been a job seeker and a hiring manager, so I've seen both sides of the process and I've developed a keen sense for bullshit. Having said that, as with any resource, you should take what resonates with you and discard the rest.

Do you have inside knowledge of these jobs and companies?

Unless I explicitly say otherwise, nope. Just 10 years of experience working in CX and almost 20 years of professional experience, making reading between the lines of company careers pages and job descriptions easier for me.