This week, Paul and Jen roast a Senior Manager, Partner Success job ad for a tiny CPG startup network... and uncover a classic scaling mistake: hiring a clone of yourself. The role? A chaotic mix of sales, operations, event planning, and team leadership, all wrapped up in a “player-coach” philosophical bend. But with 20-30% travel, a vague team structure, and a salary that suggests high stakes, is this a bold bet on growth or a recipe for disaster?

We dig into why founders often default to replicating their own skill sets (hint: it’s not strategic), the red flags in role design, and what this ad reveals about the challenges of scaling a scrappy startup. Plus, Jen and Paul debate whether this job is even doable, or just a fantasy of what one person could do if they never slept.

Full job ad and notes for job-seekers and hiring managers here: https://roastthepost.substack.com/p/the-cpg-hunger-games

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Jen and Paul roast weekly at https://roastthepost.substack.com. Subscribe to catch new roasts as they drop.

This week, Jen and Paul dissect a "Safety Specialist" job ad that’s equal parts essential and exploitative. Tasked with handling everything from suicides to human trafficking, this role is adjacent to the dark underbelly of the gig economy—yet the ad offers zero clarity on training, team structure, or mental health support. With a lowball salary and a call centre vibe masquerading as a "specialist" role, is this a necessary function or a systemic failure with potentially real harms for real people?

Full job ad and notes for job-seekers and hiring managers here: https://roastthepost.substack.com/p/ep-015-behind-the-lockbox

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Jen and Paul roast weekly at roastthepost.substack.com. Subscribe to catch new roasts as they drop.

This week, Jen and Paul are joined by Dr. Sam Illingworth to roast a "Lecturer in Law" job ad from a prestigious UK university. The ad demands "excellence" in teaching and scholarship, but what’s missing? Career support, clear metrics for success, and any real acknowledgment of the emotional labours required. Sam, an insider with two decades in academia, reveals why this role is both coveted and flawed, from the unpaid "service" work to the systemic undervaluing of teaching. Is this the future of higher education, or just another example of institutional gaslighting? Tune in to find out.

Full job ad and notes for job-seekers and hiring managers here: https://roastthepost.substack.com/p/ep-014-last-lap-for-tenure-track

You can find Sam's excellent Substack, The Slow AI, here: https://theslowai.substack.com/

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Jen and Paul roast weekly at roastthepost.substack.com. Subscribe to catch new roasts as they drop.