12 Signs the Company "Looking for a Copywriter" is Not Really Looking For A Copywriter.

1. "Copywriting" isn't in the first three lines of the job description.

There are plenty of highly-talented, qualified, expert copywriters around. If they haven't/couldn't manage to find a copywriter in that time, that's a red flag.

2. The job requirements include far too many tasks that don't relate to copywriting, content writing, or writing in general, such as: Analytics; account management, graphic design, team management, etc.

3. Your qualified for the job, and your experience "ticks all the boxes" but the company doesn't a) give you a call or b) sends you a (badly written) automated email.

4. You get a preliminary, quick call from a company rep, who asks for your salary demands, then tell you they'll pass your details to the hiring manager. You'll be able to immediately tell if they're interested in you, or not. Chances that you'll hear from them again? 2%

5. They ask you to do a ridiculously long or complex "home task" before the interview (hint: If it's more than a paragraph or two, or a few hours' worth of work - politely say no, or ask to be paid for it). A serious company that trusts your experience, doesn't do that.

6. Merging jobs together, i.e., copywriter & Employer Branding Specialist, or Content Specialist and Demand Generation Manager.

7. Sometimes they'll add the word "Junior" or "Entry Level" to the job title, but the job requirements remain the same.

8. They'll ask if you're flexible in your salary requirements. If they can afford that high-tech office, they can afford to pay a professional copywriter, full-time or freelance.

9. The job title is "copywriter" but the job description is for a different job entirely.

10. They keep changing the position title from "copywriter" to "content writer" to "content manager" to "content specialist" to "copy superstar."

11. They state that they're looking for an "experienced copywriter," but in the job description you see "entry level."

12. The job requires you to "use AI to accelerate the creative process." To be blunt, this is one of the most senseless takes ever on copywriting or writing in general. After all, if Mark Twain or David Ogilvy or Leo Burnett could be successful without AI, so could anyone.