Let’s Roast.
Healthcare is broken. This company wants to fix it… by hiring a product designer to ‘stretch themselves’ under tight deadlines, absorb endless feedback, and ‘own’ a role with no clear responsibilities. Oh, and they’ll pay you $100K–$115K (if you’re lucky) and don’t mention benefits. Jen and Paul dig into a job ad that’s all mission, no clarity, and a masterclass in how not to attract top talent.
Is this the future of design work, or just another hustle culture bait-and-switch?
Follow along with the full job ad here:
The Bigger Picture
How do you design a job for impact when the system is broken… and your own company is part of the problem?
This episode isn’t just about a flawed job ad; it’s about the tension between mission-driven work and exploitative expectations. If a company wants to “redefine healthcare,” it should start by redesigning its own hiring practices: clear responsibilities, fair compensation, and transparency about culture and support. Otherwise, it’s just another startup burning out designers in the name of “urgency.”
At a Glance: The Job Profile
Job Title: Product Designer
Report-to Title: Unknown
Company Size: 201 - 500 employees
Industry: Hospitals and Healthcare
What do they do?: Connect patients and families with dedicated healthcare advocates (like nurses and care specialists) who guide them through the healthcare system to improve outcomes and ensure they don’t fall through the cracks.
Head Office Location: Redwood City, California
Job Location: Remote, US
Geographical Operating Area: USA
Job Type: Full-Time
For the Job Seekers
Did you come across a job ad like this? These questions might help you shed some light on what working there is really like:
What’s the real workload? Ask: “How many projects will I own simultaneously, and what’s the average timeline for feedback cycles?”
Who’s in the room? Clarify: “Who will I report to, and who else will be giving me feedback on my designs?”
What’s the growth path? Probe: “How does the company support professional development or promotions?”
Where’s the safety net? Demand: “What benefits (healthcare, retirement, etc.) are included, and how do they align with your mission?”
For the Job-Seeker Seekers
Are you writing a job ad for a similar role? Consider these hidden issues that might impact the success of your recruitment campaign:
Problem: Unrealistic expectations – Demanding “unrealistic timelines” and “pixel-perfect” work under ambiguity risks burnout and high turnover. Fix: Define clear priorities, realistic deadlines, and feedback loops. If speed is critical, explain why and how it aligns with long-term goals.
Problem: Lack of transparency – No benefits, reporting structure, or team details signal disorganization or a toxic culture. Fix: Include these basics in every job ad. Candidates (especially in mission-driven fields) need to trust you’ll support them as much as they support your mission.
Problem: Bias in hiring – Requiring video applications excludes introverts, neurodivergent candidates, and those without resources to produce polished content. Fix: Replace with structured written responses or asynchronous interviews. Focus on skills, not presentation.
Problem: Mission misalignment – A bold mission loses credibility if the company doesn’t “walk the walk” (e.g., no healthcare benefits for a healthcare company). Fix: Audit your employee experience. Does it reflect your external mission? If not, fix it before hiring.
The Verdict
Paul Austin-Menear:
5 / 10 (Job Ad)
Could Not Rate (Role Design)
I hated having to give the job ad this rating, because there was such alignment to purpose and so much was great about it. Too much was missing though, it was half finished. I couldn’t even rate the role design because there was so little about the role beyond fluffy hype words about making things beautiful.
Jennifer Houle:
5 / 10 (Job Ad)
Could Not Rate (Role Design)
The job ad is halfway there, with a LOT of missing pieces. They’re passionate about healthcare, but don’t even appear to offer health insurance to their employees. WTF? The role design was MIA. So, yeah.
Roast the Post is a passion project of Jen Houle and Paul Austin-Menear. The show helps job-seekers and employers get dud job ads out of their lives. We use contributions made on Buy Me a Coffee to help pay for our production costs, and donate anything raised beyond our costs to charity.
