Does EVERY job need high level communication skills?

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I've been job-hunting tonight and almost every opening sounds like this: "We are looking for a passionate, charismatic, highly motivated person who is energetic and customer service-oriented with high-level communication skills." They always say this, even if the job consists of entering data like a robot or mopping floors alone at 3 AM. It throws me off and makes me wonder if I should even bother applying. Maybe I should give up and wait for vocational rehab instead.

Which industry?

I saw a description like that in every job posting I viewed in multiple industries, from office work to maintenance. That's partly why I find it so discouraging.

No. Many jobs don't. But the Human Resources/Personnel people will insist that they do.

At my job, one only has to do the work to offset the need for more than basic, non-offensive communication skills. I'm not exactly a social butterfly-type of communicator LOL

If you don't do the work, higher-level communication skills (of a "social" nature) are required. For example, if you're a person who is able to get the "scoop," you'll do almost as well as someone who does the work.

The answer: do the work, make yourself essential if you don't possess a typical NT"s level of "communicative competence."

There are very few jobs that require no communication skills at all but, like the above poster said, the better you work, the more forgiving a company will be if you're not great at talking. If you think you can do the job, then apply.

I see. That's a relief. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Every job has some level of communication required (with supervisors and colleagues and sometimes customers and suppliers).

You would have to work out what communication is necessary for the job and whether you are happy with it both in terms of method and quantity.

For these jobs the main element of communication will be receiving instructions from a supervisor and reporting that the work has been done or whether there are any problems.



Most job descriptions are copied and pasted or a based on generic job descriptions.

I had an interview with a health board, the job description stated that patient contact skills were required despite the job being based in a building where no patients visit. They were using a generic job description for that pay band.