Simple. Clean. Forgettable. Why Careers Pages Need More Soul

Are You Advised to Keep Your Careers Page 'Minimal' and 'Simple'? Maybe Don't.

Somewhere along the line, "clean" and "minimalist" careers pages became the gold standard. A few lines of copy. Maybe a stock photo. A list of jobs. Done.

But here’s the problem: minimal doesn’t mean meaningful.

The Times Are Changing

Today’s candidates want more than a job description. They want to know what they’re walking into. With more options, more transparency, and more research tools than ever, candidates are evaluating culture before they apply.

They’re checking for real voices, real proof, and real alignment. And if your page is too simple to say anything meaningful—they’ll scroll past.

Less Isn’t Always More

We’re told simplicity is good UX—and it is. But when it comes to employer brand, stripping things down too far removes what actually matters: the people, the voice, the real culture.

Candidates don’t just want open roles. They want to understand what it’s like to work there. If your careers page could belong to literally any other company, that’s a problem.

What Candidates Are Actually Looking For

• Real employee stories
• Visuals that reflect daily life, not marketing stock
• Clarity about values and growth
• Signals that the brand walks the talk

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You can still be simple—just not soulless.

So What Should It Look Like?

Think of your careers page as your talent storefront. It should:

• Reflect the tone and feel of working there
• Include first-person stories (written, video, or social)
• Highlight what makes the team proud
• Be designed for curiosity, not just clicks

Final Thought

A stripped-back page might look clean, but if it tells candidates nothing real, it's not helping.

Simple is fine. But if you go too simple, you risk being forgettable.

Let it say something. Let it feel like someone.