A siren song refers to a seductive, enchanting, or alluring call that is difficult to resist, often leading someone toward danger. The term originates from Greek mythology, where sirens were mythical creatures that lured sailors with their beautiful singing, causing them to shipwreck on rocky shores. In a broader context, "siren song" can describe any tempting but potentially harmful allure in literature, music, or life.

"My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold"

It finally happened to me, after more than a decade of sailing the internet on many ships with many tripulations, she found me.
I will call her "noodle" but there are many other famous sirens out there.

Noodle asked me to work for her as a Senior engineer. I was happy and thrilled to say the least. I read quickly the message, the requisites of the recruiter were strict and given hard sraightforward:
1-The position was almost completely on-site. (Wich required relocation).
2-On call 24*7 including night shifts and weekends.

And yet I was still super happy.

I asked the recruiter immediately (not to waste any second in case someone else was invited):

"Hi Noodle: Thanks for considering me for the position, (I will be straightforward with you since your message starts hard with the employee requirements ) since it's a 24*7 position and requires locating on-site (not really "hybrid") , what are the perks/salary of it? does Noodle offer incentives for the balance work-life? does it help with housing or car?
Regards."

I was ready to fulfill the requisites if the salary was good and I could somehow manage the hideous shifts.

But...

The recruiter answered with this disgusting parable:
"It is not really 24*7 on call, just the team will work on shifts that are not considered so tradional"
"the idea is that the person is located in X City in order to be at the office around 3 times a week, in the other days the person can work from home"

And we all know that is bull shit, specially the recruiter.
When I asked her directly to know the specifics of the position she just gave me that B.S. answer to get me hooked.

I was more than willing to go into that position if only they where honest about the hardships about it. But the enchanment fade away as soon as she started to lie and embellish slavery. If an organization is offering that kind of beating, the least thing that they can do is pay it well and be straightforward, not to lie and insult my intellect with that kind of starbuks languaje.

"shifts that are not considered so tradional"

So I sent them to hell.

"Hi Noodle thanks for the swift reply:
Considering the "not so traditional" (whatever that could mean beside 24*7) work shifts and the "hybrid" (most on-site location), and your reticence to answer direct questions with direct answers, the position is not attractive to me. Thank you for reaching out, lets keep in touch in case you have something more interesting in the future.
Regards."

I was devastated for a week... it was one of my dreams and it turned into an invitation to hell pretty fast.

I have been in this field long enough to see a scam when I see one, whatever the company name may be, and in this case it was one of the biggest.

If you are going to take a beating at least the company should call it as it is.

But the big companies think we are stupid... no, we designed your way of life, we mantain your income, we put food in your table. We made you. Don't insult us telling romantic teenage stories about how glamorous and lovely is to work for you.

I will like to thank my fellow ship mates from "Trio de la muerte" Dr3amCatch3r & 5+3ƥН3ր§ for giving me the chance to talk and share knowledge about spotting toxic job positions like the one I mentioned, we have collected a bunch of them that range from just anectdotic to cause serious health issues and psicollogical-social distress.

We are Privateers, we don't run away from dangerous seas neither from hard work, but we now know how to distinguish... the siren song.