Companies write job adverts using that language for one of two reasons - either because they think it's flattering and want to get developers who will fit in to a culture where they already use that language, or because they don't understand the language and think that will attract the best people.

The first type of company is a great place to learn new things if you're quite junior. The second is a good place to demonstrate your ability to hack solutions together fast if you're mid-level.

If you're more senior then you should probably avoid all of those sorts of companies because neither will want to do things in anything resembling a sane way.

Once upon a time it used to have a sensible meaning[0].

Nowadays I'm more interested in people that are effectively building stuff and just s/[:buzzwords:]//g.

[0]: http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/W/wizard.html

I feel the same way. I'm looking for a job, not a cult to join.

I would rather be an actual wizard than an actual ninja or rockstar.

In job ads rockstar is definitely the most annoying/lame one.

But, yes, wizard is better.

I think the hierarchy goes pirate, ninja, wizard, rockstar and guru.

/s

I steer clear of superfluous titles like these. I think these titles mainly exist to cater to the demographic of people who seek some additional validation from their job title... Nobody likes someone with an overinflated ego, let alone a programmer with a big head.

Is there anyone who is not put off by those titles?