This research set out to examine how well a wide set of advertisements for managers matched the prescriptive models laid down by a selection of writers. A cluster sample of 1106 advertisements were used and prescribed items at varying levels of importance, such as location, salary, qualifications, job description and personal qualities, were identified. For salary, experience and job title, the match was high but qualifications were only specified in 32 of advertisements, although considered as vital by most of the prescriptive literature. Personal qualities, on the other hand, were specified in 81% of advertisements but featured as much less importance in the literature. Advertisements in the public sector came out better in salary, location and closing date while those in the private sector gave clearer instructions as to how to respond to the advertisement and in specifying the required experience.