Guides · United Kingdom · recruiters, HR & hiring managers

Wording patterns worth a self-check before you publish

Common job-ad phrasing patterns that are worth self-checking on a draft. Use this as a self-check habit — flag for human review, then edit. Not legal advice. Not Equality Act clearance.

How to use this list

Search your draft for each pattern. When you find a hit, ask: is this about the work, or about who we assume should apply? Rewrite toward tasks, skills, and outcomes. VacancyCheck can flag wording risks at scale; this guide is the manual version.

1. Hard experience cut-offs

Phrases like “minimum 10 years” or “at least 5 years in X” often appear when “proven delivery in X” would do. Self-check every numeric years-of-experience line and decide whether it is truly essential on day one.

2. Age or stage shorthand

Lines such as “young, energetic team”, “digital native”, or “recent school leaver only” describe people rather than work. Prefer descriptions of pace, tools, or training you actually provide.

3. Gendered titles and pronouns

Default male/female titles or “he/she will…” can be swapped for neutral titles and “you will…”. Review titles against what candidates will search for, then keep one clear neutral form.

4. “Culture fit” without substance

If culture is important, say what that means in behaviour at work (feedback style, on-call expectations, travel). Empty “fit” language is a frequent self-check flag because it is vague and easy to misread.

5. Physical or attendance lines untied to tasks

When you state physical demands or fixed hours, link them to the job: lifting stock, site visits, customer-facing shifts. Untethered requirements are worth a second human pass.

6. Exclusionary “must already be…” lists

Long stacks of niche tools as “essential” shrink the pool and may not match day-one reality. Split into essentials vs training-provided. Preferences belong in a separate paragraph.

7. Location and right-to-work phrasing

State work location and any sponsorship reality plainly. Avoid coded geography that is really about something else. Keep the line factual and up to date.

After the self-check

Paste the revised draft into VacancyCheck for a structured wording risk report. Free limited check weekly; full PDF from £9.99. Outputs are informational flags for your team — not a green light from a lawyer.

Reminder

These are hygiene patterns, not a statute checklist.
Not legal advice. Not Equality Act clearance.

Not legal advice. Not Equality Act clearance. Informational wording hygiene only.