The Hidden Cost of Ambiguous Language in Job Ads

Ambiguous language is comforting to write because it commits to nothing. But every vague phrase forces the reader to guess — and autistic candidates, in particular, tend not to apply when they have to guess whether they qualify.

Replace 'self-starter' with 'you will own the weekly content calendar without daily check-ins'. Replace 'team player' with 'you will pair with two designers each sprint and lead one retro per month'.

The job becomes legible. The applicant pool becomes broader and better matched.