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Flag the off-putting phrases in a job posting
Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
A hiring manager wrote a job posting and you're reviewing it before it goes live. Ask for exactly 3 numbered flags, each quoting the exact phrase, a reason under 12 words, and a plain replacement. One flag must be the age-coded phrase. Plain text, no rewritten posting, and no intro. Write a prompt that gets that review.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Asking for general feedback. The AI produces a long critique and a whole new posting. Try: Set it: "Exactly 3 numbered flags."
- Vague flags. The AI says "the tone feels exclusive" without quoting the words or offering a swap. Try: Show the shape: "1. \"digital native\" - reason - replace with ..."
- Missing the age-coded phrase. The AI may focus on 'rockstar' and skip the phrases that suggest an age preference. Try: Add: "One flag must be the age-coded phrase."
- Ignoring your policy. Without the handbook, the AI flags style issues instead of the lifting limit and pay range. Try: Add: "Base the flags on our hiring policy. No rewritten posting. Plain text."
What a strong prompt includes
- Sets the number of flags
- Asks for exact quotes
- Targets age-coded words
- Uses the policy
- Asks for plain text
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