Recruitment firms publish a steady stream of advice for employers and jobseekers: hiring guides, salary explainers, interview tips and market updates. Those pages can attract useful search traffic, but the links within them also need careful attention. Looking at generic anchor text examples is a practical way to see how wording such as “read more” or “this guide” affects clarity, accessibility and search context. For recruitment teams, choosing link text deliberately can make content easier to use and support a more coherent SEO strategy.
What anchor text tells readers and search engines
Anchor text is the clickable wording in a hyperlink. It gives readers a clue about what they will find after following the link, and provides search engines with context about the destination. That context is only one element of how a page is assessed; it does not guarantee rankings. Still, links that are clear and relevant help people navigate a site and make the relationship between related pages easier to understand.
In recruitment content, a link might point from an article about workforce planning to a page on onboarding, or from a jobseeker guide to advice on preparing for an interview. The surrounding sentence and the words in the link should set a realistic expectation. If the destination is a detailed checklist, the anchor should make that clear rather than leaving readers to guess.
Generic anchor text examples—and when they work
Generic anchors use broad wording that does not describe the destination in detail. Common examples include:
- “Read more” – concise, but vague when viewed on its own.
- “Learn more” – useful in some contexts, though it says little about the subject.
- “This guide” – clearer if the sentence explains which guide is meant.
- “Click here” – familiar, but focuses on the action rather than the destination.
These phrases are not automatically harmful. A short generic link can fit a sentence where the topic is already unmistakable, or a call to action where brevity matters. The drawback is that the link may provide little information to someone scanning the page or using assistive technology to navigate between links. A page containing several links labelled “read more” is especially difficult to interpret without the surrounding text.
More descriptive wording is often a better choice. Instead of “read more,” a recruitment article might say “compare onboarding approaches” or “review the interview planning checklist.” The link remains natural, but its purpose is more apparent. Descriptive anchors should still be concise; they do not need to repeat a full headline or force a keyword into every sentence.
Choose wording for people first
A useful test is to read the anchor text without the rest of the paragraph. Would a reader have a reasonable idea of what the link leads to? If not, add a little context. For example, “see the hiring guide” is more informative than “see this,” while “explore our advice for hiring seasonal staff” identifies both the subject and the value of the destination.
Accessibility matters here. Screen-reader users may move through links separately from the surrounding copy, so repeated, context-free labels can make a page harder to use. Clear link wording benefits everyone, including readers who skim on a phone or return to an article later to find a particular resource.
For a deeper explanation of how wording choices influence SEO and common linking mistakes, consult this overview of anchor text strategy. The key principle is not to make every link sound the same, but to make each one relevant to its destination and useful in its specific sentence.
Keep anchor text natural and varied
Over-optimisation is a risk when a site repeatedly uses the same exact-match phrase as link text, particularly when it does not fit the surrounding copy. Search engines may interpret unnatural patterns as an attempt to manipulate rankings, while readers may find the prose awkward. Vary wording according to the page being linked and the reason for linking. A link to a salary article could use “understand pay benchmarks”; a link to a recruitment process page might use “plan the selection stages.”
Variation should reflect genuine differences, not a search for endless synonyms. If several pages cover nearly the same topic, review whether they are distinct enough to deserve separate links. Strong information architecture and useful content matter more than changing anchor wording simply to make it look different.
Linking to practical business resources
Recruiters and small agencies also need reliable back-office processes. Bookkeeping is one example: accurate records support cash-flow planning, tax preparation and decisions about hiring or contracting. Before engaging a freelancer, compare the scope of work, relevant experience, availability and communication expectations. Asking about bookkeeper cost is useful, but the fee should be considered alongside the tasks covered and the level of support required. Osdire’s guide to hiring a freelance bookkeeper outlines checks and questions that can help businesses assess their options.
A simple review process
Before publishing or refreshing an article, check its links in context. Confirm that each destination is relevant and working, that the anchor describes the destination accurately, and that the sentence still reads naturally. Look for repeated vague labels, unnecessary exact-match phrases and links that interrupt the reader’s path through the topic. A brief editorial review can catch problems that automated checks miss.
For recruitment websites, link wording is a small editorial decision with practical consequences. Generic anchors have a place, but descriptive, natural language is usually more helpful when it tells readers what to expect. Used thoughtfully, links connect related resources, improve navigation and give search engines clearer context—without turning useful content into a collection of keywords.
