ChatGPT is only as useful as the prompts you give it. Ask it to fix my resume and you get generic mush. Give it a precise, structured prompt and it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your job search. Here are the prompts I give clients, ready to copy, paste, and adapt. They work in ChatGPT or Claude, free tiers included.
Want to see where your resume stands right now? Use the free ATS resume checker to score your resume against any job description in about a minute.
How to use these prompts
Two rules before you start. First, always give the AI real material to work with: your actual resume, the actual job description, your real experience. The output is only as good as the input. Second, always edit the output so it sounds like you. AI gives you a strong draft, not a finished product. Recruiters and interviewers can spot raw AI text instantly.
Prompt one: the resume audit
This scores your resume against a specific job before you apply, so you know what to fix.
You are a senior recruiter who has screened thousands of resumes. I will paste a job description and my resume. Score my resume against this specific role out of 100. Then list the top keywords and phrases from the job description that are missing or weak in my resume, the three weakest parts of my resume, and the five highest impact changes I should make, in order. Be direct and specific. Do not soften it. Job description: [PASTE] My resume: [PASTE]
Prompt two: the resume rewrite
Once you know the gaps, this rewrites a section to close them, using your real experience.
Rewrite the experience section below so it matches this job description as closely as my real experience honestly allows. Use the language of the posting where it genuinely applies. Lead each bullet with a result and include numbers wherever I have given them. Do not invent anything I did not state. Keep it concise and ATS friendly. Job description: [PASTE] My current experience section: [PASTE]
For the full rebuild sequence and the layout that passes applicant tracking systems, see the free ATS resume builder.
Prompt three: the tailored cover letter
Write a short, specific cover letter for this role. Three paragraphs maximum. Open with genuine interest in this specific company and role, not a generic hook. Use two concrete accomplishments from my background that map to their needs. Sound like a real person, not a template. No cliches. Job description: [PASTE] My background: [PASTE]
Stop guessing. Get the whole playbook.
HIRED is the 90 day AI job search playbook with 31 ready to use prompts, the resume rebuild sequence, the recruiter outreach scripts, and the interview prep system. One time price, lifetime access, 30 day interview guarantee.
Get HIRED →Prompt four: interview question generator
Based on this job description and my resume, generate the 15 most likely interview questions for this role. Include a mix of behavioral and role specific technical questions. For each one, add a single line on what the interviewer is really trying to assess. Job description: [PASTE] My resume: [PASTE]
Prompt five: answer builder using your real stories
Help me build a strong answer to this interview question: [QUESTION]. Here is a real situation from my experience: [DESCRIBE IT BRIEFLY]. Structure my answer clearly with situation, action, and result. Keep it under 90 seconds spoken. Use my real details and keep it in my voice. Do not make anything up.
Prompt six: recruiter outreach
Write a brief, specific LinkedIn message to a recruiter about this role. Three or four sentences. Reference the actual role and company, lead with one relevant result from my background, and end with an easy, low pressure ask. Sound human, not like a template. Role and company: [PASTE] My relevant background: [PASTE]
For more on outreach strategy and follow ups, see the cold outreach guide.
Prompt seven: the offer negotiation
I received this offer: [DETAILS]. My research suggests the market range is [RANGE]. Draft a calm, professional message asking to discuss compensation. Make the case with one or two specific reasons based on my value, keep a collaborative tone, and do not be aggressive or apologetic.
Build your own from the pattern
Notice the structure every prompt shares. A clear role for the AI, a specific task, real material to work from, and constraints on the output. Once you see that pattern, you can build a prompt for any part of your search. That is the real skill, and it is the backbone of the HIRED playbook, which sequences 31 of these prompts into a full 90 day system.
