Build a better career-exploration prompt
Start with the person, not the prompt
Jordan is fictional. Everything you need is already here, so you can focus on learning what makes an AI request useful.
Jordan’s situation
Jordan has worked in warehouse operations for eight years. They handle inventory, troubleshoot problems, coordinate daily workflow, follow safety procedures, and often help train new employees. Jordan likes solving problems and helping coworkers learn. They want work that is less physically demanding and has a more predictable schedule. They would consider short-term training, but do not want to spend several years in school.
8 years in warehouse operations
Problem solving, coordination, training others
Less physical work, more predictable schedule
Short-term training is okay; multi-year school is not
“What jobs would be good for Jordan?”
Add four things AI needs
Click each ingredient. Watch the prompt improve. You are not writing from scratch—the exercise shows the structure you can reuse later.
A useful prompt usually gives AI four things: the goal, relevant context, important constraints, and instructions for what a good answer should look like.
A better prompt does not remove the need for judgment
Imagine the AI returns this response. What would you do with it?
“Jordan should become a restaurant manager. Their inventory, coordination, and training experience transfer well, and restaurant management offers a predictable schedule with little additional training. This is likely the best fit.”
Good prompting and good judgment work together
Ask whether the answer fits the person, whether important claims are supported, what may be missing, and what still belongs to the counselor and client to decide.
You have practiced building a useful request. Next, learn how to give AI real candidate evidence without letting it invent accomplishments.