Job Description Prompt Templates
You get a job description that tells the right candidates exactly what they would do and how success is measured, and helps the wrong ones self-select out. The prompt below works in any AI assistant. It comes with a worked example, the mistakes that make AI output for this task weak, and variations for common situations.
Write a job description. ## Role Title: [job title] Team and reporting line: [e.g. reports to the head of marketing, team of 4] Location and work setup: [remote, hybrid, on-site, time zones] Salary range: [range, if you can share it] ## What the person will do First 90 days: [specific outcomes] Ongoing responsibilities: [main recurring work] How success is measured: [metrics or outcomes] ## Requirements Must have: [only true requirements] Nice to have: [helpful but not required] ## Company About us: [2 to 3 sentences, honest] What is hard about this job: [real challenges] ## Instructions - Lead with what the person will accomplish, not a company history. - Keep must-haves to five or fewer. - Use plain, inclusive language. Avoid "rockstar," "ninja" and gendered wording. - Include the honest challenges. - Do not invent benefits or perks I did not list. ## Output format Title, summary paragraph, what you will do, what success looks like, must have, nice to have, about us, how to apply.
How to use this prompt
- 1
Copy the prompt
Use the copy button, or type its Retext trigger in any app to paste it.
- 2
Open your AI assistant
Start a new chat in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or whichever assistant you use, so earlier messages don't steer the answer.
- 3
Fill in the brackets
Replace every [bracketed] part with your real details. Specific inputs are what make the answer specific.
- 4
Check and refine
Read the result against the goal above, then reply with one change at a time.
Worked example
What you give it
Title: Customer Support Lead. Reports to: COO. Team: 3 support agents. Location: remote, US time zones. Salary: $75,000 to $90,000. First 90 days: cut first response time from 8 hours to under 4, build a help center with the top 30 answers. Success: response time, satisfaction score. Must have: 3+ years in support, experience leading people. Nice to have: SaaS experience. About us: 25-person company selling scheduling software to gyms. Hard part: we have no help center and tickets spike every January.
What a good answer looks like (shortened)
Customer Support Lead Remote (US time zones), $75,000 to $90,000 You will lead our 3-person support team and make our gyms' customers feel looked after. What you will do - In your first 90 days, bring first response time from 8 hours to under 4. - Build our first help center, starting with the 30 most common questions. - Coach and schedule the team, and handle escalations. What success looks like Faster responses and rising satisfaction scores, quarter over quarter. Must have - 3+ years in customer support - Experience leading or mentoring people Nice to have - SaaS experience About us We are a 25-person company that makes scheduling software for gyms. You will report to our COO. The honest part There is no help center yet, and tickets spike every January when gyms get busy. How to apply: [instructions]
Tips for better results
- •Fill in "First 90 days" with outcomes. It tells candidates what the job really is better than a list of duties.
- •Move anything you would waive for a great candidate from Must have to Nice to have.
- •Keep "What is hard about this job." Honest challenges attract people who want that challenge.
- •Avoid this: Listing ten must-haves, which discourages strong candidates who meet most but not all of them.
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Our best AI prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.
Variations
Internal posting
Add this line to Instructions: This is posted internally first. Mention growth paths and that internal applicants get an interview.
Short version
Change Output format to: A 120-word version for a job board listing or a social post, with a link placeholder.
Bias check
Add this line to Instructions: After the draft, list any wording that may discourage some groups from applying and suggest neutral alternatives.
Save it as a Retext snippet
Retext is a free text expander for Mac. Save this prompt once, then type ;jobdesc in any app (ChatGPT, Claude, your editor, a browser tab) and the full prompt is pasted in.
- Click Add to Retext. The prompt installs as a snippet with the trigger ;jobdesc.
- Change the trigger in Retext if you prefer a different one.
- Type the trigger wherever you want the prompt, then fill in the brackets.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include salary in a job description?
Many places now require pay ranges in job postings, so check the laws where you are hiring. Even where it is optional, a range saves time for you and the candidates.
How long should a job description be?
Long enough to explain the work, the success measures and the must-haves. Around 300 to 600 words is common, and shorter is fine if it is specific.
How do I reuse this prompt without copying it every time?
Click Add to Retext to save it as a snippet. Then type ;jobdesc in any Mac app, including your AI tool, and the full prompt is pasted in.
Related Templates
Get the free prompt pack
Our best AI prompts in one Markdown file, delivered by email. The templates here stay free either way — the pack just saves you the copying.