Why it helps
Hiring usually lands when you're already short-staffed and flat out. Writing an ad from scratch is one more job you don't have time for, so it ends up rushed or copied from somewhere else. Tell AI about the role, the hours, the pay and what your place is actually like, and it gives you an honest, easy-to-read ad in a few minutes.
It can also write interview questions that go beyond "tell me about yourself", so you get a better feel for how someone handles a busy rush, a grumpy customer or a long day in the rain.
The prompt
Copy it, swap the bits in [square brackets], and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.
I run a [type of business] in [town], New Zealand. Write a job ad for a [role] and then some interview questions. Details: - Hours: [hours per week, days, any weekends or early starts] - Pay: [pay rate or range, exactly as I want it shown] - Start date: [when] - What the job involves: [main tasks] - What we're like: [a few words about the team and the place] - How to apply: [email, Seek, Trade Me Jobs, drop in a CV] For the ad: - Under 200 words, plain English, NZ English spelling. - Sections: about us, the role, what we're looking for, what we offer, how to apply. - Use the pay and hours exactly as I've written them. Don't invent benefits, perks or numbers. - Don't use wording that could put people off because of age, gender, ethnicity, family status or disability (for example "young and energetic" or "suit a school leaver"). Then give me 6 interview questions for this role, including 2 about handling a busy time or a difficult customer, and 1 practical "what would you do if" question. Add a one-line note on what a good answer sounds like for each.
Then keep chatting
Make the ad sound a bit more casual and local.
Write a short version for a Facebook post or a sign in the window.
Give me 3 questions to ask their referees.
Write a polite email to let unsuccessful applicants know.
Step by step
- Jot down the basics: role, hours, pay, start date, main tasks and how people should apply.
- Copy the prompt, fill in the [square brackets] and paste it into your AI tool.
- Read the ad. Check the pay, hours and conditions are exactly right and match what you'll put in the employment agreement.
- Scan for wording that could exclude people unfairly. Ask AI to "remove anything that could be discriminatory" if you're not sure.
- Tweak the interview questions so they fit your place, then print them or keep them on your phone for the day.
Worked example
Example details are made up. Your results will vary, so always read and check before you use them.
Watch out for
- Discrimination: the Human Rights Act 1993 means you can't discriminate on grounds like age, sex, ethnicity, family status, religion or disability. AI can slip in phrases like "young and energetic", so read the ad with that in mind. The Human Rights Commission (hrc.co.nz) has guidance.
- Pay and conditions: make sure the pay meets at least the current minimum wage and that the hours and conditions match NZ employment law. Check employment.govt.nz before you post.
- Interview questions: avoid questions about age, relationships, pregnancy, kids or health unless they're genuinely relevant to the job. Stick to what the role needs.
- Privacy: don't paste applicants' CVs, names or contact details into AI to compare them. If you want help, remove the personal details first. The Privacy Act 2020 covers how you collect and store applicants' information.
Go further
Save the prompt with your business details filled in, so next time you only change the role. Once you've hired someone, use the staff onboarding plan use case to get their first week sorted, and the staff checklists use case to turn your routines into something they can follow.
