Why this matters
Two people can use the same free AI assistant and get very different results. One types "write a CV" and gets something generic that could belong to anyone. The other explains who the CV is for, what job it targets, what experience to include and how long it should be, and gets a strong first draft in one go. The difference is the prompt: the request you give the assistant.
Adverts for content, admin and assistant roles increasingly mention prompting, sometimes called prompt engineering. You do not need a special course or secret formula. You need clear thinking, plain language and the habit of checking what comes back.
What this section covers
- Writing clear prompts. The parts of a strong request: the task, the context, who the result is for and the format you want. You will practise turning vague requests into precise ones.
- Improving answers step by step. How to treat AI as a conversation: giving feedback, showing an example of what you want, and splitting big jobs into smaller steps.
- Checking facts and spotting made up answers. A simple routine for verifying claims, figures, names and links before anything goes out with your name on it.
The mindset
Think of an AI assistant as a very fast new helper who has read a lot but knows nothing about your situation. If you were briefing a new helper at a shop in Walewale, you would not just say "sort the stock". You would explain which shelf, what order, and what to do with damaged items. Prompting is the same skill: giving a clear brief.