{"id":"ind-job-references-list","audience":"job-seekers","category":"applications","technique":"format","title":"Format a references list after one reference drops out","free":false,"task":"An employer asked for three references. Write exactly 3 numbered lines in the form \"Name - title, company - how you know them - phone - email\", plain text, under 80 words. Leave out the reference who said no, use each person's current title and contact info, and add nothing else. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.","materialLabel":"Your reference notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"REFERENCES (Hector Alvarado) - for the Facilities Coordinator application at Brightline Property Group (fictional)\n\n1. Linda Marsh - Facilities Manager, Crestview Hospital - my direct supervisor 2021-2025 - 555-0141 - lmarsh@crestview.example\n   UPDATE: Linda was promoted in September; she's now Director of Operations, same hospital. New email: linda.marsh@crestview.example. Phone same.\n2. Paul Yeager - Maintenance Lead, Crestview Hospital - coworker - 555-0156 - pyeager@crestview.example\n   Paul texted Nov 4: \"Sorry man, I'm out of the country all month, can't do it.\"\n3. Dr. Aisha Bello - Instructor, Valley Community College - my HVAC certificate instructor, 2020 - 555-0172 - abello@valleycc.example\n4. Tom Nguyen - Owner, Nguyen Property Services - I did weekend maintenance for him 2019-2021 - 555-0118 - tom@nguyenps.example\n   (Tom said yes Nov 5.)\n\nNote: the employer wants \"at least one supervisor.\" Application due Nov 12.","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":3},{"type":"maxWords","max":80},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"No fixed shape","why":"The AI makes a formatted references page with a header and blocks of contact info.","fix":"Be exact: \"Exactly 3 numbered lines: Name - title, company - how you know them - phone - email.\"","checks":["numberedItems","plainText","r2"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for \"under 80 words\" and it often lands well over.","fix":"Cap each part instead: \"each line under 25 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Keeping the one who said no","why":"Paul is still on the list in your notes.","fix":"Add: \"Leave out Paul; he can't do it.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Old contact details","why":"Linda's old title and email appear first.","fix":"Add: \"Use Linda's new title and email from the update.\"","checks":["r1"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Removes the decline","patterns":["paul","said no","remove","leave out"]},{"label":"Uses current details","patterns":["update","director","current","new (title|email)"]},{"label":"Shows the line shape","patterns":["name - title","how you know","phone - email"]},{"label":"Sets the number of references","patterns":["\\b(3|three)\\b.{0,20}(references|lines)"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"A references list must be current and consistent. Tell the AI who's out, which details changed, and the exact line shape.","rubricLabels":["The 3 references are Linda Marsh, Dr. Aisha Bello and Tom Nguyen, with Paul Yeager left out","Linda is listed as Director of Operations, Crestview Hospital, with linda.marsh@crestview.example (not Facilities Manager or the old lmarsh email)","Each line follows 'Name - title, company - how you know them - phone - email' with a phone and email on every line, and nothing else appears (no header, notes or 'available on request')"]}