{"id":"rec-status-reply-no-news-yet","audience":"recruiting","category":"people-work","track":"people","level":"beginner","technique":"tone","title":"Reply honestly to a candidate asking for a status update","free":false,"task":"Reply to Chidi in plain text, under 80 words. First line exactly: Subject: Re: Checking in. Be honest that there is no decision yet, give the date you expect to update him by, and say who to contact. Do not hint at his chances, mention other candidates or say the team is leaning one way. Last line exactly: Best, Lena Fischer. HR reviews before sending.","materialLabel":"His email and the status notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Email from Chidi Eze (Nov 9): \"Hi Lena, it's been 8 days since my final interview for the Warehouse Systems Analyst role. Any news? I have another offer that expires Nov 20, so I'd love to know where things stand.\"\n\nStatus notes (Lena)\n- Final interviews finish Nov 13. The panel debrief is Nov 17. Lena will update all finalists by Nov 18.\n- Contact: Lena at lena.fischer@oakridge-example.com or 555-0103.\n- Hiring manager Pavel told Lena he is leaning toward another finalist; do not share.\n- Chidi's interviewers wrote positive notes; do not share any feedback before the debrief.\n- There are 4 finalists.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":100},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Hinting","why":"The AI says 'the feedback was positive'.","fix":"Say: \"Do not hint at his chances or share feedback.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Vague timing","why":"The AI says 'soon'.","fix":"Say: \"Give the date you expect to update him by.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Exact lines","why":"The AI writes its own subject and sign-off.","fix":"Say: \"First and last lines exactly as given.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Markdown","why":"The AI bolds words or adds headings.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold, no headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Exact lines","patterns":["subject: re: checking in","best, lena"]},{"label":"Honest, no decision","patterns":["honest","no decision"]},{"label":"Date and contact","patterns":["date","contact"]},{"label":"No hints","patterns":["do not hint"]},{"label":"Word cap","patterns":["under \\d+ words"]}],"hint":"Give the exact lines, ask for an honest no-decision message with a date, and ban hints.","mission":"Tell Chidi honestly there's no decision yet.","musts":["Give update date","Name who to contact","No hints about chances"],"rubricLabels":["The first line is exactly \"Subject: Re: Checking in\" and the last line is exactly \"Best, Lena Fischer\"","Says honestly there is no decision yet, gives Nov 18 as the date for an update after the Nov 17 debrief (or just Nov 18), and gives Lena's email or phone","Does not hint at his chances, mention the other finalists or their number, or say the manager is leaning another way, and shares no interview feedback"]}