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Turn a close calendar into one new hire's checklist

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

Priya, a new staff accountant, starts Monday and only needs her own November close tasks. Write a prompt that turns the close calendar into her checklist: first line exactly "Priya - November close", then one line per task that is still hers after the latest update, in business-day order, each starting with "[ ]" and the business day (like "[ ] BD1 - ..."), and a last line exactly "Questions: Dana Ruiz, controller". Plain text, under 90 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Copying the whole calendar. The AI lists every task for every person because you didn't say whose checklist it is. Try: Say: "Only Priya's tasks, after the Oct 28 update."
  • Missing the reassignment. The AI reads the task list and skips the update note further down, so the prepaid task stays on Priya's list. Try: Add: "Apply the Oct 28 update: prepaids now belong to Marcus."
  • No line format. The AI picks its own checklist style, often bullets or a table, with no checkbox or day. Try: Show one line literally: "[ ] BD1 - Download bank statements".
  • Forgetting the fixed first and last lines. The AI writes its own title and adds a friendly closing. Try: Give both lines word for word: first "Priya - November close", last "Questions: Dana Ruiz, controller".
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI adds a header and notes and lands well over the limit. Try: Cap each task line: "each task under 10 words, nothing else", and ask for plain text with no bold or headings.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says whose checklist it is
  • Applies the latest update
  • Shows the line format
  • Gives the first and last lines
  • Asks for plain text and short

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