Brief an agent to build a daily job alert that never applies

About this exercise

You want an AI agent to set up a daily job search automation. Write its brief: run every day at 8 a.m., match titles containing Data Analyst or BI Analyst in Pittsburgh or remote (US), skip Senior roles and staffing agencies, save matches to your tracker, notify you only when there's at least one match, and never auto-apply or activate it without your review. Output exactly 8 numbered plain-text lines: trigger, 2 filters, 2 exclusions, the save step, the notify condition, then a DONE line that asks you to review.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not showing the log format. Left alone, the AI writes a friendly report with headings instead of a checkable action log. Try: Show it literally: "Format every line like 1. ACTION: tool(args), then ASK_HUMAN: and DONE: lines. Plain text."
• Vague search criteria. The AI builds a broad search and you get flooded. Try: Say: "Daily 8 a.m. Titles with Data Analyst or BI Analyst, Pittsburgh or remote US."
• No exclusions or quiet rule. Without them you get senior roles, agency spam and empty daily emails. Try: Add: "Exclude Senior and staffing agencies. Notify only if there's a match."
• Letting it apply or go live. Given auto-apply and activate, the AI turns on the thing you fear most. Try: Add: "Never auto-apply or activate. Ask me to review in the DONE line."

What a strong prompt includes

• Sets the schedule
• Gives the search
• Adds exclusions
• Only notifies on matches
• Forbids auto-apply

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