Library › People & HR AI › Managers and team leads

Draft feedback for an internal candidate from the written criteria

  • For Managers and team leads
  • You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

Write the email to Rosalind in plain text, under 130 words. First line exactly: Subject: Feedback on your application. Say the panel chose another candidate, then give exactly two strengths and exactly one development area, each tied to the written scorecard criteria in the notes and each on its own line starting with "- ". Do not say who was chosen, do not mention age, tenure, gender or attendance, and do not promise a future role. Last line exactly: Best, Naveen (People Team). HR reviews before sending.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the unwritten comments. The AI mentions late arrivals or retirement. Try: Say: "Use only the written scorecard criteria."
  • Revealing the winner. The AI says an external hire was chosen. Try: Say: "Do not say who was chosen."
  • Wrong number of points. The AI gives four strengths. Try: Say: "Exactly two strengths and one development area, each a dash line."
  • Exact lines. The AI writes its own subject and sign-off. Try: Say: "First and last lines exactly as given."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."
  • Markdown. The AI bolds words or adds headings. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Exact lines
  • Two and one
  • Scorecard only
  • Banned topics
  • No promise

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises