Defend a hiring plan in a four-question FAQ for the CFO

About this exercise

The CFO will ask four questions about your plan to hire 2 support engineers. Write exactly 4 numbered questions (Q1: to Q4:) in this order: Why now? Why these roles? What does it cost? What if we don't? Answer each on the next line starting "A:". Show the cost math using the current salary band, plain text, under 220 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Using last year's numbers. The AI uses the $110k salary that appears first in the notes. Try: Add: "Use Helen's new midpoint of $120k."
• Giving totals without math. The AI states '$275k' with no working, so the CFO can't check it. Try: Ask: "Show the math: $120k x 1.25 x 2 = ..."
• Not fixing the questions. The AI writes its own FAQ in its own order. Try: List them: "Q1: Why now? Q2: Why these roles? Q3: What does it cost? Q4: What if we don't?"
• Losing the business case. The AI talks about morale and forgets the $520k at risk. Try: Add: "In Q4, name the $520k ARR renewing in April."
• Formatting for a doc. The AI bolds every question. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold."
• 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: "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Lists the four questions
• Uses the current band
• Shows the math
• Names the risk
• Asks for plain text

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