Library › Everyday Life AI › Job seekers

Pull the must-do steps from an unemployment letter

  • For Job seekers
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

You applied for unemployment benefits and got a dense letter back. Get only the things you must do, as numbered lines sorted by deadline, each like "1. By Nov 14: Do X", with the weekly benefit amount on a final line starting "Weekly benefit:". Use the amended amount. Under 80 words, plain text, no advice. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the first amount. The AI quotes $412 from the top and misses the amended determination. Try: Add: "Use the amended weekly benefit, $448."
  • Summarizing the whole notice. The AI explains appeals, office hours and base periods instead of what you must do. Try: Say: "Only the things I must do, sorted by deadline. Skip appeals and office hours."
  • Not showing the line shape. The AI writes paragraphs, so deadlines are easy to miss. Try: Show it: "Format each like: 1. By Nov 10: Verify identity online".
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 80 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "each line under 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Uses the amended amount
  • Asks for must-dos only
  • Sorts by deadline
  • Shows the line shape
  • Sets a word limit

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises