Build a café's weekday shift schedule around everyone's limits

About this exercise

You own a small café open Monday to Friday and need next week's schedule for the staff group text. You want exactly 5 numbered lines, one per day, each naming the opener (6-12) and closer (12-6), under 70 words, plain text. Respect everyone's availability and this week's time-off request, don't give anyone two shifts on the same day, and only put yourself on a shift nobody else can cover. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not stating the limits. The AI spreads shifts evenly and quietly breaks someone's availability or the no-doubles rule. Try: Add: "Rosa mornings only and off Thursday, Jamal afternoons Mon-Wed, Priya max 3, no doubles."
• Forgetting who's the backup. The AI puts the owner in the rotation like everyone else. Try: Add: "Only schedule Sam if no one else can take that shift."
• Letting the AI pick the layout. The AI builds a big table with headings, which breaks in a group text. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 5 numbered lines like '1. Mon: open Rosa, close Jamal'. Plain text."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 70 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 9 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says how many lines
• Shows the line shape
• States who can work when
• Bans double shifts
• Says when to use the owner

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