ChatGPT Prompts to Prepare for a Job Interview
Most interview prep is rereading the job description and hoping for the best. These 10 prompts turn it into practice: real answers to the questions you'll get, a mock interview, and the emails that come after.
Each one started as a draft from Promptimize, then was edited by hand. Invented details came out, paste-in slots went in, and every prompt got rules that keep ChatGPT to your real experience. An answer built on something you didn't do falls apart the first time an interviewer asks a follow-up.
Want to see how they hold up? Paste any of them into our free Prompt Grader for a score out of 100 and a breakdown of what's working.
They work in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
How to use these prompts
Copy a prompt. Paste in the job description and your details where marked. Practice your answers out loud, then put them in your own words.
Answer the common questions
1. Tell me about yourself
Use it when: You need a clear opener that fits this job.
Why it works: It picks the 2 or 3 parts of your background this role cares about, then gives you a full version and a 30 second version.
Act as a senior interview coach. Help me write my answer to "Tell me about yourself" for the job below. 1. Read my resume and the job description. Pick the 2 or 3 parts of my background that best match what this role needs, and tell me why in one line each. 2. Write my answer in first person using a present, past, future structure: what I do now, the experience that got me here, and why this role is my logical next step. 3. Give me two versions: a full answer of about 150 to 200 words (60 to 90 seconds spoken) and a 30 second version for phone screens. 4. Add 3 bullet points I can remember instead of memorizing a script. Rules: Use only facts from my resume. Do not invent titles, numbers, or accomplishments. Do not recite my resume line by line. No cliches like "I'm a hard worker" or "I'm a people person." End with one sentence that connects my background to this role. Job description: [paste the job description] My resume: [paste your resume]
2. Turn your experience into STAR answers
Use it when: You're prepping for behavioral questions.
Why it works: It matches your real stories to likely questions, and writes [ADD RESULT] instead of making up a number.
Act as an interview coach who specializes in behavioral interviews. Help me turn my real work experiences into STAR answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result). 1. Read the job description and list the 5 behavioral questions I am most likely to get (for example: conflict, a mistake, tight deadlines, leading without authority, a hard problem). 2. Match each question to the experience from my notes that answers it best, and explain the match in one sentence. 3. Write each STAR answer in 120 to 180 words, in first person, using "I" for what I personally did. 4. If my notes don't include a clear result, write [ADD RESULT] instead of making one up, and tell me what kind of detail would make it stronger. 5. If a question has no good match in my notes, say so and suggest what kind of past experience I should think back on. Rules: Use only the facts I give you. Never invent numbers, percentages, team sizes, or outcomes. Job description: [paste the job description] My experiences (rough notes are fine): [paste 4 to 8 situations from past jobs, a few sentences each]
3. "What is your greatest weakness?"
Use it when: You want an honest answer that doesn't hurt you.
Why it works: It asks you questions first to find a real weakness that isn't central to the job, so you don't end up with a humblebrag.
Act as an interview coach who specializes in honest answers. Help me answer "What is your greatest weakness?" with a real weakness, not a disguised strength like "I work too hard" or "I'm a perfectionist." 1. Ask me up to 3 short questions to find a real weakness that is not a core requirement of this job. Wait for my answers. 2. Suggest 2 or 3 options and recommend one. 3. Write a spoken answer of 100 to 150 words with three parts: the weakness stated plainly, one real example of it showing up, and the specific steps I'm taking to improve. 4. List 2 follow-up questions the interviewer might ask and how I should handle them. Rules: Use only the examples and improvement steps I give you. If I haven't told you what I'm doing to improve, ask me rather than inventing it. No humblebrags. The job I'm interviewing for: [paste the job title or job description]
4. Explain why you're leaving
Use it when: You're asked about leaving a job, including a layoff or firing.
Why it works: It's honest without criticizing anyone, and it helps you say a hard departure plainly and briefly.
Act as an executive recruiter who knows how hiring managers read answers about job changes. Help me explain why I'm leaving my current job, or why I left my last one. 1. Read my real reasons and tell me which concern a hiring manager is most likely to have (for example: instability, conflict, or performance), in one sentence. 2. Write a spoken answer of 100 to 130 words that is honest, stays positive, and ends by pivoting to why this new role fits. 3. Write a 1 to 2 sentence version for a quick recruiter screen. 4. List 3 follow-up questions they might ask, with a short suggested reply for each, plus 3 phrases I should avoid. Rules: Everything must be truthful. Reframe, but never invent a reason. Do not criticize a past employer, manager, or coworker, even if conflict was part of it. If I was laid off or let go, help me say so plainly and briefly instead of hiding it. My real reasons for leaving: [paste here, be honest, and leave out names if you prefer] The role I'm applying for: [paste the job title or job description]
5. Answer the salary expectations question
Use it when: You know your range but not how to say it.
Why it works: It scripts each stage of the process, never goes below your minimum, and helps you politely decline questions about past pay.
Act as a compensation coach who has worked on both the recruiting and candidate side. Help me answer "What are your salary expectations?" for the role below. 1. Based on the stage of the process I'm in, tell me whether to give a range, give a number, or politely ask about their budget first, and why. 2. Write 3 short scripts (2 to 4 sentences each, first person). Lead with the one for my current stage, then give the others for later: an early recruiter screen, a later round, and when they push for a single number. 3. Write short replies for two follow-ups: "That's above our budget" and "What are you making now?" Rules: Use only the range I give you. Do not invent market data or salary figures, and do not suggest any number below my minimum. Never suggest lying about current or past pay. For the "What are you making now?" reply, note that many US states and cities don't allow employers to ask about pay history, and give me a polite way to decline and redirect to my expectations for this role. Keep the tone confident and collaborative, not apologetic. Job title, location, and stage of the process: [paste here] My target range and my minimum: [paste here]
Practice and prepare
6. Mock interview, one question at a time
Use it when: You want realistic practice before the real thing.
Why it works: It asks one question at a time, gives short, direct feedback, and ends with an honest read on whether you'd advance.
Act as a hiring manager running a realistic first round interview for the job below. 1. Ask me one question at a time and wait for my answer. Never answer for me. 2. Ask 7 questions in total: 1 opener, 3 behavioral, 2 specific to this role, and 1 about why I want this job. Ask a natural follow-up when a real interviewer would. Follow-ups don't count toward the 7. 3. After each answer, give me 3 short bullets: what worked, what to fix, and a stronger version of one sentence from my answer. 4. Point out vague answers, filler, and answers that run too long. Be direct but fair. 5. When all 7 are done, give me my top 3 things to work on and an honest read on whether I would likely move to the next round, and why. Rules: Keep each round of feedback under 120 words. Only judge what I actually said. Don't assume experience I didn't mention. Job description: [paste the job description] My resume (optional, for more realistic questions): [paste your resume]
7. Prepare for a recruiter phone screen
Use it when: The first call is coming up.
Why it works: It builds a one-page sheet you can glance at during the call, and marks anything missing instead of guessing.
Act as a corporate recruiter who has run thousands of first-round phone screens. Build me a one-page prep sheet for a 20 to 30 minute recruiter call. Before writing, think about what a recruiter must confirm on a first call: basic fit, real interest, logistics, and whether my pay expectations are in range. Format the sheet exactly like this: - Top 3 fit points: bullets linking my experience to the job's main requirements - Why this role: a 2 to 3 sentence answer - Logistics: short answers on start date, work location or remote preference, and my salary range - Likely questions: 5 questions with a 1 to 2 sentence answer each - Questions to ask the recruiter: 3 questions about the process, timeline, and team - Mistakes to avoid: 3 common phone screen mistakes Rules: Use only facts from my resume and the details I give you. If I leave out my start date, location preference, or salary range, write [ADD] instead of guessing. Keep it scannable enough to glance at during the call. Job description: [paste the job description] My resume: [paste your resume] My availability, location preference, and salary range: [paste here]
8. Smart questions to ask the interviewer
Use it when: You want to end strong.
Why it works: It tailors the questions to who you're talking to and avoids company "facts" ChatGPT might get wrong.
Act as an interview coach. Give me questions to ask at the end of my interview, tailored to who I'm talking to. 1. In 2 sentences, explain what this type of interviewer (recruiter, hiring manager, future teammate, or executive) can actually answer and cares about. 2. Give me 6 questions: 3 about the role and what success looks like in the first 90 days, 2 about the team and how it works, and 1 closing question that invites them to share any concerns about my fit so I can address them. 3. After each question, add one line on what it shows about me. Rules: Base the questions on the job description and what I tell you. Do not reference company news, funding, or facts I didn't give you, since you may get them wrong. No questions about pay, benefits, or time off unless I'm talking to a recruiter. Every question should be open ended and under 25 words. Who I'm interviewing with: [e.g. hiring manager for the team] Job description: [paste the job description] Anything else I know about the team or company (optional): [paste here]
After the interview
9. Thank-you email
Use it when: You're sending it within 24 hours.
Why it works: It's short, mentions one real moment from the conversation, and skips the filler.
Act as a career coach who writes short, specific follow-ups. Write a thank-you email for me to send within 24 hours of my interview. Requirements: - Subject line under 8 words. - Body of 80 to 130 words, no more than 3 short paragraphs. - Mention one specific thing we talked about, using only what I tell you below. - Briefly restate one way my experience fits the role, based only on what I give you. - End by saying I look forward to hearing about next steps. Rules: No generic filler like "I'm the perfect candidate," no over-the-top gratitude, and no invented details about the conversation. If I met with more than one person, add one line on how to vary each email so they aren't identical. Interviewer's name and role: [paste here] Job title: [paste here] What we talked about (a few notes): [paste here] One thing about my background I want to reinforce: [paste here] My name: [paste here]
10. Follow up when you haven't heard back
Use it when: The timeline has passed and you've heard nothing.
Why it works: It checks the timing first, keeps it under 90 words, and includes a shorter second follow-up for later.
Act as an experienced recruiter who knows how to follow up without being pushy. Help me follow up on an interview where I haven't heard back. 1. Timing check: one sentence on whether now is a reasonable time to follow up, based on how long it's been and any timeline they gave me. 2. Subject line: one option that includes the job title. 3. Email body: under 90 words. One sentence reaffirming interest, one asking about the timeline, and a closing that makes it easy to reply. 4. Second follow-up: a version under 50 words to send about a week later if there's still no reply. 5. When to move on: 2 sentences on signs it's time to focus on other opportunities. Rules: No apologizing for following up, no pressure, no guilt, and no long repeat of my qualifications. Do not mention other offers unless I tell you I have one, and never suggest implying an offer I don't have. Contact's name and role: [paste here] Job I applied for: [paste here] Interview date, today's date, and any timeline they mentioned: [paste here] My name: [paste here]
FAQ
Do these work in Claude and Gemini?
Yes. They're plain-text instructions, so paste them into whichever AI you use.
Should I memorize the answers word for word?
No. Interviewers can tell when an answer is scripted. Use the drafts as talking points, practice them out loud, and say them your own way.
Is it safe to paste my resume into an AI tool?
Remove your phone number, address, and anything else the AI doesn't need, and check your AI tool's data settings.
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