Writing effective prompts for AI tools

The quality of AI output in HR work depends directly on the quality of the instructions given to the system, and this video concentrates entirely on that relationship. Covering AC 3.1 of FREE08 – People Professionals and Artificial Intelligence (AI), it walks through the craft of writing effective prompts across a range of practical HR applications, including drafting job descriptions, policies, letters, and employee communications. The video treats prompt writing as a learnable skill rather than an incidental step, and it frames the HR practitioner's role as an active director of the AI tool rather than a passive recipient of its output.

Clarity, context, and tone are the three prompt elements examined in detail, with the video drawing a deliberate contrast between vague requests and well-constructed ones. A worked example centred on a recruitment task — specifically a job description for a part-time customer service administrator — illustrates how the structure, length, audience, and language requirements of a prompt shape the usefulness of what the AI produces. The video also addresses the role of organisational context, such as sector, audience, and applicable constraints, as inputs that make AI output more tailored and relevant to real HR situations.

Beyond the initial prompt, the video introduces iterative refinement as a method: the practice of issuing follow-up instructions — adjusting tone, adding sections, or tightening length — rather than attempting to specify everything in a single request. This conversational approach to working with AI tools is presented alongside the principle that professional judgement remains with the practitioner throughout. The video closes by connecting prompt-writing competence to the broader responsibility of reviewing and evaluating AI outputs, a theme it signals will be developed further in the subsequent video in the FREE08 series.