You need a new apprentice. Or a receptionist. Or a second set of hands on the tools.
So you write a quick job ad, post it on Seek or Indeed — and get 3 applications. Two are completely unqualified. One never shows up to the interview.
Sound familiar?
Bad job ads waste everyone's time. But most small business owners write them in 10 minutes between jobs, and it shows. The good news: ChatGPT can write a better one than you in 2 minutes — if you give it the right brief.
Here's exactly how to do it.
Before the prompts, let's talk about why most small business job ads get crickets:
ChatGPT fixes all of these — if you feed it the right information.
Copy this prompt and fill in the brackets with your details:
Write a job ad for a [JOB TITLE] role at my [BUSINESS TYPE] in [LOCATION]. Business overview: [2-3 sentences about what your business does and its vibe] Key responsibilities: - [List 4-6 main tasks for the role] Must-haves: - [List 3-4 non-negotiables] Nice-to-haves: - [List 2-3 bonus skills or experience] Pay: [Salary range or hourly rate — or "competitive, based on experience"] Hours: [Full-time / part-time / casual, and typical hours] Start date: [ASAP / specific date / flexible] Perks or culture notes: [Anything that makes your workplace a great place to work] Tone: Honest, direct, and warm. Written for a real person, not a corporate robot. Format: Use short paragraphs and bullet points. Include a clear call to action at the end.
Here's the prompt filled in for a plumbing business in Western Sydney:
Write a job ad for a 1st-year Plumbing Apprentice at my plumbing business in Parramatta, NSW. Business overview: We're a family-run residential plumbing company with 8 full-time plumbers. We do everything from emergency call-outs to new builds. No big corporate BS — just good people, decent hours, and real work. Key responsibilities: - Assist qualified plumbers on residential jobs - Learn pipe fitting, hot water systems, drainage - Drive the work van to job sites across Western Sydney - Keep tools and van clean and organised - Complete TAFE coursework alongside on-the-job training Must-haves: - Current driver's licence - Enrolled in or willing to enrol in a plumbing apprenticeship - Physically fit and comfortable working outdoors - Reliable — we need someone who shows up Nice-to-haves: - Any experience in construction or trades - White Card (or willing to get one) Pay: $18-22/hr depending on year of apprenticeship + super Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday 7am–3:30pm (some Saturday overtime available) Start date: ASAP Perks: Company vehicle for travel to jobs, all tools provided, paid TAFE days, small close-knit team, real pathway to full plumber ticket Tone: Honest, direct, and warm. Written for a real person, not a corporate robot. Format: Use short paragraphs and bullet points. Include a clear call to action at the end.
ChatGPT will produce a polished, ready-to-post job ad from that. You can paste it straight into Seek, Indeed, or Facebook Jobs.
Here is my current job ad: [paste ad] Rewrite it to be more engaging, clearer, and more likely to attract quality applicants. Keep the key facts but improve the tone and structure. Remove jargon. Add a salary range placeholder where it's missing.
Write a short 150-word job ad for [JOB TITLE] at my [BUSINESS TYPE] in [LOCATION] for posting on Gumtree or Facebook. Include pay, hours, key requirements, and a phone number placeholder. Keep it casual and human.
Write a brief, polite rejection email for a job applicant who wasn't successful. Don't give specific reasons. Keep it warm, professional, and under 80 words. Sign off from [YOUR NAME] at [BUSINESS NAME].
Once applications come in, ChatGPT can keep helping:
The whole hiring process — from job ad to offer letter — can be done in under an hour with ChatGPT. That's time back in your day.
Got questions or want to see a specific type of prompt covered? Reach out at hello@outbackautomations.com.au.