When I am job hunting, I do not just use AI to tidy up my CV. I was use it strategically. Specifically. In a way that give every single application I sent a real advantage.
The prompt that changed everything for me was simple but nobody talks about it.
I took five high-profile job descriptions for the roles I was targeting and uploaded all of them to Claude at the same time. Then I uploaded my CV. And I asked it to rewrite my CV using the skills, language and priorities that appeared across all five job descriptions, with metrics and quantifiers, not just descriptions of what I did.
Claude can handle multiple PDF attachments at once. That is one of its biggest strengths and most people are not using it.
The result was a CV that did not just list my experience. It spoke directly to what employers in my field were actually looking for, in their own language.
That is the difference between an application that gets read and one that gets filed.
Here are 10 prompts, from CV to interview to salary negotiation, that I use and recommend.
Prompt 1 — The CV Rewrite
This is the one to start with.
“Here are 5 job descriptions for roles I am applying for. Here is my current CV. Rewrite my CV to align with the skills and language used across all 5 job descriptions. Use metrics and quantifiers wherever possible. Do not just describe what I did, show the impact.”
Upload all five job descriptions as PDFs alongside your CV.
Claude reads everything together and rewrites your CV to match the pattern of what employers in your specific field are actually asking for. Not what you think they want. What the evidence shows they want.
This prompt alone will transform the quality of your applications.
Prompt 2 — The Cover Letter
Most cover letters say the same things in slightly different orders. This prompt stops that.
“Here is the job description, here is my CV, and here is the company’s website. Write me a cover letter that speaks directly to their priorities, uses their own language and shows specifically why my experience makes me the right person for this role. Do not make it generic. Make it sound like I have read everything about this organisation.”
A cover letter that sounds like you actually care about that specific employer, not a template with the company name swapped in, is immediately obvious to a hiring manager. This prompt gets you there.
Prompt 3 — The Gap Spotter
Run this before you submit any application.
“Here is the job description and here is my CV. Tell me where the gaps are. What skills or experience are they asking for that I have not addressed? What objections might a recruiter have when they read my application? How can I close those gaps in my cover letter?”
Most people submit applications without knowing what is missing. This prompt forces you to see your application through the recruiter’s eyes before they do.
Prompt 4 — The Salary Research
Do not go into any salary conversation without doing this first.
“I am applying for a Communications Officer role in local government in the UK. Based on the job description I am attaching, what is the typical salary range for this role? What should I ask for if they offer me a salary negotiation conversation? What is my strongest argument for the higher end of the range?”
Go in with evidence. Not guesswork. Not the number they offered you because you were too relieved to push back.
Prompt 5 — The Interview Preparation
This one is for the night before.
“Here is the job description and here is my CV. Generate the 10 most likely interview questions for this role, including competency based questions using the STAR method. For each question suggest what a strong answer from my background would look like based on my CV.”
You will walk into that interview having already rehearsed the questions they are most likely to ask, tailored specifically to your experience and that specific role. Not generic interview questions from a website. Actual questions based on what that employer is hiring for.
Prompt 7 — The LinkedIn Optimisation
Most people set up their LinkedIn profile once and never touch it again.
“Here is my current LinkedIn summary and here are 3 job descriptions for roles I want to be found for. Rewrite my LinkedIn summary and headline so that recruiters searching for these roles will find me. Use keywords naturally. Make it sound like a person not a robot.”
Your LinkedIn is not a CV. It is a discovery tool. Optimise it for the roles you want next — not the ones you already have.
Prompt 8 — The Rejection Analysis
After a rejection, especially one with vague feedback, run this.
“Here is the job description for a role I was rejected for. Here is the application I submitted and here is the feedback I received. Analyse where my application may have fallen short. What would a stronger application have looked like? What should I do differently next time?”
I know rejection is painful. I have sat with a feedback email that said everything was positive and still felt completely lost.
But rejection is data. Use it. Every no is telling you something if you are willing to look at it honestly.
Prompt 9 — The Pre-Interview Research
Do this the day before every interview.
“I have an interview at this organisation next week. Here is their website, their latest annual report and the job description. Tell me their current priorities, challenges and strategic goals. What questions should I ask at the end of the interview that will show I have done serious research? What is likely to impress this panel?”
Walking into an interview knowing more about the organisation than they expect you to is one of the most powerful advantages you can give yourself. Most candidates do surface level research. This prompt takes you deeper.
Prompt 10 — The Salary Negotiation
The offer is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of it.
“I have been offered this role at this salary. Based on the job description and market rates in the UK, is this a fair offer? How should I negotiate for a higher salary without risking the offer? Write me a script for the negotiation conversation.”
Negotiate. Always. Respectfully, confidently and with evidence.
The worst they can say is no. And you will be no worse off than before you asked.
A Few Things Worth Saying
AI will not get you the job. Let me be clear about that.
Your experience, your skills, your story and how you show up in that interview room, that is what gets you the job.
What AI does is remove the friction. It saves you hours. It sharpens every application you send. It helps you walk into rooms better prepared than most of the other candidates.
Used wisely it is one of the most powerful tools available to anyone job hunting right now, especially immigrants navigating a system that was not designed with them in mind.
One last thing , Claude specifically allows you to upload multiple PDF documents in a single conversation. That is the feature that makes Prompt 1 so powerful. Use it.
