Guides · Updated 2026-10-26

AI for Job Ads: Write a Clear, Fair Small-Business Job Advert (Copy-Paste Prompts)

When a small business needs to hire, the owner usually writes the job ad late at night, copies an old one or borrows a big company's template full of words like "rockstar" and "fast-paced environment". Free AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot can help you do it properly in about half an hour: they can turn a few notes about the job into a clear advert, make it shorter and easier to read, reshape it for job boards, social media and WhatsApp and draft screening questions and replies to candidates. This guide gives you a role brief, a simple structure and the prompts, plus the fair-hiring checks that stay your job.

Short answer: write a short role brief (job title, pay, hours, location, what the person will actually do, the few must-have skills, and how to apply), paste it into an AI assistant and ask for a plain-English job ad of 250 to 400 words with the pay and hours near the top. Then check the draft line by line: every fact must be true, requirements must be genuinely needed for the job, and nothing should suggest you prefer people of a certain age, sex, race, religion, disability status or other protected characteristic. AI drafts; you check and you decide who to hire.

Replace anything in [brackets] with your details. The prompts work in the free versions of the main AI assistants. This guide is general information, not legal advice: employment and discrimination law differs by country, so check the official guidance where you hire.

What AI does well in job ads, and what it doesn't

Step 1: Write your role brief

Everything AI writes is only as good as what you tell it. Spend 10 minutes on this brief and you'll reuse it for the ad, the social posts, the screening questions and the interview.

Role brief template:

"Business: [name], a [type of business] in [town/area, country], [number] staff. Job title: [plain, common title people search for, e.g. 'Barista', 'Plumber's Assistant', 'Bookkeeper']. Pay: [exact rate or range, per hour/month/year]. Hours: [days, times, full-time/part-time, weekends?]. Contract: [permanent / fixed-term / casual]. Location: [address or area; on-site / hybrid / remote]. Start date: [date]. What they'll actually do day to day: [5–7 tasks]. Must-have skills or licences: [only what's genuinely needed from day one, e.g. 'valid driving licence because the job involves driving to client sites']. Nice to have: [things you can train]. What we offer: [true benefits, training, tips, uniform, parking, etc.]. How to apply: [email/WhatsApp/form, what to send]. Closing date: [date]. Tone: [friendly and plain / professional]."

The most useful line is "must-have skills". Keep it short and tied to the work. Every extra requirement can put off people who could do the job well, and requirements that aren't needed for the job can also be unfair or unlawful (see the rules below).

Step 2: Use a simple job-ad structure

The prompts

Write the ad

1. "[Paste role brief.] Write a job ad of 250 to 400 words using this structure: job title, key facts (pay, hours, location, contract, start date), about us, what you'll do, what you need, nice to have, what we offer, how to apply. Use plain English, short sentences and bullet points, and write to the reader as 'you'. Use only the facts in the brief: write [placeholder] wherever a detail is missing instead of inventing it."
2. "Give me 5 alternative job titles for this role that people would actually type into a job search, and say which is the most common: [describe the job]."
3. "Write a 2-sentence opening for this job ad that tells the reader what the job is and why they might want it, without clichés like 'fast-paced', 'rockstar', 'ninja', 'work hard play hard' or 'family': [paste ad]."

Make it clearer and fairer

4. "Check this job ad for wording that could suggest a preference for, or put off, people because of age, sex or gender, race, nationality, religion, disability, pregnancy, marital status or family situation. List each phrase, explain the risk in one sentence and suggest neutral wording that describes the actual job requirement: [paste ad]."
5. "Here are my requirements: [list]. For each one, ask me whether it is genuinely needed to do this job from day one or could be trained. Then rewrite the 'What you need' section with only the must-haves."
6. "Rewrite this ad so it's easy to read on a phone: no paragraph longer than 3 lines, no jargon or acronyms without explanation, and the pay and hours in the first 5 lines: [paste ad]."
7. "Replace vague phrases in this ad with concrete facts I can give you. List each vague phrase (e.g. 'competitive salary', 'flexible hours', 'great culture') and the question I need to answer to make it specific: [paste ad]."
8. "Add a short, friendly line to the 'How to apply' section saying applicants can ask for adjustments to the application or interview process, and how to ask."

Versions for different places

9. "Turn this job ad into a Facebook or Instagram post under 120 words, with the job title, pay, hours and area in the first two lines and a clear 'how to apply' at the end: [paste ad]."
10. "Turn this job ad into a LinkedIn post in a more professional tone, under 150 words: [paste ad]."
11. "Turn this job ad into a WhatsApp Status message and a short message I can send to my contacts asking them to share it, each under 50 words: [paste ad]."
12. "Turn this job ad into a short printed notice for our shop window or a community noticeboard: job title, 4 key facts, how to apply. Under 60 words."

Screening and interview questions

13. "Write 5 short screening questions for applicants for this job. Each question must be about the skills, availability or licences in the 'What you need' section, and nothing about age, health, family, nationality, religion or other personal characteristics: [paste ad]."
14. "Write 8 interview questions for this role, mixing skills questions and 'tell me about a time when…' questions linked to the daily tasks. For each one, describe what a strong answer would include, so I can score every candidate the same way: [paste ad]."
15. "Create a simple scoring sheet for this role with 5 job-related criteria, a 1–5 score for each, and space for notes. Base the criteria only on the ad's tasks and must-haves: [paste ad]."
16. "Write a short practical task (under 30 minutes) I could ask shortlisted candidates for a [role] to do, that tests a real part of the job. Don't make it unpaid real work for the business."
17. "Check these interview questions and flag any that ask, directly or indirectly, about age, health or disability, pregnancy or plans to have children, marital status, religion, nationality or other personal matters. Suggest job-related replacements: [paste questions]."

Messages to candidates

18. "Write a short, friendly reply confirming we received an application, saying when they'll hear back by [date]."
19. "Write an interview invitation for [name] for [role] on [date/time] at [place or video link], saying what to bring, how long it will take, and that they can ask for any adjustments they need."
20. "Write a kind, brief rejection message for a candidate who interviewed for [role]. Thank them, don't give false reasons, and don't comment on anything personal about them."

Starter prompts by industry

21. Café or restaurant: "Write a job ad for a [barista / server / kitchen assistant] at [name] in [area]. Pay [rate], [hours including weekends?]. Tasks: [list]. Must have: [e.g. able to work Saturday shifts]. We train: [e.g. coffee skills, till]."
22. Trades and home services: "Write a job ad for a [plumber's / electrician's assistant] at [name], covering [area]. Pay [rate]. Tasks: [list]. Must have: [e.g. a valid driving licence because you'll drive the van to jobs]. We offer: [e.g. training towards a qualification, tools, van]."
23. Shop or salon: "Write a job ad for a [sales assistant / receptionist / stylist] at [name]. Pay [rate], hours [hours]. Tasks: [list]. Must have: [skills]. Nice to have: [skills]. Describe our team in 2 true sentences: [details]."
24. Office or admin: "Write a job ad for a part-time [bookkeeper / admin assistant] at [name], [hours] a week, [on-site/hybrid/remote]. Pay [rate]. Tasks: [list]. Must have: [e.g. experience with (accounting software)]."

Words and phrases to check

These phrases often appear in job ads but can describe a type of person rather than the job, or suggest a preference that could put some people off. Replace them with what the job actually needs. Whether a phrase is unlawful depends on the law where you hire and the context, so treat this as a checklist, not a legal ruling.

The rules AI can't follow for you

• Don't advertise a preference. In many countries it's unlawful to say or imply in a job ad that you prefer, or don't want, people with certain characteristics. The UK government's guidance on discrimination in recruitment says employers must not state or imply in an advert that they'll discriminate, and should only use phrases like "recent graduate" or "highly experienced" when these are actual requirements of the job. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's page on prohibited employment policies and practices gives ads seeking "females" or "recent college graduates" as examples that may discourage people from applying and may break the law. In South Africa, the Employment Equity Act prohibits unfair discrimination against employees and job applicants. Check the rules where you hire.
• Advertise in more than one place. Where you advertise matters too. UK guidance notes that advertising only in places one group reads can be indirect discrimination, and the EEOC gives an example of relying on word-of-mouth recruitment that results in almost all new hires coming from one group. Post the job in a few different places.
• Ask job-related questions only. Application forms, screening questions and interviews should be about the job. Many countries restrict questions about age, health or disability, pregnancy, family plans, marital status, religion and similar topics. The UK's Acas guidance on hiring someone covers advertising, interviewing and making an offer.
• Be accurate about pay and conditions. The pay you advertise must be at least the legal minimum where you are, and the hours, contract and benefits must be true. Some places now require pay information in job ads or before the interview, so check local rules.
• Keep a person in charge of decisions. Don't let an AI tool decide who to shortlist or reject. AI can repeat bias in what it learned from, and some places, such as New York City, have specific rules for automated tools used in hiring decisions. If you use AI to summarise applications, apply the same job-related criteria to every candidate and make the decision yourself.
• Protect applicants' personal data. CVs contain names, contact details and sometimes sensitive information. Don't paste them into AI tools unless you're sure how that tool handles data and you've removed identifying details. Keep applications only as long as you need them and follow your country's data protection rules.
• Check the right to work and any licences required for the job in your country before someone starts, using official guidance.

Where to post your job ad for free

• Your own website. Add a simple careers page with the full ad. If you can, add JobPosting structured data so it can appear in Google's job search results; Google explains how in its job posting structured data guide. Take the ad down when the job is filled.
• Your social media and Google Business Profile. Use prompts 9 and 10, and see our Google Business Profile posts guide for the format.
• WhatsApp Status and your contacts. Use prompt 11, and ask people to share it.
• Job boards. Many job boards have free or trial listing options with limits; check each board's current terms before you post.
• Local noticeboards, colleges and community groups. Use prompt 12 for a short printed version.

A 45-minute hiring-ad routine

1. Write the role brief (10 minutes).
2. Draft the ad with prompts 1 to 3 (5 minutes).
3. Check and fix it with prompts 4 to 8 and the table above, then read it aloud (15 minutes).
4. Make the versions for each place you'll post with prompts 9 to 12 (5 minutes).
5. Prepare the screening questions and scoring sheet with prompts 13 to 17 (10 minutes), so every candidate is judged the same way.

Frequently asked questions

Can ChatGPT write a job ad for my small business?

Yes. ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot can turn a few notes about the role into a clear, structured job ad in minutes. Give it a role brief with the job title, pay, hours, location, daily tasks, must-have skills and how to apply, and tell it not to invent details. Then check every fact and make sure each requirement is genuinely needed for the job.

What should a small-business job ad include?

A plain job title, the pay, hours, location, contract type and start date near the top, a short description of your business, the main daily tasks, the genuine must-have skills, what you offer, and exactly how and by when to apply. Saying that applicants can ask for adjustments to the process is a good addition.

Should I include the salary in a job ad?

It's usually a good idea: pay is one of the first things candidates look for, and a clear rate or range saves time for you and them. In some places it's also a legal requirement to include pay information in the ad or share it before the interview, so check the rules where you hire.

What words should I avoid in a job advert?

Avoid words that describe a type of person instead of the job, such as "young", "recent graduate" or "digital native" when they aren't real requirements, gendered job titles like "waitress" or "salesman", and "native speaker" when you mean fluent. Describe the actual skills and tasks instead, and check the official discrimination guidance for your country.

Can I use AI to screen CVs and applications?

Be careful. AI can help you organise applications or draft screening questions, but a person should make shortlisting and hiring decisions using the same job-related criteria for everyone. AI tools can reflect bias, some places regulate automated hiring tools, and CVs contain personal data you shouldn't paste into AI tools without removing identifying details.

Where can I advertise a job for free?

Start with your own website, social media pages, Google Business Profile, WhatsApp Status and contacts, local noticeboards and colleges. Many job boards also offer free or limited listings, so check their current terms. Posting in several places helps you reach a wider range of candidates.

More help with writing for your business: read our AI social media plan for small business, WhatsApp Business quick replies, 30 AI prompts for Google Business Profile posts and our step-by-step guide to using ChatGPT for small business. Compare free tools in our best free AI tools for small business shortlist.

Get a personalised AI plan for your business free: take the 2-minute quiz.