Useful prompts are usually clear briefs, not magic phrases. Give the AI enough context to understand the situation, name the result you want, define which information it may use, and specify a format you can review.
The CGSF framework
- ContextWhat are you working on, and who is involved?
- GoalWhat should be true when the response is useful?
- SourceWhich notes or facts may it use, and what must it avoid inventing?
- FormatWhat structure will make the answer easiest to review and use?
Before and after
Weak: “Make my résumé better.” This leaves the audience, evidence, goal, and limits unclear.
Stronger: “I am applying for the operations coordinator role below. Use only the experience in my résumé. Create a table matching my experience to each requirement, identify gaps as questions, and then draft five revised bullet points. Do not invent metrics or responsibilities.”
Ask for uncertainty
- List assumptions before drafting.
- Mark information that needs verification.
- Ask questions when the source does not support a conclusion.
- Separate facts from suggestions.
Improve the process, not just one answer
After the result works, save the prompt with a good example and a short review checklist. The durable value is the process you can repeat—not a single impressive response.