The One ChatGPT Prompt That Saves Me From Wasting Time on Bad Job Descriptions

Jan 2

Getting laid off forces you to do something you probably haven’t done in years: read a lot of job descriptions.

And let’s be honest — most JDs are awful.

They’re long, vague, overloaded with buzzwords, and often written by committee. After a while, everything starts to blur together:

Is this role actually senior?
What will I really be doing day to day?
Am I even remotely qualified for this, or am I wasting my time?

While building Hacked2Hired, I’ve been using ChatGPT heavily to make this process faster and more objective. One simple prompt in particular has become part of my daily workflow.

Using ChatGPT in Your Job Search

If you’ve followed this blog, you know I’m not shy about using AI as a force multiplier while job hunting.

I’ve already written about:

Interview prep: How I use ChatGPT to simulate interviews, prep talking points, and tighten stories
👉 https://www.hacked2hired.com/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-interview-preparation
Deep research: Using ChatGPT’s research capabilities to prep for interviews like a pro
👉 https://www.hacked2hired.com/blog/use-chatgpt-deep-research-to-prep-for-interviews-like-a-pro

This post is about a much earlier step in the funnel: deciding whether a job is even worth applying to.

The Prompt I’m Using

Here’s the core prompt:

“What will this role do? Explain it simply. Rate my qualifications from 1–10.”

My workflow looks like this:

Paste the full job description into ChatGPT
Upload or paste my resume
Ask the prompt above

That’s it.

Simple, but surprisingly powerful.

Why This Works

This prompt forces ChatGPT to do two important things:

De-jargon the role
Instead of regurgitating HR language, it translates the job into plain English.
Give you a fast gut check
A 1–10 score isn’t perfect, but it’s directionally useful. It helps you decide:
- Apply now
- Apply but expect a stretch
- Skip and move on

When you’re applying to dozens (or hundreds) of roles, that signal matters.

Example Prompt (Expanded Version)

Here’s the slightly more refined version I use now:

You are a hiring manager and industry expert.

1. Explain what this role actually does in simple, non-jargon language.
2. Based on my resume, rate my qualifications for this role on a scale of 1–10.
3. Explain *why* you gave that score.
4. List the top 3 strengths I bring to this role.
5. List the top 3 gaps or risks a hiring manager might see.

Here is the job description:
[PASTE JD]

Here is my resume:
[PASTE RESUME]

This adds just enough structure to make the output consistently useful.

Sample Output (What You’ll Get)

A typical response looks something like this:

What this role does (simple explanation):
This role is responsible for leading application security strategy across the company, partnering with engineering teams to reduce risk without slowing delivery, and reporting security posture to senior leadership.

Qualification score: 8/10

Why:
Your experience leading AppSec, DAST, and bug bounty programs at scale closely aligns with the core responsibilities. The main gap is direct ownership of cloud infrastructure security, which appears adjacent but not primary in your background.

Top strengths:
Deep application security leadership experience
Proven ability to partner with engineering teams
Executive-level communication and reporting

Potential gaps:
Limited direct ownership of cloud-native security tooling
Less emphasis on IAM in prior roles
Industry experience slightly outside the company’s core sector

Even when I disagree with parts of the assessment, it gives me clear talking points for cover letters and interviews.

Alternative Prompts You Can Try

Depending on where you are in your search, these variations can be helpful:

1. Resume Tailoring

“Based on this job description, what changes would you suggest to my resume to better align with the role?”

2. Application Decision Filter

“If you were a recruiter, would you advance this resume to a hiring manager? Why or why not?”

3. Interview Risk Prep

“What concerns would a hiring manager have about this candidate, and how should they proactively address them in an interview?”

4. Stretch Role Reality Check

“If I were hired into this role, where would I struggle in the first 90 days?”

Each of these builds on the same idea: use AI to surface blind spots early.

Final Thoughts

Job hunting is emotionally draining. Decision fatigue is real. Anything that reduces wasted effort is worth using.

This prompt doesn’t replace judgment, networking, or human feedback — but it does:

Save time
Reduce guesswork
Make job descriptions clearer
Help you apply more strategically

For me, that’s the difference between spraying resumes everywhere and running a focused search.

If you’re navigating a layoff, a transition, or just a quiet job search, steal this prompt and make it your own.

That’s what Hacked2Hired is all about.

Jason Pubal