How to Write a Job Ad With AI That Actually Gets Good Applicants

Most small business job ads are terrible: and they know it. Vague titles, generic descriptions, a list of requirements that reads like a wish list. The result? Lots of applications from people who aren’t right, and crickets from the people you actually want. Here’s how to use AI to write job ads that attract the right candidates.

Why Most Small Business Job Ads Fail

The biggest mistakes are: writing for the business instead of the candidate, being vague about what the role actually involves, and forgetting that a job ad is a sales pitch: you’re competing for good people, and good people have options.

Step 1: Give the AI a Proper Brief

Before you prompt anything, write down the answers to these questions:

• What does this person actually do day-to-day? (Be specific, “serves customers and operates the POS” not “customer service”)
• What hours and days?
• What’s the pay range? (Including super)
• What makes working here good? (Parking, flexible hours, team culture, progression)
• What’s a dealbreaker? (Must have own transport, must be available weekends)
• Who is the ideal candidate? (Experience level, attitude, key skills)

Step 2: Use This Prompt

Open ChatGPT, Claude, or your preferred AI tool and use this prompt:

Write a job ad for [job title] at [business name], a [type of business] in [location].

Day-to-day responsibilities: [list what they'll actually do]
Hours: [days and hours]
Pay: [range including super]
What's good about working here: [your genuine selling points]
Must-haves: [non-negotiables]
Nice-to-haves: [preferred but not essential]
Tone: [friendly and direct / professional / relaxed]

Write it from the candidate's perspective: what's in it for them. Keep it under 400 words. Use plain Australian English. Include a clear call to action.

Step 3: Edit for Authenticity

The AI will give you a solid draft. Now make it sound like you. Read it out loud: if you wouldn’t actually say that to someone, change it. Add one specific, genuine detail about your business (“we close on Sundays so everyone gets a proper weekend” or “we’re a team of five who’ve worked together for three years”).

Step 4: Nail the Job Title

Job titles drive search on SEEK and Indeed. “Customer Experience Champion” gets fewer clicks than “Retail Sales Assistant.” Use the title people actually search for, then describe the role in your own way in the body. Ask the AI: “What job titles do candidates search for when looking for a role like this on SEEK in Australia?”

Step 5: Screening Questions

Most job platforms let you add screening questions. Use the AI to write 2–3 that filter out time-wasters fast. Prompt: “Write 3 screening questions for a [job title] role that will help me quickly identify motivated, suitable candidates and filter out people who haven’t read the ad.”

What Good Looks Like

A good AI-assisted job ad: leads with what’s in it for the candidate, is specific about the role, honest about the hours and pay, and ends with a clear and easy application process. It takes about 20 minutes to do properly: and saves you hours of sifting through wrong-fit applications.

Related: AI + Instagram and TikTok for Australian Small Business: What Actually Works | AI + Shopify for Australian Online Stores: The Complete Guide

📋 More guides: See all our practical AI guides for Australian small business.

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More step-by-step guides: How-To Guides for Australian Small Business — practical guides organised by the problem you’re trying to solve.