10 AI Prompts to help bounce back after getting laid off in Tech
Getting laid off sucks, there is no way around it. Here are 10 prompts you can use with an AI tool like Chat GPT to help bounce back.
Simply read the below list and if any of these feel helpful, just copy and paste into the AI Chat and let the magic of AI solve your problems!
I was laid off before AI was around, and I remember quickly feeling isolated and shocked. There is a bit of stigma with getting laid off, and it weighs on you. You have to beg everyone around you for help, in a very sudden an embarrassing way. Having AI around is amazing because you will be able to go off on any topic or question you have with 0 judgement.
Main Prompt Topics:
| Prompt # | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Processing Layoff |
| 2 | Finding Interests/Joy |
| 3 | Industry Alignment |
| 4 | Job Market Trends |
| 5 | Application Workflow |
| 6 | Google Suite Tools |
| 7 | Modular Resumes |
| 8 | Interview Prep |
| 9 | Job Site Optimization |
| 10 | Salary Negotiation |
Prompt #1: Processing Layoff
You are a licensed sounding board who blends therapy informed coaching with practical planning. Your job is to help me process a layoff and stabilize in the next two weeks. Context about me: [share your role, company, tenure, what you liked, what you did not, any life constraints]. Constraints for your guidance:
– Keep it grounded and actionable. No fluff.
– Speak to me directly and do not coddle me.
– Assume I want to heal and move.
Deliverables:
1) A 7 day reset plan with daily micro actions I can finish in under 30 minutes.
2) A money triage checklist to stop the bleeding this week.
3) A script I can use to tell family and friends what happened with clarity and grace.
4) A journaling starter kit with 5 prompts that help me metabolize the shock and shame.
5) One 10 minute breath and body routine that brings my nervous system down.
Ask up to 5 clarifying questions, then deliver the plan in the order above. End with one sentence that reminds me who I am.
Use Case & Strategy
This helps you slow the spin so you can think. It is for anyone who needs a compassionate shove toward stability. The structure uses time boxing and micro commitments so you win quick and rebuild belief. The coach role plus constraints keep the voice strong and useful.
Prompt #2: Finding Interests/What Sparks Joy
You are a strengths interviewer and creative director. Your goal is to map the work that lights me up and the conditions where I do my best. Process:
– Run a 12 minute interview with me first. Ask one question at a time. Topics to cover: favorite projects, moments I lost track of time, work that drains me, skills others always ask me for, impact I am proud of, constraints I need to thrive.
– After the interview, synthesize my answers into three parts:
A) Core themes with short names and honest descriptions
B) Work environments where I shine and where I dim
C) A personal positioning statement in two versions. One casual. One for a resume top section.
Constraints:
– Keep each theme label under 3 words.
– Use my language where possible.
– Do not invent facts.
– Offer 3 small experiments I can run this week to test the themes.
Ask up to 6 questions to begin.
Use Case & Strategy
When your identity gets rattled, clarity beats motivation. This prompt uncovers pattern language you can reuse in resumes, intros, and interviews. The interview first and synthesis later keeps the model from guessing and makes the output feel like you.
Prompt #3: Industry Alignment & Foot in Door
You are a market mapper. Using my themes and skills, design an adjacency map of industries and roles that are realistic entry points within 60 to 90 days. Inputs: [paste your skills, interests, and any constraints]. Process:
1) Produce three clusters:
– Direct fits where I am already competitive
– Near neighbors that need a small skills bridge
– Door openers that get me paid while I pivot
2) For each cluster give:
– 5 example role titles
– Typical day in the life in 4 bullets
– Gap analysis of skills to close with the fastest path to close each gap
– Credibility boosters I can ship in two weeks such as a small public project, a short course, or a volunteer sprint
3) Give me a 30 day exploration plan with weekly goals and a checklist for informational chats.
Constraints:
– No generic advice. Tie everything to my inputs.
– Keep all lists short and punchy.
Ask 5 clarifying questions if needed, then deliver.
Use Case & Strategy
This replaces scattershot job hunting with a map. It is for career shifters and same role seekers who want options that fit now, next, and later. The cluster approach forces realistic stepping stones and converts skills gaps into quick wins.
Prompt #4: Job Market Trends
You are a job market analyst who teaches me how to collect my own data. Goal: build a simple snapshot of demand for my target roles without live web access. Process:
1) Give me a copy paste checklist to gather 10 live postings each for up to 3 roles from two different boards. Include what fields to capture such as title, company size, location flexibility, must have skills, nice to have skills, years of experience.
2) Provide a simple table header I can paste into a spreadsheet.
3) After I paste my sample into the chat, analyze it and deliver:
– A heat read on skills that appear most often
– Phrases to mirror in resumes and outreach
– A priority list of two roles to focus on first and why
– A risk list of requirements that might block me with a plan to neutralize each one
Constraints:
– Teach me the method first.
– Keep the analysis practical and short.
Ask for my target roles, then give me the collection checklist.
Use Case & Strategy
You avoid guesswork by sampling postings yourself. This guardrail keeps the model from hallucinating while still giving you trend awareness. It upgrades you from vibe based applications to evidence based targeting.
Prompt #5: Application Workflow Assembly Line
You are an operations coach. Build me an application assembly line that I can run in 60 to 90 minute blocks. Inputs: [share your weekly hour budget and energy rhythms]. Deliverables:
1) A pipeline with stages: source, qualify, tailor, apply, follow up, nurture.
2) For each stage give:
– The definition of done
– The exact artifacts to produce
– A repeatable mini script or template
3) A weekly rhythm with daily targets that are embarrassingly doable on low energy days and stretch targets for high energy days.
4) A 20 minute reset ritual for days when I stall.
5) A scoreboard I can track in a simple spreadsheet with a row for each day and columns for actions and wins.
Constraints:
– Batch similar tasks.
– Emphasize speed then quality.
– Include instructions for a Sunday one hour review and plan session.
Ask two questions about my schedule, then hand me the system.
Use Case & Strategy
Momentum is built in small loops. This converts the job hunt into a production line so your willpower is protected. Clear definitions of done and batching reduce context switching and help you apply faster without feeling frantic.
Prompt #6: Google Suite for Job Search
You are my Google workspace architect. Set up a simple but powerful system in Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar to run my search like a pro. Outputs:
1) A Drive folder tree with naming rules so I can find anything in 10 seconds.
2) A master Tracker in Sheets. Include exact column names for leads, contacts, application status, dates, next action, keywords matched, and notes. Include two sample formulas such as COUNTIF to track totals and a filter to show stale leads.
3) A Docs template set for resume variants, cover letters, outreach notes, and interview prep sheets.
4) A Calendar plan with recurring blocks for sourcing, tailoring, and follow up. Include color coding rules.
5) Optional Gmail filters and labels for incoming recruiter mail and alerts. Add a short guide to create canned responses for follow ups.
Constraints:
– Assume I am non technical.
– Keep it simple and repeatable.
Ask if I prefer one master Sheet or separate Sheets per role. Then deliver the setup with plain steps.
Use Case & Strategy
Tools only help if they stay light. This prompt standardizes your workspace so you stop reinventing steps every time you apply. The naming rules and formulas create clarity without turning your search into a second job.
Prompt #7: Modular Resume/Cover Letters
You are my resume and cover letter systems builder. We are going to create a modular library I can retarget in minutes. Inputs: [paste your current resume and a target job description]. Process:
1) Extract a parts library from my resume. Break into achievement bullets, tech stack bullets, leadership bullets, and context lines. Label each part with tags.
2) Build a keyword map from the job description and group related phrases.
3) Rewrite my top 10 bullets using this pattern:
– Did X by doing Y which resulted in Z. Include a number or clear outcome where possible.
4) Assemble three resume variants:
– Direct role variant
– Adjacent role variant
– Stretch role variant
5) Draft a cover letter framework with slots tied to the keyword map and my parts library. Provide three versioned intros.
Constraints:
– Keep resume formatting simple for ATS systems.
– Do not invent outcomes. If metrics are missing, prompt me for ranges.
– Keep bullets short and strong.
Ask up to 5 questions, then produce the library and variants.
Use Case & Strategy
A modular approach lets you remix fast without starting from zero. The keyword map ensures alignment while the parts library keeps your voice consistent. This is how you move quickly across different postings without sounding generic.
Prompt #8: Interview Preparation
You are my interview prep partner and research guide. Goal: build confidence and content for conversations. Process:
1) Give me a research framework I can run in 40 minutes for any company using public sources. Include what to look for in product, customers, metrics hints, and leadership.
2) Help me craft five STAR stories from my background that map to common competencies. Build a quick index so I can recall them under pressure.
3) Provide a bank of likely questions by category. For each, give a strong structure and a sample opening line.
4) Create a role play plan. You play the interviewer first with increasing difficulty. After my answers, give tight feedback and one rewrite.
5) Include a one page case study drill if my role requires it. Define the structure and what a pass looks like.
Constraints:
– Keep answers talk length in mind. Two minutes or less unless noted.
– Use my words where possible.
Ask for my resume and target role. Then guide me through research and practice.
Use Case & Strategy
You will not rise to the occasion. You will fall to the level of your preparation. This prompt builds a repeatable practice loop and gives you story assets you can flex across different interviews without sounding scripted.
Prompt #9: Job Site Optimization
You are a platform strategist for LinkedIn, Indeed, and similar job boards. Objective: increase discovery and response rates. Inputs: [paste your LinkedIn about and headline, plus any target roles]. Deliverables:
1) Profile audit with specific edits to headline, about, and experience sections to match keywords from target roles.
2) A keyword density checklist and a short list of buzzwords to avoid.
3) Boolean search strings I can paste into job sites to surface better matches. Provide two versions per role.
4) Job alerts setup guide with exact filters to use and a schedule for checking them.
5) A light networking plan:
– A script for reaching out to people who share a school or company with me
– A script for hiring managers and recruiters
– A follow up schedule and polite nudge templates
Constraints:
– Keep scripts short and human.
– Focus on clarity, not cleverness.
Ask one question about my target geography and remote preferences. Then deliver the audit and plan.
Use Case & Strategy
Profiles and postings are driven by keywords and relationships. This prompt tunes your signal so algorithms and people can actually find you. The outreach scripts lower the friction to start real conversations.
Prompt #10: Salary Negotiation & Standing Out
You are my compensation and offer strategist. Goal: stand out late in the process and negotiate with confidence. Inputs: [share your target role, level, and any constraints]. Process:
1) Build a value narrative I can use in late stage interviews. Tie it to outcomes the team cares about. Provide a 90 second version and a 20 second version.
2) Create a pre offer checklist to clarify role scope, level, and expectations so I do not negotiate in the dark.
3) Draft three negotiation scripts:
– Anchor script when asked for numbers
– Counter script when an offer arrives
– Trade script for non salary items such as start date, title calibration, learning budget, or location flexibility
4) Plan a small project or work sample I can propose to de risk me against other finalists. Give a one page outline I can send.
5) Build a reference strategy with two short emails I can send to activate advocates.
Constraints:
– Keep tone respectful and steady.
– Do not promise anything I cannot deliver.
Ask me about my must haves and nice to haves. Then deliver the playbook.
Use Case & Strategy
Late stage success is about clarity, calm, and proof. This prompt arms you with words, trades, and a tiny value demo so you feel strong and come across as a partner rather than a taker. It helps you get a fair deal without burning bridges.
You have more leverage than it feels like right now. Use these prompts, get your system humming, and let the compounding begin.