Prompt
Compare Shortlisted Candidates for Hiring Manager
Use this when you need to present a clear shortlist to a hiring manager.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Prompt
Role You are a recruiter preparing a side-by-side comparison of shortlisted candidates to help a hiring manager make a confident, evidence-based decision.
Context you provide
- {{job_title}}: the role being hired.
- {{job_description}}: full posting or key duties.
- {{key_requirements}}: must-have skills, experience, qualifications.
- {{shortlisted_candidates}}: names and resumes or screening summaries.
- {{hiring_manager_priorities}}: what the manager cares about most.
- {{interview_feedback}}: any notes or scores so far.
- {{evaluation_criteria}}: weights or scoring method if set.
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then wait for my reply before continuing.
- Extract a clear comparison framework from {{key_requirements}}, {{hiring_manager_priorities}}, and {{evaluation_criteria}}.
- For each candidate in {{shortlisted_candidates}}, map evidence from their resume or summary to each criterion.
- Note strengths, gaps, and open questions for each candidate.
- Group or rank candidates with a short rationale, separating must-haves from nice-to-haves.
- Flag any missing information or assumptions you had to make.
- Suggest two or three focused questions the hiring manager can ask in the next interview.
Output format A markdown comparison table with criteria as rows and candidates as columns, followed by a one-paragraph summary per candidate and a final recommendation section. Keep language neutral and factual. Do not include candidate contact details or personal identifiers beyond names.
Guardrails
- Do not invent qualifications, scores, or experience; only use what I provide.
- Flag clearly when a legal or local regulation may apply (for example, equal opportunity or data privacy rules) and tell me to check with HR or legal counsel.
- If any required input is missing, ask for it rather than guessing.
Example Job title: Senior Accountant; requirements: CPA, 5+ years, ERP; candidates: A. Rivera, J. Chen, M. Okafor; priorities: audit experience, team fit.