Module 1: First Steps

The One Mistake Everyone Makes

2 min read

"AI is useless, it just gives generic answers." Sound familiar? Here's why that happens—and how to fix it in 10 seconds.

The #1 reason people get bad results from AI: they're too vague.

It's not the AI's fault. It's trying to answer what you asked. But if you ask a vague question, you get a vague answer. Every time.

The Problem in Action

Vague prompt

Help me write a better resume.

Specific prompt

I'm a marketing manager with 5 years experience applying for a senior role at a tech startup. Rewrite my "experience" section to emphasize data-driven results and leadership.

The first prompt gets you generic resume advice you could find anywhere. The second gets you actual text you can use, tailored to your exact situation.

The Specificity Formula

Whenever you write a prompt, ask yourself: "Would two different people interpret this the same way?"

If the answer is no, you need to be more specific. Here's what to add:

Who you are: Your role, experience level, industry
What you need: The specific output you want
Why it matters: The context that shapes the answer

Vague

How do I negotiate salary?

Specific

I'm a software engineer with 3 years experience. I just got an offer for $120k but market rate is $140k. Give me a script for asking for $135k without seeming greedy. The company is a mid-size startup that seems really eager to hire me.

See the difference? The specific version includes who you are, what you need (a script), and context that matters (they're eager).

Try It Now

Take a vague question you've asked AI before (or wanted to ask), and rewrite it with:

• Your context — who you are, what you know
• Specific output — exactly what you want back
• Relevant details — anything that shapes the answer

Key Takeaway

Vague prompts get generic answers. Add your context, desired output, and relevant details.