SHRM developed this guide using the same general-purpose AI tools it describes. The prompts are intended as starting points and may need to be adapted, reviewed, and validated for your specific use case.
AI can help you get more done with the HR work you already do, from drafting and summarizing to organizing information and generating ideas. But it does not know your organization, your people, your policies, or your obligations unless you provide that context. This prompt gives you a starting point, with space to add the unique information AI needs to support your work.
Prompt 1 —Tag Your Catalog
Untagged content cannot be recommended well. This is the unglamorous step that determines whether the whole thing works. Have a person review the tags before you use them. Replace everything in brackets before you run the prompt.
I need to tag our learning catalog so it can be used for recommendations. Here are the course titles and descriptions:
[PASTE CATALOG]
For each item, produce:
- Primary skill (one, the main thing this builds)
- Secondary skills (up to three)
- Level: foundational / intermediate / advanced
- Format: course / video / article / workshop / certification
- Estimated time to complete
- Any prerequisite that is stated or clearly implied
- Roles or functions this is most relevant to
Rules:
- Use consistent skill names across the whole catalog. If two items build the same skill, tag them identically. List the full set of skill names you used at the end so I can review it.
- Base tags only on the title and description I gave you. Do not infer content that is not described.
- Flag any item whose description is too thin to tag confidently, and any item that appears outdated or redundant with another.
Output as a table I can paste into a spreadsheet
Prompt 2 — Generate the Recommendations
Replace everything in brackets before you run the prompt.
Recommend learning content for an employee from our catalog.
Catalog (title, skill tags, level, duration, format):
[PASTE]
Employee context:
- Role and level: [x]
- Stated development goals: [x]
- Skills they want to build: [x]
- Time available: [e.g., 2 hours per month]
- Already completed: [x]
Recommend no more than 5 items. For each, give:
- The title
- One sentence on why it fits THIS person's stated goals
- Where it should sit in a sequence, and any prerequisite
Rules:
- Recommend only from the catalog provided. Do not suggest external content or invent courses.
- Base recommendations only on stated goals, role, and skill gaps — not on inferred traits, performance, or potential.
- If nothing in the catalog fits a stated goal, say so plainly rather than recommending the nearest thing.
- Respect the time constraint; do not recommend 20 hours of content to someone with 2.
Write in plain, everyday language. Do not use jargon or invented terms; if a simpler word exists, use it.
Optional, if available: give the AI your organization's style guide, brand voice guide, or writing standards document alongside this prompt so the output matches how we write.
Check Before You Publish
Before you publish, review the AI-generated draft carefully. You are responsible for the final version.
- Check facts, figures, dates, requirements, and other details against the information you supplied or the original source.
- Paste in any legally required or compliance-sensitive language yourself. Do not let AI generate it.
- Confirm nothing was invented, assumed, or taken out of context.
- Verify that the final version reflects your organization, your audience, and the purpose of the work.
Use your judgement as an HR professional. AI can assist with the work, but you make the final call. Looking for more prompts? Explore the AI Prompts Guide for HR for more prompts and templates to support your HR work.
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