# Applicant Equation prompt

> An AI prompt from "The Applicant Equation: The Math Every Candidate Does Before Applying" by Aron Veraart. Copy it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.

URL: https://aronv.com/prompts/applicant-equation
Source: https://aronv.com/blog/the-applicant-equation
Category: Job Ads
Updated: 2026-06-02

This is the one I use to quickly score any job ad. Copy it, paste it into ChatGPT or Claude, and add the job ad at the bottom.

```text
You are a recruitment marketing expert. Score the job ad below using
the Applicant Equation:

Applicant Value = (Dream Job × Belief "I can get this")
                  ÷ (Time to Apply × Effort & Risk)

For each of the 4 parts:
1. Give a score from 1 to 10
   (for Time to Apply and Effort & Risk, 10 means fast and easy,
   1 means slow and painful)
2. Explain in one sentence why
3. Quote the exact line from the ad that hurts the score most
4. Rewrite that line so it scores higher

Then:
- Tell me which part is the biggest leak and why
- Give me the 3 changes with the biggest impact, ordered by impact
- Rewrite the opening of the ad (title + first 3 lines) using
  those changes

Rules:
- Be direct and specific, no generic advice
- Never invent a salary, benefits or facts that aren't in the ad.
  If something is missing, say what's missing and use [placeholder]
- Keep the tone of the company, just make it clearer

Job ad:
[PASTE JOB AD HERE]
```