The prompts below are organized by category to help you navigate common career development questions and decisions. Begin by selecting a category, then identify the specific topic that best aligns with your goals or area of interest.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot can help you organize ideas, identify patterns, and brainstorm possibilities. They are most useful when paired with your own experiences, judgment, and reflection. Think of AI as a starting point—not a substitute for your voice, decision-making, or career preparation.
Each resource includes a Why Use This? section to help you determine when the prompt may be helpful, a customizable prompt to use with an AI tool, and a Take it to a Career Coach section with ideas for continuing the conversation with a Career Coach.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to explore careers that align with your interests, strengths, values, and personality.
Prompt
I want to explore career paths that connect my interests, strengths, values, and personality.
Here is some information about me:
• My core values: [Insert 2–3 values, e.g., creativity, financial stability, work-life balance]
• My personality traits: [Insert 2–3 traits, e.g., analytical, collaborative, detail-oriented]
• My strongest skills: [Insert 2–3 skills, e.g., writing, data analysis, public speaking]
• My main interests: [Insert 2–3 interests, e.g., healthcare, music, psychology, sports]
Based on these areas, suggest 3 career paths that meaningfully combine elements from all four categories. For each option: 1. Explain why the career could be a strong fit for me. 2. Describe what people in this field typically do. 3. Suggest one way I could explore this career further while in college.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you evaluate these ideas more deeply through assessments, reflection exercises, and discussion about long-term goals. They can also help you identify campus experiences that allow you to test potential career paths before committing to one.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you want to better understand what a particular career actually looks like beyond the job title. It can help you explore daily responsibilities, workplace expectations, common challenges, work-life balance, and the skills commonly used in the role.
Prompt
Act as a career mentor. I want to better understand what it would realistically be like to work in a specific career field.
The career or job title I want to explore is: [Insert job title, industry, or role]
Please walk me through a realistic “Day in the Life” for someone working in this role.
Please include:
1. An hour-by-hour overview of how the workday might be structured.
2. Three specific tasks, responsibilities, or projects someone in this role commonly handles.
3. A common challenge or stress point someone in this field may experience and how professionals typically navigate it.
4. The types of skills or strengths that are most important for success in this role.
5. The level of flexibility, collaboration, and work-life balance this career path typically offers.
6. One or two ways a college student at Indiana University Bloomington could begin exploring or gaining exposure to this field.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you reflect on whether the day-to-day realities of a role align with your interests, strengths, values, and preferred work environment. They can also help you identify next steps—such as networking conversations, job shadowing, internships, student organizations, or campus experiences—to explore the field more intentionally.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you have multiple interests and want to explore how they might connect through a major, minor, certificate, or career path.
Prompt
I have interests in multiple subject areas and want to explore ways they could connect academically or professionally.
The two areas I am most interested in are:
• Topic A: [Insert topic]
• Topic B: [Insert topic]
Please help me brainstorm: 1. Two or three Indiana University Bloomington majors, minors, certificates, or academic pathways that could connect these interests. 2. Three careers where knowledge of both areas would be useful or valued. 3. One skill I could begin developing now that would support this combination of interests.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you evaluate these ideas more deeply through assessments, reflection exercises, and discussion about long-term goals. They can also help you identify campus experiences that allow you to test potential career paths before committing to one.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you are reconsidering your major, navigating uncertainty about your future, or creating alternative pathways toward your goals. It can help you identify academic options that connect to the parts of work and learning you care about most.
Prompt
I am currently exploring my academic and career direction. I may be considering changing my major, exploring backup options, or figuring out what kinds of paths fit me best.
Here are some parts of work, school, or future careers that interest me most:
• [Insert interest, topic, or type of work]
• [Insert interest, topic, or type of work]
Please help me brainstorm:
1. Three Indiana University Bloomington majors, minors, certificates, or academic pathways that connect to these interests.
2. How each option could lead to different industries, careers, or future opportunities.
3. One skill, campus experience, or involvement that would be valuable no matter which direction I pursue.
4. Questions I should reflect on when deciding whether a path is the right fit for me.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you evaluate these ideas more deeply through assessments, reflection exercises, and discussion about long-term goals. They can also help you identify campus experiences that allow you to test potential career paths before committing to one.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you want to build experience and explore opportunities that can strengthen future internship or job applications.
Prompt
I am interested in building experience in [Insert field or industry] and would like ideas for practical ways to get involved and develop relevant skills.
Please brainstorm 5–10 realistic ways I could begin building skills and experience over the next few months. Include a variety of options such as:
• Online certifications or short courses
• Volunteer opportunities common in college communities
• Virtual job simulations or project-based learning experiences
• Indiana University Bloomington student organizations
• Study abroad or global learning opportunities
• On-campus jobs or part-time roles
For each suggestion, briefly explain what skills I might develop through the experience.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you prioritize which opportunities are most relevant to your goals and identify experiences that employers in your field are most likely to value.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to identify transferable skills you may already be developing through jobs, campus involvement, hobbies, leadership roles, or everyday responsibilities.
Prompt
I want to better understand the professional and transferable skills I have developed through my experiences so far.
Some activities or experiences I have participated in include: [Insert experiences such as retail work, babysitting, gaming, sports, student organizations, social media content creation, volunteering, etc.]
Please identify: 1. Three transferable skills employers might recognize from these experiences. 2. Why each skill matters in a professional setting. 3. One example of how I could describe each skill in a resume, interview, or networking conversation.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you translate these experiences into strong resume language and teach you how to communicate your value clearly and professionally.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to evaluate how well your resume aligns with a specific job or internship description.
Prompt
Please compare my resume with the following job or internship posting.
I would like help identifying: 1. The most important keywords or qualifications emphasized in the job posting. 2. Areas where my current resume already demonstrates alignment. 3. Skills, experiences, or details that may be missing or underdeveloped. 4. Questions I should ask myself to strengthen the specificity and impact of my resume.
Please focus on feedback and analysis only. Do not rewrite my entire resume for me.
[Paste Job or Internship Description]
[Paste Resume Text — Remove personal contact information before uploading]
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you decide how to strengthen gaps, prioritize edits, and tailor your resume strategically for different industries or employers.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to brainstorm stronger resume bullet points by identifying actions, context, and results.
Prompt
I am working on improving a resume bullet point using the APR framework:
• Action
• Problem or Context
• Result
Here is my rough description of an experience: [Insert rough experience or task]
Please help me by: 1. Identifying which parts of the statement are currently strongest and weakest. 2. Asking three questions that would help me better explain the situation, my contributions, and the outcome. 3. Suggesting what kinds of results or impact I might consider measuring.
Please do not write the final bullet point for me. I want guidance that helps me improve it myself.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you turn your ideas into concise, accomplishment-focused language that reflects the skills and outcomes employers value most.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if your resume describes responsibilities but does not yet show measurable impact.
Prompt
I want to strengthen a resume bullet point by adding measurable information.
Here is the current bullet point: [Paste bullet point]
Please help me think more specifically by giving me: 1. Three questions I could ask myself about scale, frequency, results, or impact. 2. Examples of the types of numbers or metrics employers often value in similar experiences. 3. Suggestions for how I might estimate impact if I did not formally track the data.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you identify realistic and credible ways to quantify your work while keeping your resume accurate and professional.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to identify stories and experiences that connect directly to a job description.
Prompt
I am preparing a cover letter and want help identifying which experiences best demonstrate that I can handle the responsibilities of the role.
Here is one key responsibility from the job description: [Insert responsibility]
Here is one experience from my background: [Insert experience]
Please help me by: 1. Explaining how my experience connects to the employer’s needs. 2. Suggesting two questions that would help me develop this into a stronger story. 3. Identifying skills or qualities that this experience demonstrates.
Please focus on brainstorming and reflection rather than writing the paragraph for me.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you decide which stories are strongest, organize your ideas effectively, and make sure your cover letter sounds authentic and purposeful.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you are building or updating your LinkedIn profile and want help presenting yourself professionally.
Prompt
I am a student at Indiana University Bloomington and want to strengthen my LinkedIn profile.
Here is some information about me:
• Major or minor: [Insert]
• Campus involvement, hobbies, or experiences: [Insert]
• Industry or field I want to learn more about: [Insert]
Please help me brainstorm: 1. Two professional LinkedIn headline options. 2. A short “About” section that highlights my interests, strengths, and goals. 3. Three ideas for experiences or skills I could eventually add to strengthen my profile.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you refine your profile so it sounds authentic, communicates your goals clearly, and supports professional networking opportunities.
Why use this?
Use this prompt when reaching out to alumni or professionals to learn more about their career path.
Prompt
I would like to contact a professional for a brief informational interview.
Here is information about the person:
• Current role: [Insert job title]
• Organization: [Insert company or organization]
• Why I am interested in connecting with them: [Insert reason]
Please help me draft a concise and professional message that: 1. Introduces who I am. 2. Explains why I am reaching out. 3. Politely asks for a brief conversation. 4. Keeps the tone respectful and low-pressure.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you personalize your outreach, identify alumni connections, and prepare for professional conversations with confidence.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to prepare thoughtful questions before an informational interview, networking conversation, or coffee chat.
Prompt
I am preparing for a conversation with a professional who works as a [Insert role or industry].
Please suggest 4–6 thoughtful questions that would help me learn more about:
• Their day-to-day work
• Their career path
• Industry trends or challenges
• Advice they would give to college students
• Skills or experiences that helped them succeed
Please avoid overly generic questions or questions that could easily be answered through a quick Internet search.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you practice professional conversation skills, think about follow-up questions, and prepare meaningful thank-you messages afterward.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to prepare a short introduction for career fairs, networking events, employer sessions, or student organization meetings.
Prompt
I am preparing a short introduction for an upcoming networking or career event.
Here is some information about me:
• Name and year in school: [Insert]
• Major or area of interest: [Insert]
• Something I am currently learning, involved in, or proud of: [Insert]
• A question or topic I would like to discuss with the employer or recruiter: [Insert]
Please help me draft a conversational 30-second introduction that sounds confident, natural, and professional.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you practice your delivery, adjust your tone and pacing, and feel more comfortable introducing yourself in professional settings.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you are interested in working on campus but are unsure which types of student jobs would align with your interests, schedule, or future career goals.
Prompt
I am interested in finding an on-campus job at Indiana University Bloomington.
Here is some information about me:
My major or area of interest: [Insert]
Skills I would like to develop: [Insert]
Types of work I enjoy: [Insert]
Number of hours I would like to work each week: [Insert]
Based on this information, suggest:
Three to five types of on-campus jobs that might be a good fit.
The transferable skills I could develop in each role.
How those skills could be useful in future internships, jobs, or leadership positions.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you explore on-campus employment opportunities that align with your interests, schedule, and career goals. They can also share insights about positions available through IU's campus employers and help you identify opportunities that support your professional growth.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you are early in your college experience and want ideas for jobs, volunteer roles, or campus opportunities connected to your interests.
Prompt
I am interested in gaining experience related to:
[Insert field, industry, or interest area]
Please suggest:
1.Types of part-time jobs, student employment positions, volunteer opportunities, or campus experiences that could help me explore this area.
2.Skills I could develop through each opportunity.
3.How these experiences could prepare me for future internships or professional roles.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you prioritize opportunities and identify experiences that fit your schedule, interests, and long-term goals. They can also help you think beyond traditional jobs and internships by exploring student organizations, volunteering, research, leadership roles, campus involvement, and other experiences that build valuable skills.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to identify organizations beyond large job boards and broaden your search strategy.
Prompt
I am interested in finding employers related to [Insert industry or field] in or near [Insert location].
Please help me identify: 1. Four to six organizations, companies, agencies, or nonprofits that operate in this space. 2. A short explanation of what each organization does. 3. One reason each organization might be interesting for a college student or early-career applicant to explore.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you research these organizations further, identify alumni connections, and develop strategies for networking or applying directly through company websites.
Why use this?
Use this prompt if you want to improve your job search strategy by expanding the keywords and job titles you use.
Prompt
I am searching for internships or entry-level opportunities related to [Insert field or industry], but I am not finding many results using only one job title.
Please help me brainstorm: 1. Alternative job titles related to this field. 2. Common industry terms or keywords employers use in postings. 3. Related entry-level roles that might help me gain experience in this area. 4. Skills or certifications frequently connected to these positions.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you turn these keywords into stronger search strategies across platforms such as Handshake, LinkedIn, and employer websites.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to prepare for interviews by identifying likely behavioral or technical questions connected to a specific role.
Prompt
Please review the following job or internship description and identify: 1. Three behavioral interview questions that a recruiter might ask. 2. The skills or qualities each question is designed to evaluate. 3. Suggestions for the types of experiences I could reflect on while preparing my answers.
[Paste Job or Internship Description]
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you practice answering these questions aloud, organize your responses clearly, and improve your confidence during interviews.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to strengthen behavioral interview responses using the STAR framework.
Prompt
I am practicing a behavioral interview response using the STAR method:
• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result
Here is my rough example: [Insert rough story]
Please help me by: 1. Identifying which parts of the STAR framework need more detail. 2. Asking questions that would help me better explain my actions and decision-making. 3. Suggesting where I could provide clearer outcomes or reflection.
Please do not write the full interview answer for me.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you organize your stories into strong, conversational interview responses that sound thoughtful rather than rehearsed.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to prepare a concise and professional introduction for interviews.
Prompt
I am preparing my response to the interview question, “Tell me about yourself.”
I would like to structure my answer using a Past–Present–Future framework.
Here is information about me:
• Present: [Current year, major, or focus]
• Past: [Important experience, involvement, or project]
• Future: [Why this role or opportunity interests me]
Please help me organize these ideas into a professional and conversational introduction that would take about one minute to say aloud.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you refine your delivery, improve clarity and confidence, and make sure your introduction feels natural and engaging.
Why use this?
Use this prompt to prepare for interview questions about growth, self-awareness, challenges, or professional development. It can help you reflect on how you respond to feedback, adapt to setbacks, and continue building new skills.
Prompt
I am preparing for interview questions such as:
• “What is your greatest weakness?”
• “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”
• “Do you have any areas of growth that you would like to focus on?”
• “What is a skill you are currently working to improve?”
Here is an honest challenge, weakness, or mistake I have experienced: [Insert example]
Please help me think through:
1. How to explain the situation honestly and professionally.
2. What steps I have taken to improve or grow.
3. How to communicate self-awareness, accountability, and progress in a positive and authentic way.
Please focus on structure and reflection rather than writing the final answer for me.
Take it to a Career Coach
A Career Coach can help you frame challenges in a way that highlights maturity, resilience, and professional growth while still sounding authentic.
