Prompt Engineering Guide - Master AI Communication

What is Prompt Engineering?

Prompt engineering is the art and science of crafting instructions that get AI to produce exactly what you want. It's the difference between mediocre AI output and mind-blowing results.

The 80/20 Rule of AI:

80% of getting great AI results comes from how you ask, not which AI you use.

The 5 Core Principles

1. Be Specific

Vague prompts get vague results. Include details about format, tone, and length.

❌ Bad:

Write about dogs

✅ Good:

Write a 200-word beginner's guide to adopting a rescue dog, focusing on the first week at home. Use a friendly, encouraging tone.

2. Provide Context

Give the AI relevant background information to work with.

You are a senior software engineer reviewing code for a fintech startup. Our main concerns are security and performance. Please review this Python function and suggest improvements: [code here]

3. Use Examples (Few-Shot Learning)

Show the AI what you want with examples.

Convert these sentences to active voice: Example: Passive: The ball was thrown by John Active: John threw the ball Now convert: Passive: The report was written by the team Active: [AI completes this]

4. Break Complex Tasks Down

Use step-by-step instructions for complicated requests.

Help me write a business proposal. Let's do this step by step: 1. First, create an executive summary (100 words) 2. Then, outline 3 main value propositions 3. Finally, suggest a call-to-action Context: We're a SaaS company selling to enterprises...

5. Iterate and Refine

Don't expect perfection on the first try. Refine your prompts based on results.

Initial: "Explain quantum computing" ↓ Better: "Explain quantum computing to a high school student" ↓ Best: "Explain quantum computing to a high school student using the analogy of coin flips. Include 3 real-world applications. Keep it under 300 words."

Advanced Techniques

🎭 Role Playing

Assign the AI a specific role for better results:

You are a Michelin-star chef specializing in French cuisine. A home cook asks you how to make the perfect omelet. Provide detailed instructions focusing on technique, not just ingredients.

AI Response: "Ah, the perfect omelet! Let me share the technique that separates amateur from professional. First, your eggs must be at room temperature - cold eggs will never achieve that silky texture we desire..."

🎯 Chain of Thought (CoT)

Make the AI show its reasoning:

A store had 45 apples. They sold 17 in the morning and received a delivery of 30 more at noon. Then they sold 22 in the afternoon. How many apples are left? Let's think step by step:

AI Response:
Step 1: Starting amount = 45 apples
Step 2: After morning sales = 45 - 17 = 28 apples
Step 3: After delivery = 28 + 30 = 58 apples
Step 4: After afternoon sales = 58 - 22 = 36 apples
Answer: 36 apples remain

📋 Format Control

Specify exact output formats:

Analyze this customer feedback and provide a summary in the following JSON format: { "sentiment": "positive/negative/neutral", "key_issues": ["issue1", "issue2"], "urgency": "high/medium/low", "recommended_action": "string" } Feedback: "The product arrived late and was damaged..."

Ready-to-Use Prompt Templates

📝 Content Writing

Write a [content type] about [topic] for [audience]. Tone: [professional/casual/friendly] Length: [word count] Include: [key points] Avoid: [things to skip] Format: [bullets/paragraphs/sections]

💻 Code Generation

Write a [language] function that [does X]. Requirements: - Input: [data type and description] - Output: [expected result] - Edge cases: [list edge cases] - Performance: [time/space constraints] Include error handling and comments.

📊 Data Analysis

Analyze this data and provide insights: [paste data] Focus on: 1. Key trends 2. Anomalies 3. Correlations 4. Actionable recommendations Format as executive summary.

🎓 Learning & Explanation

Explain [concept] like I'm [age/expertise level]. Use this approach: 1. Start with a relatable analogy 2. Break down the main components 3. Provide a real-world example 4. Suggest next steps to learn more Keep it under [X] words.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌
Being too vague: "Write something good" → Specify what, for whom, and how long
❌
Information overload: Don't write a 1000-word prompt for a simple task
❌
Contradictory instructions: "Be brief but comprehensive" → Pick one priority
❌
Ignoring AI limitations: Don't ask for real-time data or personal opinions
❌
Not iterating: First prompt rarely perfect - refine based on output

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Improve This Prompt

Current prompt: "Help me with my resume"

Show improved version

I'm a software engineer with 5 years of experience applying for a senior role at a tech startup. Please help me improve my resume summary section. I want to: 1. Highlight my full-stack expertise (React, Node.js, AWS) 2. Mention my team leadership experience 3. Show quantifiable achievements Keep it to 3-4 sentences, use action verbs, and make it ATS-friendly.

Exercise 2: Create a Prompt

Task: You need the AI to help you prepare for a job interview at Google for a Product Manager position.

Show example prompt

You are an experienced Google Product Manager who has conducted 100+ interviews. I have a PM interview at Google next week. Please help me prepare: 1. List the 5 most common behavioral questions and how to structure answers using STAR method 2. Provide 3 product design questions with framework approaches 3. Give me 2 estimation questions with step-by-step solutions 4. Share insider tips specific to Google's interview culture For each section, include what the interviewer is really looking for.

Tips for Different AI Tools

ChatGPT

• Use "Let's think step by step" for complex reasoning
• Custom instructions save time
• Great for creative tasks
• Can browse web (Plus only)

Claude

• Excels at long documents (200K context)
• More cautious with facts
• Better at coding tasks
• Prefers structured prompts

Gemini

• Multimodal (images + text)
• Good at research tasks
• Real-time information
• Integrates with Google tools

Download: 100+ Prompt Templates

Get our complete collection of battle-tested prompts for every use case

Business Pack

Emails, reports, presentations

Creative Pack

Stories, scripts, marketing copy

Technical Pack

Code, documentation, debugging

Prompt Engineering Mastery