You’re hiring for a critical role, and you know posting the job will only result in you spending hours reviewing unqualified applications. So, you want to source the right candidates and invite them to apply.
AI tools like ChatGPT can help—if you know what to ask. The problem? Most people don’t.
That’s why we’ve put together 5 AI prompts designed specifically for sourcing top talent. These are the same kinds of prompts we’ve seen Braintrust clients use to cut sourcing time dramatically—and they work with any AI assistant or hiring tool.
Use them in your own workflows, or better yet - let Braintrust handle the heavy lifting with our pre-vetted, global talent marketplace.
Prompt: "Create a list of platforms or marketplaces where I can find a senior [JavaScript developer] with [React and Node.js] experience, ideally based in [Latin America], available for [20–30 hours/week] at a rate under [$60/hour]. Include pros and cons for each option."
Why it works: This prompt helps you filter your search intelligently from the start, focusing on skill, geography, time zone, and rate. It’s perfect for generating a sourcing map, even before you post a job.
💡 Better yet? Braintrust already has pre-vetted developers meeting those specs—ready to start in days, not weeks.
Prompt: "Write a job post for a [UX Designer] to redesign our [mobile app for event planning]. The tone should be clear, concise, and attract senior freelancers who have worked with startups. Include expected outcomes for the first 30 days."
Why it works: Good job posts are clear on deliverables—not just tools. This prompt helps you frame the opportunity in a way that resonates with top-tier freelancers who care more about what they’ll build than which wireframing tool you use.
Prompt: "Write a personalized LinkedIn message to a freelance [DevOps engineer] who recently worked on [AWS architecture at a fintech startup]. Highlight our company’s mission, remote flexibility, and that this is a 3-month contract to launch a new internal platform. Keep it under 500 characters."
Why it works: Top freelancers get dozens of outreach messages a week. This one helps you stand out with specificity—and AI saves you from writing it 20 times over.
Prompt: "Based on our need to launch a new consumer web app, define an ideal candidate profile for a full-stack engineer. Include must-have skills, helpful background traits (e.g. startup experience), time zone preferences, and cultural fit notes for async collaboration."
Why it works: Don’t source until you know what you’re actually looking for. This prompt helps you create a sourcing brief you can hand to your recruiter—or plug directly into Braintrust’s marketplace.
Prompt: "Analyze this talent profile and identify 3 potential red flags and 3 strengths based on the resume and portfolio: [paste profile or summary]."
Why it works: This helps you think more critically about signals in freelance profiles. While AI can’t replace human judgment, it can act like a smart second opinion—especially when you're scanning multiple candidates quickly.
You can copy these prompts into ChatGPT or your favorite AI assistant—but if you’d rather skip the searching, vetting, and back-and-forth, Braintrust can help.
We’ve already matched top tech and design talent with companies like Nestlé, Porsche, and TaskRabbit—and we can help you too.
📍 Global reach. Vetted candidates. Results in days, not weeks.