Your First AI Hire…

You’ve heard the hype about AI, and you’ve probably tried it. You asked it to write an email or a social media post, and the result was… fine. A little generic, a little clumsy. It felt less like a brilliant partner and more like a slightly clueless intern—powerful in theory, but exhausting to manage in practice.

What if I told you the problem isn’t the intern, but the lack of a proper onboarding process?

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get incredible value from AI. You just need to learn how to be a good manager. The most powerful and underutilized tool for this is creating a Custom GPT—a version of ChatGPT that you have personally trained to be your perfect digital assistant.

Here’s how to hire and train your first AI employee, step-by-step.

Step 1: Write the Job Description (Using Custom Instructions)

You wouldn’t hire a person without a job description. Don’t do it with your AI. In ChatGPT, the Custom Instructions section is where you define your AI’s core role and personality. This is the most important step.

• Who are you?
• What is your business?
• What is your tone of voice (e.g., “warm and empathetic,” “witty and direct”)?
• Who is your target audience?
• What are the key rules it should always follow (e.g., “never use corporate jargon,” “always end emails with a question”)?

Example Job Description: “You are an expert copywriter for a small, farm-to-table restaurant. Your tone is rustic, warm, and community-focused. You are writing for local families who value quality ingredients. Your goal is to make them feel hungry and welcomed.”

Step 2: The Onboarding (Uploading Knowledge)

Your new hire can’t read your mind. You need to give them the company handbook. A Custom GPT allows you to upload Knowledge files. This is where you provide the essential context for your business.

• Your company’s style guide
• Examples of past marketing emails you loved
• Your product list with descriptions