Custom prompts
Custom prompts are reusable scenario templates for your account. When a setup’s scenario type is Custom prompt, the one you pick becomes that interview’s scenario instructions.
When they apply
Interview setup has two scenario types. Predefined uses a catalog scenario. Custom prompt replaces that with a prompt you saved — profile, role, job description, resume, and each surface’s base instructions still apply; the prompt only fills the scenario slot.
Create and edit templates from the setup form: Saved custom prompts, or the + control beside it. They live on your account so later setups can reuse them.
What to put in one
Write scenario-specific instructions — not things the setup already carries. Good fits:
- Interviewer persona and question style for this round.
- Output format — STAR, system-design phases, short spoken sentences.
- Time limits and how many follow-ups to expect.
- Constraints unique to this scenario (e.g. “stay under 90 seconds spoken”).
Leave personal profile, job description, resume, Q&A, and support-type base prompts out — those are already layered in. Do not paste a full “You are an AI assistant…” system prompt or a catalog default.
Writing one that works
The Title and Prompt fields have “?” hints with the same authoring tips (and a sample). Two habits matter most:
- Be specific. “Be concise” does little. “Answer in at most four short sentences I can say out loud” does a lot.
- Say what you want, not what you do not. “Lead with the outcome” beats “don’t ramble”.