Using AI to Write Help Wanted Posts that Actually Work

How to use artificial intelligence to craft emotionally compelling, human-centric job ads that attract the right people.

Recruiting hourly employees is harder than it used to be. Competition is fierce. Attention spans are short. And let’s face it — many job seekers are numb to help wanted ads that all sound the same.

That’s a problem, especially in the restaurant industry, where turnover is high and staffing needs are constant. A help wanted post isn’t just a job listing — it’s a marketing piece. And like any good marketing, its purpose is to make someone feel something. If your post doesn’t spark interest or emotion, you’re just adding to the noise.

One of the best tools I’ve found to craft stronger, more emotionally resonant help wanted ads is artificial intelligence. But not in the way people usually think.

AI: A tool to amplify the human touch

As a management speaker helping restaurant operators and franchise leaders build stronger teams, I often get asked about technology — especially AI. I also teach this in the Hourly Employee Management System (HEMS), a management training platform I developed for managers of hourly workers. What I always emphasize is this: AI isn’t a replacement for the human element. It’s a tool to amplify it.

Used well, AI can help you clarify your message, improve your tone, and express more of your workplace culture in a single job post. The irony is that while AI is artificial, it can actually help you be more authentic — if you use it with intention.

The problem with most help wanted posts

Most restaurant job ads are painfully generic. They’re dry lists of tasks, pay rates, and qualifications — usually written in corporate-speak or copied from a template. There’s no warmth. No personality. No reason for the reader to think, “This feels like the place for me.”

And yet we know that when people choose where to work, they’re not just looking for a paycheck. They’re looking for a vibe. A feeling. A place they can belong.

Just like we write marketing campaigns to emotionally connect with customers, we need to write help wanted posts that emotionally connect with potential employees.

This is where a little classical wisdom comes in.

Use Aristotle’s hiring framework: Logos, Ethos, Pathos

Aristotle taught that the most persuasive messages appeal to three elements of the “Rhetorical Triangle”: Logos (logic), Ethos (credibility), and Pathos (emotion). A strong help wanted post can and should include all three:

• Logos: The facts — job duties, pay, schedule, location. Be clear and specific.
• Ethos: Why you’re a credible and trustworthy employer. Highlight your values, team culture, reputation, or awards.
• Pathos: What the job will feel like. Use language that conveys purpose, belonging, fun, or personal growth.

Most ads stop at Logos. But the most effective ones use all three — and AI can help you balance them.

How to use AI to write better job posts

AI writing tools like ChatGPT are great at taking your ideas and turning them into clear, human-sounding messages. But they’re only as good as the prompt you give them. Here are some useful prompts to get better help wanted copy:

Prompt 1: Make it feel like a commercial

“Write a help wanted post for a fast-casual restaurant that’s looking for energetic, reliable team members. Emphasize our fun, inclusive culture and flexible hours. Make it feel like a commercial that would make a Gen Z job seeker excited to apply.”

This prompt shifts the tone from formal to fun and injects emotion and energy — perfect for platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

Prompt 2: Rewrite this to sound human

“Here’s our current job ad. Rewrite it in a friendly, conversational tone. Make it sound like something an inspiring team leader would say to a friend.”

Sometimes you already have a post that just needs a tone adjustment. This can help soften rigid language and bring out your brand’s personality.

Prompt 3: Use Logos, Ethos, and Pathos

“Write a persuasive help wanted post using Aristotle’s Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. Include clear job details (Logos), a short statement of our company culture and credibility (Ethos), and a sentence or two that makes someone feel good about applying (Pathos).”

This one creates a more structured, complete message — especially useful for job boards or internal hiring platforms. (And yes, the AI will already know about the Rhetorical Triangle and how to use it.)

Prompt 4: Speak directly to the applicant

“Write a help wanted post for someone who wants a job with purpose. Address the reader directly. Make them feel seen. The tone should be welcoming, energetic, and hopeful.”

Speaking to the applicant, instead of about the job, changes the dynamic and helps build immediate emotional connection.

Human eyes still matter

Once AI gives you a draft, your job isn’t done. Use your judgment to review and refine. Ask yourself (and maybe some team members):

• Does this sound like us? If someone applied based on this post, would they be pleasantly surprised — or disappointed?
• Does it make people feel something? Excitement? Pride? Curiosity?
• Would I apply for this job based on this ad?

AI can improve your clarity and polish your tone. But only you can bring the soul.

The tool is only as good as the truth behind it

Here’s the part that matters most: AI can help you express your workplace culture — but it can’t create it. It can’t identify what actually makes your team special or fix a culture that’s not working. If your help wanted post doesn’t reflect the reality of your business, it won’t be effective for long.

There’s no point recruiting people into a job they won’t want to stay in. Humans want to work somewhere that feels good — where they’re valued, supported, and seen. Technology will never replace that.

But if you’ve created that kind of workplace — and many restaurants have — AI can help you articulate it better. It can help you translate your culture into words that connect, so the right people see it and feel drawn to it.

Final thought

A help wanted post is your first impression. It’s the moment someone decides whether they can picture themselves as part of your team. If it’s stale or generic, you’ve lost them. But if it’s emotionally engaging, specific, and real, you’ve just taken the first step in building a better team.

So yes, use AI. Play with prompts. Rewrite, reshape, and refine. But don’t forget that the best job ads are still written with the heart in mind — even if the keyboard gets a little help from a machine.

Let the tech be a tool. Let the humanity be your edge.

This article originally appeared here, in Nation’s Restaurant News.