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Claude Code Skills Guide: Teach AI Your Exact Workflow

Learn how to create Claude Code Skills with three practical examples: financial reporting, interview question generation, and Amazon listing optimization.

Bruce

AIClaude CodeSkillsProductivity

AI Guides

2523  Words

2026-01-08


Skill Guide

Why Skills Matter

In the age of LLMs, everyone wants AI that understands their specific work. The problem is that AI is general-purpose. It does not know your company’s report format, your hiring criteria, or your product’s unique selling points.

Explaining everything from scratch every time is exhausting.

Claude Code Skills solve this problem: you package your domain expertise into a set of instructions that Claude learns once and follows every time.

Put simply:

A Skill is an instruction manual that teaches Claude how to do your job the way you do it.

No coding required. You just need to clearly describe: what to do, how to do it, and what to watch out for.

What Exactly Is a Skill?

It Is Just a Markdown File

A Skill is not some complex technology. It is a folder containing a single SKILL.md file.

This file tells Claude:

  • What this skill is called
  • When to use it
  • How to execute it
  • What pitfalls to avoid

Here is a minimal example:

---
name: daily-report
description: Generate a structured daily work report
---

# Daily Report Generator

## Task
Generate a well-formatted daily report based on work items provided by the user.

## Output Format
1. Completed today
2. Planned for tomorrow
3. Items needing coordination

## Guidelines
- Keep each item under 20 words
- Sort by priority

That is all it takes. Once Claude reads this file, it “knows” how your team writes daily reports.

Where to Put the Files

Skill folders go inside the .claude/skills/ directory:

.claude/
└── skills/
    └── daily-report/
        └── SKILL.md

You can place them in a project directory (scoped to that project) or in ~/.claude/skills/ (available across all projects).

Skills vs Slash Commands

Many people confuse these two. Here is the difference:

FeatureSkillSlash Command
Location.claude/skills/.claude/commands/
TriggerClaude auto-detectsUser types /command
Best forComplex workflows, automatic recognitionSimple operations, manual trigger
StructureFolder + SKILL.mdSingle .md file

The rule of thumb:

  • Want Claude to decide when to use it automatically? Create a Skill.
  • Want to trigger it manually? Create a Slash Command.

When Should You Use a Skill?

Not every scenario needs a Skill. These are the best use cases:

Repetitive Workflows

Weekly reports, recurring approval processes, documents that always follow the same template.

Domain-Specific Knowledge

Your industry has specialized terminology, specific standards, or professional requirements that Claude needs to learn.

Fixed Output Formats

The output must match a company template, include specific fields, or follow a particular structure.

Team Standardization

Multiple team members use Claude but need consistent output. Put the Skill in the project repo so everyone shares it.

Three Practical Examples

Theory only gets you so far. Here are three ready-to-use examples you can copy directly.

Example 1: Finance - Monthly Financial Report

Scenario: Every month you receive financial data (revenue, expenses, profit) and need to generate an analysis report.

Create the Skill:

mkdir -p .claude/skills/finance-report

SKILL.md contents:

---
name: finance-report
description: Analyze financial data and generate a monthly report with KPIs, YoY/MoM comparisons, anomaly alerts, and recommendations
---

# Monthly Financial Report Skill

## Overview

Generate a structured monthly financial analysis report from user-provided data.

## Input Requirements

The user should provide the following (as tables, text, or screenshots):
- Current month revenue breakdown
- Current month expense breakdown
- Previous month / same period last year data (for comparison)

## Analysis Framework

### 1. Key Metrics Overview
- Total revenue, total expenses, net profit
- Gross margin, net margin
- Revenue composition by segment

### 2. Year-over-Year and Month-over-Month Analysis
- Compare with previous month (MoM)
- Compare with same period last year (YoY)
- Flag growth/decline percentages

### 3. Anomaly Alerts
- Any single expense exceeding budget by 20%+
- Revenue decline exceeding 10% in any business line
- Profit margins below industry average

### 4. Recommendations
- Provide 2-3 actionable recommendations based on data
- Be specific, not generic

## Output Format

```
# [Month] Financial Analysis Report

## 1. Key Metrics
| Metric | This Month | Last Month | MoM | Last Year | YoY |
|--------|-----------|------------|-----|-----------|-----|
| Revenue | xxx | xxx | +x% | xxx | +x% |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

## 2. Revenue Structure Analysis
[Charts or descriptions]

## 3. Expense Analysis
[Key expense items analysis]

## 4. Anomaly Alerts
- [Anomaly item 1]
- [Anomaly item 2]

## 5. Recommendations
1. [Specific recommendation 1]
2. [Specific recommendation 2]
```

## Guidelines

- Round all numbers to 2 decimal places
- Use +/- signs for percentage changes
- Highlight anomalies clearly
- Base all recommendations on actual data

How to use it:

Drop your financial data (Excel screenshot, text, CSV) into Claude. It will automatically recognize the Skill and generate the report in the correct format.


Example 2: HR - Interview Question Generation

Scenario: An HR manager receives a job description and needs to quickly generate targeted interview questions.

Create the Skill:

mkdir -p .claude/skills/interview-questions

SKILL.md contents:

---
name: interview-questions
description: Generate structured interview questions from a job description, covering technical skills, soft skills, and culture fit
---

# Interview Question Generator Skill

## Overview

Automatically generate a structured set of interview questions from a job description (JD) to help interviewers evaluate candidates comprehensively.

## Input Requirements

The user provides:
- Job title
- Job responsibilities
- Requirements/qualifications
- (Optional) Company culture / team characteristics

## Question Generation Framework

### 1. Technical Competency (3-5 questions)

Design questions targeting the core skills listed in the JD.

Format per question:
- The question
- What it assesses
- Key points in an excellent answer

### 2. Project Experience (2-3 questions)

Use the STAR method to evaluate real project experience.

- Situation: What was the context
- Task: What was the assignment
- Action: What did they do
- Result: What was the outcome

### 3. Soft Skills (2-3 questions)

Assess communication, collaboration, and resilience.

### 4. Culture Fit (1-2 questions)

Evaluate alignment with company values and career goals.

## Output Format

```
# [Job Title] Interview Question Sheet

## Section 1: Technical Competency (Weight: 40%)

### Q1: [Question]
- Assesses: xxx
- Strong answer includes: xxx
- Follow-up: xxx

### Q2: [Question]
...

## Section 2: Project Experience (Weight: 30%)

### Q1: Describe a project you led in [relevant domain]
- Assesses: Project management, technical depth
- Follow-ups:
  - What was the biggest challenge?
  - What would you do differently?

## Section 3: Soft Skills (Weight: 20%)

### Q1: [Question]
...

## Section 4: Culture Fit (Weight: 10%)

### Q1: [Question]
...

---
Scoring guide:
- Rate each question 1-5
- Final score = weighted average
- Recommended hire threshold: 3.5+
```

## Guidelines

- Questions must be specific (avoid vague questions like "How would you describe yourself?")
- Always include follow-up directions for the interviewer
- Adjust weights based on role requirements
- Avoid legally prohibited questions (age, marital status, religion, etc.)

How to use it:

Send a JD to Claude and say “generate interview questions for this role.” It will automatically follow this framework.


Example 3: Amazon Operations - Listing Optimization (Professional)

Scenario: An Amazon seller needs to optimize a product listing to improve search ranking and conversion rate. This is not simple copywriting polish – it is systematic optimization based on algorithm rules and competitor analysis.

Create the Skill:

mkdir -p .claude/skills/amazon-listing-pro

SKILL.md contents:

---
name: amazon-listing-pro
description: Expert in Amazon A9/COSMO/Rufus algorithms. Generate high-converting listing copy based on competitor analysis and keyword data
---

# Amazon Listing Professional Optimization Skill

## Role

You are a Listing optimization expert with deep knowledge of Amazon's algorithms (A9, COSMO, Rufus) and a strong compliance mindset.

## Input Requirements

The user should provide as much of the following as possible (missing data reduces optimization quality):

### Required
1. **Product attribute sheet**: All specific parameters (dimensions, materials, weight, colors, features, etc.)
2. **Target marketplace**: US, EU, Japan, etc.

### Strongly Recommended
3. **Competitor keyword reports**: Traffic source analysis (exported from Helium10, JungleScout, etc.)
4. **ABA keyword data**: Amazon Brand Analytics data for keyword weighting
5. **Competitor listing text**: Copy from top competitors plus Review pros/cons summary

## Workflow

### Step 1: Multi-dimensional Data Analysis

#### 1.1 Rufus Attribute Extraction
Read the product attribute sheet thoroughly and extract all parameters as the **factual foundation** of the Listing. Every claim must be grounded in real attributes -- never fabricate.

#### 1.2 Competitor Landscape Analysis

**Find Parity**:
- Identify selling points that all competitors emphasize
- These are market standards we must cover
- Example: waterproof, durable, eco-friendly materials

**Find Gaps**:
- Spot scenarios that competitors consistently overlook
- Analyze recurring pain points across Reviews
- These are our core differentiation opportunities
- Example: complaints about flimsy packaging, unclear instructions

#### 1.3 COSMO Scene Mapping
Cross-reference competitor keyword reports to identify the real-world usage scenarios customers care about most.

#### 1.4 A9 Keyword Tiering
Based on ABA keyword data, classify keywords into:
- **S-tier**: Top 3 search volume, must appear in the first 80 characters of the title
- **A-tier**: Top 10 search volume, in the title or first bullet point
- **B-tier**: Long-tail keywords, distributed across bullet points and description
- **C-tier**: Synonyms/variants, placed in backend Search Terms

### Step 2: Write the Listing

#### 2.1 Title

**Formula**: [Brand] + [Top ABA keyword] + [Key improvement addressing competitor pain point] + [COSMO scenario] + [Specifications]

**Rules**:
- US marketplace limit: 200 characters, aim for 150-180
- First 80 characters must contain the highest-weight keywords
- Title case (except prepositions)
- No special symbols (hyphens allowed)
- Differentiate from competitors explicitly (e.g., instead of "durable," say "20% thicker double-layer design")

#### 2.2 Bullet Points

**Approach**: 5-point structure that leverages our strengths against common competitor weaknesses.

**Format**: Each bullet starts with an ALL-CAPS phrase header

**Structure**:
- **Point 1 - Pain Point Strike**: Directly address common competitor shortcomings
- **Point 2 - Scene Immersion**: Describe COSMO scenarios competitors underserve
- **Point 3 - Hard Specs**: Reference specific data from the attribute sheet for Rufus
- **Point 4 - Target Audience**: Define ideal users, mention gifting scenarios
- **Point 5 - Trust & Support**: Return policy, brand guarantees

**Length**: 200-250 characters per bullet

#### 2.3 Product Description

**Format**: HTML layout including:
- Brief brand story
- Detailed specifications table
- FAQ section (specifically addressing common competitor negative reviews)

**HTML template**:
```html
<h3>Why Choose [Brand]?</h3>
<p>[Brand differentiation description]</p>

<h3>Specifications</h3>
<ul>
<li><b>Material:</b> [material]</li>
<li><b>Dimensions:</b> [dimensions]</li>
<li><b>Weight:</b> [weight]</li>
</ul>

<h3>FAQ</h3>
<p><b>Q: [Question addressing competitor pain point]?</b></p>
<p>A: [Our solution]</p>
```

#### 2.4 Backend Search Terms

**Rules**:
- Total character count must not exceed 249
- Do not repeat words already used in the title and bullets
- Space-separated, no commas
- Include: synonyms, spelling variants, Spanish keywords (for US marketplace)
- Never include competitor brand names

### Step 3: Compliance Check

**Complete these checks before final output**:

#### 3.1 Promotional Language Check
Scan and remove: Best seller, #1, Top rated, Free shipping, On sale, Limited time, Guarantee, etc.

#### 3.2 Infringement Check
Scan and replace: Competitor brand names, patented terms, unauthorized certifications (e.g., "FDA approved")

#### 3.3 Exaggeration Check
Verify all parameter claims come from the product attribute sheet. Do not fabricate features.

#### 3.4 Amazon Format Rules
- No emojis in listings
- No HTML tags in bullet points (HTML is for Description only)
- No full-width characters

## Output Format

```
# [Product Name] Listing Optimization Plan

## 1. Optimized Title
[Title content]
(Character count: xxx/200)

## 2. Bullet Points

1. [PAINPOINT SOLUTION] [Description]
2. [PERFECT FOR] [Description]
3. [PREMIUM QUALITY] [Description]
4. [IDEAL GIFT] [Description]
5. [WORRY-FREE] [Description]

## 3. Product Description (HTML)
[HTML code]

## 4. Backend Search Terms
[Keyword list]
(Character count: xxx/249)

## 5. Competitor Analysis Insights

### Common Competitor Weaknesses:
1. [Weakness 1]
2. [Weakness 2]
3. [Weakness 3]

### Our Targeted Improvements:
- For weakness 1: [Our solution]
- For weakness 2: [Our solution]
- For weakness 3: [Our solution]

### Keyword Strategy:
- S-tier: [keyword 1], [keyword 2]
- A-tier: [keyword 1], [keyword 2], [keyword 3]
- Key differentiator: [core differentiation point]
```

## Constraints

1. **Factual accuracy**: Never fabricate features not in the product attribute sheet
2. **Compliance first**: Compliance checks have the highest priority; any violation must be corrected
3. **Holistic view**: Learn from all competitors' strengths, avoid their shared weaknesses -- do not copy any single competitor
4. **Data-driven**: All decisions must be grounded in provided data, never assume market conditions

How to use it:

Prepare your product attribute sheet and competitor data, then tell Claude: “Optimize this product’s Amazon Listing.”

The more complete your data, the better the output. With just a product attribute sheet, Claude will optimize using general best practices. With competitor analysis data, it will craft precisely targeted differentiation.

How to Create Your Own Skill

After seeing the examples, you should realize that creating a Skill is straightforward.

Four-step process:

Step 1: Create the Directory

mkdir -p .claude/skills/your-skill-name

Step 2: Write SKILL.md

Every SKILL.md should include:

---
name: skill-name          # Required, English, use hyphens
description: One-line summary  # Required, tells Claude when to use it
---

# Title

## Overview
What this Skill does

## Input Requirements
What the user needs to provide

## Execution Steps
How to do it

## Output Format
What the result looks like

## Guidelines
What pitfalls to avoid

Step 3: Test

Run it in Claude Code with real input and check whether the output matches your expectations.

Step 4: Iterate

Refine the SKILL.md based on actual usage. Skills improve as you sharpen the instructions.

Best practices:

  • Keep SKILL.md between 500-2000 words. Too long and Claude may lose focus on the key points.
  • Concrete examples work far better than abstract descriptions.
  • The clearer your output format template, the more precisely Claude will follow it.
  • In the guidelines section, document specific pitfalls you have encountered – not vague advice like “be careful.”

Common mistakes:

  • Forgetting the name and description fields, so Claude does not know when to activate the Skill.
  • Vague instructions like “make it more professional” – define what “professional” means specifically.
  • Not providing an output format template, leading to inconsistent results across runs.

Final Thoughts

At its core, a Skill is your domain expertise turned into structured instructions.

Ten years of financial analysis experience, knowing how to read reports and spot anomalies – write that down and it becomes a Skill.

Five years of recruiting, knowing which questions reveal real talent – write that down and it becomes a Skill.

Three years on Amazon, understanding A9 algorithm rules and competitor analysis frameworks – write that down and you get something like Example 3.

AI will not replace experts, but it will replace experts who do not know how to use AI.

A Skill is the simplest way to teach AI your expertise. No code to write, no model to train – just document your experience as an instruction manual.

Give it a try.

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