Building My first GPT app
If you go to social media nowadays, everyone is discussing how Chat GPT has been and will continue to disrupt how we interact with technology. I’ve been utilizing this technology for over 6 months now, primarily for tasks such as email writing, grammar checking, and occasionally generating marketing ideas. However, things took a thrilling turn when I developed a nifty little tool called Job Letter. It’s not just about what the tool does, but also about how I developed it.
In the past, I relied on engineers for development, data scientists for tracking and analyzing data, and designers for a visual layout while working as a product manager in large companies with established teams. After I leveraged ChatGPT not only as a user but also as a builder, I can see the potential for it to revolutionize the way we work, create, and innovate. With ChatGPT’s assistance, I feel like Iron Man — a fusion of human and machine. I am much more capable than ever before. Now, I have the confidence to take on tasks beyond my usual scope because I know ChatGPT has my back and can save me from the tedious barriers of different domains, which allows me to focus solely on what truly matters.
The story begins with my job search journey, which was quite challenging after completing my master’s degree at CMU. Coincidentally, it was during this time that ChatGPT caught the public’s attention. Throughout my job hunt, I encountered various pain points that inspired my product management mindset to find solutions. After getting more interviews by networking and sending cold messages on LinkedIn, I realized that breaking the ice with key decision-makers could be a game-changer in the job search process. But being a non-native speaker, I found it time-consuming to craft professional yet heartfelt sentences that could effectively initiate conversations with recruiters and hiring managers. Therefore, I wanted to simplify this process.
Yes, yes, I turned to ChatGPT for help, how surprising. After a few things, I noticed that I was spending more time crafting prompts and typing sentences for a simple outreach message. This is precisely the issue with chat-based interactions — they require more effort compared to typing keywords in a Google search bar or using filters on shopping websites. Lazy as me, I want to automate everything.
While the functionality was in place, I understood the importance of a seamless user experience. I dedicated additional time to UI design and iteration, ensuring the app was intuitive and visually appealing. The goal was to create an interface that users would find engaging and easy to navigate.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Job Letter app is the integration of ChatGPT. This powerful language model guided me in writing the code and enabled me to quickly develop new features. With ChatGPT as my virtual co-pilot, I felt empowered as a product manager. I no longer had to rely solely on engineers to implement features or solve problems. This level of independence and agility allowed me to iterate rapidly and implement my own ideas in a short period of time.
To gain insights into user behavior and enhance the app’s performance, I integrated Mixpanel for comprehensive analytics. This tracking tool provided valuable data on user engagement, conversion rates, and feature usage. The insights gained from Mixpanel allowed me to make informed decisions for future iterations and improvements.
Building the Job Letter app has been an exhilarating journey, showcasing the power of React.js, Heroku, and ChatGPT in empowering product managers. Through this project, I’ve experienced firsthand the benefits of having the ability to write code and bring my own product ideas to life. The combination of technical skills and product management expertise has made me stronger than ever before.
