How to use ChatGPT — step by step for professionals over 50

I’ll assume you’ve heard of ChatGPT but haven’t actually used it, or have tried it once and weren’t sure what to do next.

Here’s the complete walkthrough.

Step 1 — Create an account

Go to chat.openai.com on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. Click Sign Up. You’ll need an email address and a password. That’s it.

The free version is what I’d start with. You don’t need to pay anything to get genuine value out of ChatGPT.

Step 2 — Find the message box

Once you’re in, you’ll see a clean interface with a text box at the bottom. This is where you type. There’s nothing else to learn about the interface — it really is that simple.

Step 3 — Type what you need

In plain English. Exactly as you’d say it to a capable colleague.

Here’s your first prompt to try:

“I need to prepare for a meeting with a difficult stakeholder next week. The topic is budget cuts. Help me think through the key points I should make and the objections I’m likely to face.”

Type it in. Hit enter or click the send button. Read what comes back.

Step 4 — Continue the conversation

This is the bit most people miss. ChatGPT is not a search engine — it’s a conversation.

If what comes back isn’t quite right, say so:

• “Make it shorter.”
• “Focus more on the financial arguments.”
• “That third point isn’t right — try again.”

Each reply builds on the last. The more context you give it, the better it gets.

Step 5 — Use it for real work

The fastest way to learn is to use it for something you actually need to do today.

Not a test. Not a practice run. A real email, a real document, a real problem.

That’s when it clicks.

What the free version can do

Quite a lot. Writing, research, analysis, preparation, brainstorming, summarising. The free version uses GPT-4o mini — capable enough for most professional tasks.

ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) gives you GPT-4o, which is more powerful. Worth it if you’re using it heavily every day. Not necessary to start.

What it can’t do

It gets things wrong sometimes — confidently. Always check anything factual before you rely on it.

It doesn’t automatically search the internet in real time (though there’s a browsing feature in the paid version). For current information, use Perplexity instead.

That Clicked covers ChatGPT in depth in Module 2 — along with Copilot, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. The first two lessons are free.

— Anna