> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sterndesk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect to ChatGPT

> Connect Sterndesk Recruit to ChatGPT using the Sterndesk MCP server.

Once connected, ChatGPT can use Sterndesk Recruit tools to retrieve recruitment data directly from your conversations.

## Before you start

You need:

* Access to Sterndesk Recruit.
* Access to **Plugins** in ChatGPT.
* A Sterndesk account with access to the organization you want to use.

Sterndesk Recruit uses **OAuth** to authenticate the MCP connection. You do not need to create or manually enter a Sterndesk API key.

> **Production MCP server:** `https://edge.sterndesk.com/mcp`

***

## 1. Create a custom MCP server

In ChatGPT:

1. Open **Plugins**.
2. Click **Add**.
3. Select **Create custom MCP server**.
4. Enter:
   * **Name:** `Sterndesk: Recruit`
   * **Description:** `Access Sterndesk Recruit data and tools from ChatGPT.`
   * **Connection:** `Server URL`
   * **Server URL:** `https://edge.sterndesk.com/mcp`
   * **Authentication:** `OAuth`
5. Confirm **I understand and want to continue**.
6. Click **Create as a plugin**.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/atsdocs/XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ/images/1234bnkgjfvm.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ&q=85&s=4e1c2a08fe402b776bfc75c8d6ef15c7" alt="1234bnkgjfvm" width="1698" height="978" data-path="images/1234bnkgjfvm.png" />

***

## 2. Authorize Sterndesk Recruit

After creating the plugin, ChatGPT starts the OAuth authorization flow.

Click **Continue to Sterndesk: Recruit**.

You may be asked to:

* Sign in to Sterndesk.
* Select your organization.
* Approve access to Sterndesk Recruit.

After authorization, ChatGPT returns you to the plugin.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/atsdocs/XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ/images/dfg.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ&q=85&s=fabe211f4a33857ea54767cd9baf5ddf" alt="Dfg" width="740" height="665" data-path="images/dfg.png" />

***

## 3. Verify the connected account

Open **Plugins → Personal → Sterndesk: Recruit**.

Under **Connected accounts**, your Sterndesk account should appear as connected.

From this page, click **Try in chat** to start using Sterndesk Recruit.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/atsdocs/XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ/images/ggll.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ&q=85&s=bb52e625a26beac429b8e4894e1e0a03" alt="Ggll" width="946" height="665" data-path="images/ggll.png" />

***

## 4. Test the connection

Start with:

> `Who am I in Sterndesk and which organization am I in?`

ChatGPT should use the Sterndesk Recruit MCP connection and return information about the authenticated Sterndesk user and organization.

We successfully verified this during testing.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/atsdocs/XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ/images/fghj.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XmtkD2H4pwXptCbJ&q=85&s=961f0fad19ade5a7b3b527be471f33d0" alt="Fghj" width="896" height="405" data-path="images/fghj.png" />

*ChatGPT can now retrieve information from the connected Sterndesk Recruit organization.*

***

## Example prompts

Once connected, users can ask ChatGPT to work with Sterndesk Recruit data. For example:

> `Find Chief Officers with tanker experience, page 1, 20 per page.`

> `Show the STCW certificates and sea service of <candidate name>.`

> `Which candidates best match the open <rank> posting?`

The MCP server exposes Sterndesk Recruit tools to ChatGPT, and ChatGPT selects the appropriate tools based on the request.


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