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With the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), it may be tempting to use this burgeoning technology to power your job search. While experts say popular tools like ChatGPT, Bing AI, and Gemini (formerly Bard) can help you with your applications for new positions, there are certain tasks they are better suited for than others.
Evidence suggests that the use of these tools to help with tasks — like putting together resumes and cover letters or checking that your documents mention keywords in the job description — is becoming more commonplace. A 2023 survey from Resume Builder indicated that 72% of responding job seekers used ChatGPT to write cover letters and 51% used it to write resumes, with a majority noting they received a higher response rate from companies when using it.
These statistics suggest you may be missing out on valuable opportunities if you aren’t using AI. But using AI in the wrong way, too, can be just as damaging to your search, said Lori Shreve Blake, senior director for career engagement at the University of Southern California. Some recruiters and hiring managers have reported that job seekers’ use of AI has caused floods of applications to come in with formulaic versions of resumes and cover letters all seemingly produced by chatbots, she said.
So, if you’re looking for your next role, here are some tips for engaging in an AI-powered job search that will get you noticed by employers in the right way.
Use AI for Idea Generation and Interview Preparation
Many employers utilize applicant tracking systems to filter candidates’ applications based on pertinent skills and eliminate those that do not align with specific keywords in the job description. (And even human reviewers may adopt a similar approach!) AI-powered tools like JobScan can help candidates optimize their resume based on keywords in the job description.
Career seekers can also enter their existing cover letter into a tool like ChatGPT, then prompt it to suggest ways to make the document stronger based on skills needed for the job they are applying for, said Lila Carney, director of career development for the school of communications at Quinnipiac University.
Carney, who advises students on the best way to use AI to land their first jobs or internships, said ChatGPT can also be helpful for providing perspective. She tells students to prompt it for ideas on what kind of content to put in a cover letter or ask it what other types of jobs a graduate with a degree in a certain field could be qualified for.
“I find it’s a really good tool to get the ball rolling on idea generation,” she said.
Any of the popular AI tools can also be used to help candidates prepare for interviews. Users can copy and paste the job description and ask the chatbot to provide interview questions that may come up, and suggested answers. Free AI-powered tools like Prepper can also help, Shreve Blake said.
Don’t Use AI to Mass-Produce Generic Cover Letters and Resumes
While it may be tempting to ask ChatGPT to write your resume and cover letter and use it verbatim for the next job you are applying to, this is not a great idea, Shreve Blake said.
“Job seekers need to be very clear that when they use these platforms, it is ‘C’-level work, really just the bare bones, and they need to go in and add their details and accomplishments,” she said.
While you can copy and paste your resume and a copy of the job description into AI and prompt it to write your cover letter, you need to heavily customize the text it provides back to you by quantifying the impact you have made and adding “what makes you special…what you have done in your career that makes you a rockstar,” Shreve Blake said.
Carney suggested that AI can be a great writing coach, but the key is realizing its limitations. She advises job seekers to opt for quality of applications, over quantity submitted.
“AI really requires some personal restraint,” she said. “– because it’s easy to just copy and paste and then you have this robotic, vanilla voice on your resume, which is the exact opposite of what you want.”
Use Multiple Tools to Optimize the Effectiveness of Your Search
Experts agree that AI should be just one tool of many in the toolbox when conducting a job search. Chatbots can sometimes make mistakes and provide incorrect information, so it is a good idea to proofread closely and run your edited product through an AI-powered tool like Grammarly to further wordsmith your cover letter and resume and ensure there is proper spelling and grammar, Shreve Blake said.
Given that it is generally a very competitive job market right now, “sometimes all it takes is one slip up in a resume or cover letter and a job seeker is eliminated from the candidate pool,” she said.
Rely on Tried-and-True Methods like Networking
With many employers saying they are seeing an increase in applications partly due to the fact that AI can make it easier to apply, experts say it is now more important than ever to remember one of the key tenets of a successful job search: networking.
While some employers may be using AI to help with recruiting and hiring, humans still play an integral role in the hiring process and are the ones making final decisions, Shreve Blake said.
“People open doors for people,” Shreve Blake said. “Eighty percent of jobs come through networking. Make sure you are constantly expanding and building your network of higher education professionals at all levels.”
