Excitement around AI built around the release of user-friendly generative AI. The job search industry has seen several tools launch claiming to simplify the search process. So how good are they and what can we really expect from Job Search AI tools?
Best Use Cases for AI
Current AI tools can offer insights into target roles. Type your target title into the search fields and you can find out information about typical scope and associated keywords you will want to incorporate into your resume, LinkedIn profile, networking conversations, and interview answers.
Speaking the language of your target role and industry is crucial to positioning yourself as capable of communicating and influencing within the space.
Generative AI can also be helpful to create initial drafts for your resume, LinkedIn profile, bios, and letters. Think of Generative AI as an intern. It is good at gathering broad information that still needs to be combed through for accuracy and nuance. However, it will introduce errors and false hits, so be prepared to rewrite the drafts and add a great deal of context.
Privacy Concerns
Many privacy concerns arise when using AI. Many AI platforms collect your data, so whatever information you put into the AI is used by the AI company to train the AI. For this reason, don’t feed an AI documents that have private or sensitive information.
Anonymize information prior to entering it into an AI tool. Replace names of people, dates, company names, numbers, and other potentially sensitive information with anonymous names and numbers (e.g. “John Doe,” etc.).
If you don’t know whether a piece of information is sensitive or not, err on the side of anonymizing it, especially when it comes to information about a company.
Reinsert details later when you’re ready to revise and finalize your documents.
Quality Concerns
At this stage, AI does not create high-quality resumes or job search documents. It uses overly generic and vague content, often adding empty phrases that are commonly in use on job search materials, but don’t actually say anything. Remove empty phrases like “results-driven, seasoned professional” or “demonstrated track record of success.”
Generative AI also tends to make up numbers, so carefully review drafts to make sure it accurately reflects your contributions. Remember — you are accountable for anything you put your name on, so it needs to be accurate to the best of your recollection.
Strong job search documents also build familiarity. They should sound like you and contain phrases you can speak to during a networking conversation or interview. For this reason, edit any AI-generated content to sound like your own voice. Rephrase the content in your own words and add specific career stories and wins.
Using AI to Write a Resume
When you use AI to create your resume, anonymize your work history before entering it into an AI tool. You may choose to anonymize and submit several documents to round out your story, including target job listings, personality assessments, bios, and prior versions of your resume. Some find it helpful to use a separate prompt for each section of your resume, so you can refine each section on its own.
AI resume generators often create sparse, generic resumes with a template. If you use an AI resume generator, use it as a starting point. Then update an AI-generated resume based on resume best practices. Single column resumes still tend to outperform column resumes. Use standard section headers, like Experience and Education. Also, consider reformatting the resume to avoid looking like the hundreds of other candidates who have used similar tools.
Edit the content to add your unique experiences and accomplishments and to read in your own voice.
Using AI to Write a LinkedIn Profile
Don’t copy and paste sections of your resume into the corresponding LinkedIn profile sections. As a social media platform, the tone and content of LinkedIn should be different. Readership is far more wide ranging on social media, whereas you control the audience of your resume.
For this reason, your LinkedIn profile should target a more general audience than your resume. If using AI to help shape your LinkedIn profile content, submit anonymized work history to the AI then plan to rework for accuracy, a friendly tone, and concision.
In addition to using AI to create your LinkedIn profile, AI can help you write content to post on LinkedIn. It can help you come up with ideas for posts or write early drafts of posts, which you can then expand and modify with your own thoughts, in your own voice.
Avoid using AI to write comments for other people’s posts, read them and respond yourself.
AI for Interview Prep
AI excels at interview prep, especially video or online interviews. AI can simulate a remote interview, ask practice questions and give feedback on your responses.
Most AI interview prep platforms will allow you to input your own questions or use their pre-prepared questions. Some platforms provide feedback on tone, response time, rate of speech, word choice, and body language. Play back to your answers to assess how you look and sound, as there may be issues the AI missed.
AI Interview prep falls short when it comes to more nuanced feedback on interview responses. Work with a friend, trusted colleague, or coach to get the most out of your experience. AI is not yet well-equipped to help you shape a branding statement, share your value offering, infuse storytelling into your answers, or ask compelling follow-up questions that will help you uncover hiring priorities.
Using AI to Apply for Positions
While it might be tempting to use AI to increase application volume, this approach has proven to be problematic for most job seekers. Most often, this approach results in bloated candidate pools, often with unqualified candidates.
What’s more, hiring authorities can often see the channel through which candidates applied on an ATS or candidate dashboard. If possible, candidates should come through the company’s website, as this indicates the job seeker targeted and researched the company and the role prior to submitting an application.
Networking continues to yield the most favorable job search outcomes. Increase the odds of your application being taken seriously by having someone on the inside recommend or advocate for you.
Conclusion
Job Search AI excels in creating initial drafts, identifying potential keywords, and providing practice interviews. When using AI to supplement your job search activities, expect to devote time to refine and polish AI drafts. AI is not necessary for your job search, but you might find it helps you get unstuck during some of the trickier phases of your search.
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