AI in the Job Search

AI can optimize your internship or job search when used intentionally and ethically.

According to Business Insider, applicants who use AI in an assistive manner to check for spelling, grammatical errors, and word usage are 8% more likely to get hired.
Using AI as a tool to enhance your work can be extremely helpful but avoid using AI to create your resume from scratch!

Once you've checked out the guidance below, schedule an appointment with the CCD team for personalized resume-writing assistance.

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Proper Use of AI

Proofreading is more critical than ever before.

AI is a highly advanced but imperfect technology. Errors will still occur and can easily be corrected by proofreading before your final submission.

Fill or omit any "{Job Title}, {Company Name}, etc." boxes before you submit your work.

Accidentally leaving a prompt is the quickest way to show the reader that you used a template or AI to write your resume/letter.
Blaming an error or inaccuracy in your content on AI is not a valid excuse.

Maintain the human element of your content.

Hiring managers do not want to see how well you can use AI; they want to know you and see if you are a good fit for the role.

Ensure that your application materials demonstrate a passion for the job and the company.

Interviewers might use content from your resume or cover letter to guide your interview; make sure that you are prepared to talk about anything that you have on your application materials!

Ensure truthfulness in your materials.

AI does not know you and may include inaccurate statements or competencies in your resume or cover letter. Always double-check to ensure you are not submitting an application containing false information.

The Power of Prompt Engineering

Use specific commands or prompts.

Communicate with the machine more thoroughly than you would a human.
Provide a general word or sentence count.
Provide the context/tone/situation.

Example: “Revise this resume to place a greater emphasis on the connection between my time at "X" company and the demands of this job posting {Job Posting}.”

Examples:

Acceptable

“Turn this paragraph about my internship experience into a bulleted list of skills for my resume.”

Not acceptable:

“Write a resume for a college student applying for their first job in human resources."

Acceptable

“Revise this cover letter to include experiences and skills in fewer than 300 words. Elaborate on how my experience matches the requirements outlined in the job description {Job Posting}.”

Not acceptable:

“Write a perfect cover letter for this job description.”

Optimizing AI Output

AI is imperfect and may require multiple revisions to achieve the desired output. Provide all relevant information for creating content from scratch.

If you're not getting quality results or output, you likely need to input more specific commands. Here are several solutions to unsatisfactory chat outputs:

“Revise to shorten this paragraph to 300 words.”
“Revise to place more emphasis on ______.”
“Edit to contain more information about _____.”

Enhance your results by inputting revision or edit commands without starting a new chat or modifying your original input.
Business Insider offers the following tips to effectively communicate with AI:

Use a thesaurus to produce more precise commands/improve wording.
Use phrases such as “condense this” rather than “make this paragraph shorter.”
Provide intent, goal, and context of the content to be created.
Using a ranking or percentage system for skills can be an effective way to help AI prioritize the skills that you place the most significant weight on in its response.
Ask AI what information it needs to effectively carry out the task you are giving it.
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-write-better-ai-chatgpt-prompts-according-prompt-engineer-2023-3

Example:

“What information do you need from me to write a resume?”
“What information do you need from me to help me write a good cover letter?”
https://www.springboard.com/blog/news/how-to-use-ai-in-your-job-search/

Leveraging Third-Party Resume-Writing Tools

Companies, such as JobScan, utilize AI to help you tailor your resume to specific job opportunities.

Understand the Benefits: Resume scanners are powerful tools for creating an outstanding resume. Before using them, be aware of certain factors.
Start with a Generalized Resume: Complete a comprehensive resume that includes all your experiences. It's crucial for crafting a competitive resume, despite requiring time and effort.
Ensure Inclusion and Accuracy: Verify that your resume includes relevant experiences and accurate information and adheres to the 1-page limit.
Review and Refine: Thoroughly proofread your resume, making grammatical and structural changes. Aim for a confident presentation to potential employers.
Tailor and Perfect: Customize your resume for specific job opportunities. Platforms like JobScan can assist, but be mindful of potential charges after a certain number of submissions.
Utilize the Platform: Upload your resume and job description to start a free trial. Consider feedback and make necessary corrections.
Review and Make Final Adjustments: Ensure your resume is in great shape. Address remaining errors and make further adjustments before re-uploading.
Perform a Final Proofread: Carefully proofread the document after submitting it through the program again to ensure accuracy.
Additional Optimization: Some sites optimize LinkedIn pages or cover letters. Follow submission guidelines for a complete and refined product.

Note: Follow the specific guidelines and instructions provided by the resume-scanning AI tools you choose to use.

AI in Interview Prep

Use AI to generate practice interview questions tailored to the job posting and your expectations. These questions may not be exact, but they prompt you to think about relevant experiences and skills for the interview.

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