Maximize Your Job Search Efficiency with AI

I’ve never met anyone who enjoys job searching. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) powered tools can make the job search process more efficient and effective by helping job seekers find relevant job openings, optimize their resumes, prepare for interviews, and research companies.

If you’re feeling a little intimidated or confused about how AI can help, don’t worry–I’ll show you how to get started. Since I’m not an AI expert, you know this must be easy… or at least easier than your typical job search.

I first wrote about using AI in your job search last year. Since then, I’ve expanded on many of the topics from that blog to go deeper, so be sure to check out my articles Revamp Your Resume to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems with Smart AI and Unlocking the Power of LinkedIn: Optimizing Your Profile for Career Success.

Below are more ways to integrate AI into your job search to free up your energy for higher-value activities, like networking and having conversations with real people.

Reminder: Don’t forget to use caution by never giving any AI tool your confidential information.

Quick AI Overview – From a Non-technical Non-expert

AI functions like a digital brain, learning from examples rather than adhering to strict rules. It identifies patterns and uses these insights to make predictions or decisions. The essence of AI isn’t about memorizing facts but rather about developing approaches to problems based on its accumulated examples. AI can significantly aid in writing by offering suggestions, identifying errors, and generating content through recognized patterns. The effectiveness of AI’s ‘thinking’ largely depends on how you frame your prompts. I’ll share the strategies I’ve used for different scenarios, but experimenting with prompt structures is key to obtaining the most relevant responses for your needs.

Crafting the Cover Letter with AI

You may be wondering: Do I really need a cover letter? Not sure? While some hiring managers never read cover letters, others use them to help fill in the gaps left by the resume. You may choose not to the spend the time, because they do take time, but I think that is basically leaving something to chance. In the current job search market, you need to use every opportunity to humanize the process. A cover letter is a great opportunity to tell your story and highlight achievements. You want to do whatever you can to be noticed (in a good way).

AI can optimize and streamline the process. I use ChatGPt, but it’s not the only AI tool available–use your favorite. I also use the paid version, ChatGPT-4 (as of this writing $20 per month) which is worth the investment if you’ll be doing a lot of writing. You can always unsubscribe later.

You’ll need your optimized resume, the job description from the company, as well as any details you want to highlight. By feeding these to AI, it can generate a cover letter that highlights your relevant experiences and incorporates crucial keywords for passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), increasing the likelihood of your application being noticed by both AI and human eyes.

Below is an example of the prompt to use in ChatGPT-4. Use this prompt and remember to customize it by replacing ALL CAPS.

Assume you are a recruiter for [DEPARTMENT/GROUP NAME] at [COMPANY NAME]. I will provide a copy of the job description at the company and a copy of my resume.

Please read each of the attached files.

Then write a cover letter that optimizes keywords and key phrases found in the job description with similar keywords and phrases in my resume. Your response will optimize the cover letter to appear as a top search result in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).(OPTIONAL) I also want to highlight these areas of my resume [EXPLAIN DETAILS HERE].

Attached are the following files:

– [JOB POSTING FILE NAME]: This contains the text of the job description at the company.  

– [RESUME FILE NAME]: This contains a copy of my resume.

Don’t simply accept the AI’s draft. It’s important to ensure it reflects your voice, story, and passion for the role. Remember, the cover letter is not just a list of skills–it’s your narrative, your story.

Another tip is to ask AI to write several versions of the cover letter, then merge the sentences you like into your most authentic version. Use this letter as a template, leaving some paragraphs to customize depending on the company and role.

Job Posting Alerts

Creating a Google alert is one of the best ways to get an alert of a job posting from anywhere on the web, eliminating the need to consistently check job boards or company websites. Here are the basic steps:

• From your Google account, go to Google Alerts.
• Enter the job title with the word “jobs” at the end. You can set up alerts for each variation of job title in which you may be interested.
• To filter for relevance, under “Show Options” be sure the source is from web pages and then select your preferred language and region. To filter further, under “How many,” select “Only the best results.”

If you receive too many alerts, you can refine the alert by industry or be more specific in your job title. If you know you want to work for a specific company, include that company’s name with the job title and “jobs.” 

Interview Preparation

Interview Warmup (from Google): This tool is specifically for more technical roles (IT, UX Design, Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, etc.), but there is a “General” option that allows you to practice. It simulates a real interview and gives you personalized feedback based on your responses, helping you identify areas for improvement. By practicing with these tools, you’ll feel more confident and prepared for those higher-stakes real interviews.

ChatGPT – Turned into a job interview trainer: Start by training ChatGPT on your resume. You can use this prompt:

As ChatGPT, you’ll be participating in an interview simulation for the position of [TITLE] at [COMPANY NAME]. I’ll provide your resume. Following that, you’ll receive interview questions along with guidelines on how to respond.

Copy/Paste Resume into on ChatGPT. Then use this new prompt:

The focus of this interview will be on your soft skills. When answering questions be clear and concise, be clear and concise, using everyday language. Create convincing responses that an interviewer would appreciate. Ensure your answers align with the experiences mentioned in your resume.

Then ask ChatGPT the interview questions you may encounter and it will generate great responses to any question. Be sure to modify the responses so they feel authentic to you before using. Save the chat history as it will build on itself, allowing you to go deeper, similar to a real interview. Just remember, the output is only as good as the prompts you provide or questions you ask.

AI Notetaking – Improve Your Responses

• Otter.ai
• Fathom

You’ll be asked the same questions repeatedly, especially in HR interviews. With AI notetaking, you can transcribe meetings and create a document with responses to interview questions. Having a document open with “Answers to Hard Interview Questions” as a quick reference is very helpful, especially for online interviews.

During job interviews, the structure of your answers is as important as the content of your answers. The only way to improve this is by practicing. With these tools, you can review questions and responses, enabling you to refine and better structure your answers. Write down your answers, then use ChatGPT to improve them and structure them in a way that is easier to understand!

AI Biases

While AI offers significant benefits in the job search process, keep in mind there are also some limitations, especially on the ATS (company) side. AI algorithms can be biased, leading to unfair hiring practices. If you’re not getting calls for interviews and feel like your resume is going into a black hole, this is not uncommon. Don’t rely solely on applying online for a new job; networking and building relationships  is still your best tool for finding your dream job.

If you need a real-life person to help you clarify your goals, optimize your job search, and network intentionally, I’m here for you.