Using AI In Your Job Search

by Taylor Hobbs

Knowing where to start writing a cover letter or job application can be difficult when there’s a blank page staring back at you.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help get the creative juices flowing.

When creating content, many believe using generative AI, like ChatGPT, is ‘cheating’, but this is not the case – as long as it's done correctly. 

Rather than thinking ‘Should I use AI in my job application?’, ask yourself ‘How can I use AI to improve my job application?’

Many people feel uncomfortable promoting themselves. AI is a tool that can help overcome this difficulty, creating a starting point to build upon. 

AI creates an outline or initial draft of a cover letter in only a few seconds, based on a CV and a specific job description by weaving in a candidate’s relevant experiences in a way that meets the outlined job criteria. You can then personalise this draft, improving it by including your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

You could use AI as a review tool, by prompting it to offer insights on how your writing can be improved. AI can also act as a sounding board, offering tips on how best to prepare for an interview, based on intelligence it has gained from other users.

However, AI can’t do all the heavy lifting for you.

Even though AI can help you break through writer’s block and generate written content from scratch, it shouldn't be used to compile a finished product.

An application or cover letter should reflect your unique voice to help you stand out from other applicants.

Employers want to get a feeling of who you are as a person, not just as a job applicant, which is something AI can’t replicate – it's called ‘artificial’ for a reason.

Graduates turn to AI when they don’t know where else to start in their job hunt. This can backfire because: 

• Without taking the time to personalise and correct the AI-generated suggestions, applicants include inconsistencies and awkward phrasing, which are red flags to hiring managers regarding authenticity and credibility.
• AI tools may also not correctly understand the nuances of a job description leading to applications that poorly align with the specific requirements. 
• AI can only work with what it is presented with. If your CV is not a good reflection of you, and you've prompted the AI to use it to create content, you can understand how your application will be flawed too.

AI is a fantastic tool, it can certainly be leveraged to streamline the recruitment process, but its use must be properly balanced with human intelligence and personal contributions.

• Highlight your personal experiences - don't rely on generic catch-all phrases.
• Include your thoughts, ideas and motivations to convey your individuality and personality.
• Seek recruiters who can help you identify jobs that match your skills and aspirations, improve the job-specific content of your CV, and help you prepare for interview.