Using AI/ChatGPT for your Search and Application

With the advancement of AI technology, a new era of career development has emerged. AI can be an excellent tool for research, material optimization, and guidance.

General AI Tools: These all have free versions. Scan to the bottom of this post for AI tools with specific job search applications. 

Learning about AI:

  • IBM SkillsBuild has free “AI skills in less than 1 hour” courses
  • LinkedIn Learning is free to all WashU students and offers a lot of AI-learning resources

General Tips for using AI:

  • AI responses are a beginning, not a finished product. It is critical for you to add your own voice and specifics to any materials generated by AI before submitting them for applications. Recipients will be able to tell if you relied too heavily on AI. 
  • Do not use AI if the job description or assignment specifies against it.
  • The quality of the responses you get will depend on the quality and specificity of the prompts you enter. It’s valuable to hone in on your values, interests, skills and abilities before you try to use AI.
  • Don’t stop with the initial answer you get. You can refine questions or build on previous info. For example, after asking about specific job titles and getting a response, you can say “Please rank these roles in order of fit for someone with a background in [x].”
  • Please be aware that you should not input your private information into any AI-based applications. For example, and not limited to just this, try not list your name, telephone number, or email address into the system. 
  • Consider using open AI tools on Incognito Mode for privacy.
  • Each individual is responsible for any content that is produced or published containing AI-generated material.
    • AI tools sometimes “hallucinate,” generating content that can be highly convincing, but inaccurate, misleading, or entirely fabricated.
    • It may contain copyrighted material.
    • All AI-generated content should be reviewed carefully for correctness and cited properly before submission or publication.

Generating effective prompts: 

  • Clarity and Specificity: Be clear and precise in what you’re asking. Avoid ambiguity to ensure the AI understands the context of your request.
  • Focus on the Objective: Clearly define the purpose of the prompt. Whether it’s seeking information, creative content, problem-solving, or generating ideas, align the prompt with your intended outcome.
  • Provide Context: Give relevant background information or context to guide the AI in generating accurate and pertinent responses.
  • Open-Ended Questions: Frame prompts in a way that encourages expansive and diverse responses. Open-ended questions often yield more varied and detailed outputs.
  • Use Keywords: Incorporate specific keywords or phrases that relate to the topic or context to guide the AI in understanding the direction of the response.
  • Be Concise: Keep prompts concise and to the point. Long, convoluted prompts might confuse the AI or dilute the focus of the request.
  • Avoid Leading Language: Try not to steer the AI’s response too much with leading language. Instead, aim for neutrality to allow for a broader range of outputs.
  • Test and Iterate: Experiment with different variations of prompts to see how the AI responds. Fine-tune your prompts based on the quality and relevance of the generated content.
  • Consider Formatting: For specific tasks (like story generation or code writing), structure prompts in a way that aligns with the desired output format.
  • Review AI’s Outputs: Always review and refine your prompts based on the responses generated by the AI. This iterative process helps in crafting more effective prompts over time.

Remember, crafting effective prompts for AI often involves a bit of trial and error. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of the AI system you’re using can also help in tailoring prompts for optimal results.

Sample Career Exploration or Research Prompts:

  • What are 10 specific job titles that would be a good fit for someone with [skills and interests]?
  • I want to work with animals, but not as a veterinarian. What can I do? 
  • Generate a list of organizations in the [city, state] area that specialize in [x].
  • What law firms in [location] have paralegal programs for new graduates?
  • I am a chemistry major but I am not planning to go to medical school. What are some ways for me to gain experience during the summer?
  • Generate ideas for key information to look for on a company’s website, ensuring I can demonstrate a deep understanding of their business and industry.

Sample Networking Prompts:

  • Generate 10 questions I can ask a networking contact in x industry to help me learn more about working as [job title].
  • Generate a LinkedIn connection request in under 300 characters that is personalized to the following profile with a focus on setting up a chat. Here is the profile: [paste profile]

Sample Application Materials Prompts:

  • Highlight the 15 most important skill keywords in this job description: [Paste Description] Which of those keywords are missing from my LinkedIn profile/resume: [Insert profile or resume]?
  • Generate a Linked in summary statement using buzzwords from x industry and accounting for my skills and experience. Here is my resume: [Paste resume]
  • Re-write this email response to make it more clear and concise: [paste email draft]

Sample Interview Prep Prompts: 

  • What do companies look for when interviewing candidates for [Job Title] roles in [Industry]?
  • What are the 10 most common questions organizations ask when interviewing candidates for a job in [Job Title] role?
  • Draft an answer to this question: “[Insert Question]” and tailor the answer to my background and experience. Here is my resume: [Paste Resume]
  • To refine answers that ChatGPT has provided, try: Use more compelling language. Include measurable metrics and outcomes. Make it more relevant to the job description. Please make it shorter with less jargon. 
  • Look for your interviewer on LinkedIn, then click More > Save to PDF. Ask: What are the 3 biggest highlights of this person’s career? Here is their LinkedIn profile: [Paste the PDF contents]
  • Give me a list of 10 questions I can ask an interviewer for a [Job Title] role at [Organization].
  • Please write a post-interview thank you note to [Name]. Mention [things you spoke about] and use a [casual/formal/etc] tone.

AI Tools with Specific Job Search Applications: With the exception of Big Interview (free and available on our web site), we have not used all of these and can’t vouch for effectiveness or cost.

  • Existential: Create personalized career recommendations; good if your unsure about what your dream career is.
  • Resumaker AI: Build a resume; choose between hundreds of customizable templates.
  • Big Interview: Get hands-on practice with mock interviews tailored to your specific major or area of interest. 
  • Cruton: Employers receive automated referrals via their workforce’s network; Both employers and individuals benefit financially from referring quality candidates.
  • Jobhunnt: Your own personalized AI application assistant; This will put together cover letters from your resume in seconds.
  • Job Scan: Optimize your resume with the keywords
  • Careerflow AI: Helps optimize your LinkedIn profile; Has a job tracker to keep your applications in one place.