Utilizing Generative AI in the Employment Process

Tools like ChatGPT or CoPilot can be powerful tools to help you in your job search. However, there are clear limitations to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can lead to it making mistakes or not providing the output you want. 

• Lack of Human Expertise and Judgement. 
• Overreliances on Algorithms, Keywords, and Generic Output.
• Risk of Biased Data.

AI is not a replacement for human experience and intelligence. At least not yet. But by knowing its limitations you can act as the ‘human in the loop’, to oversee its output, check sources, and compliment the output with your unique experience and knowledge. If your first prompt doesn’t get the result you want, provide follow-up prompts with suggestions to help get the tool closer to what you want. It can be used for brainstorming content, creating videos, images, and even to aid you in all aspects of your job search.

Where to Start

1. Utilize the Engineering Career Prep Resource on Canvas to learn more about the career topic or topics you would like to learn more about. For example refer to Module 7 to learn more about interviewing. This will allow you to develop a baseline understanding so you’ll know if you are getting accurate information when using AI tools.
2. Use generative AI tools to further refine and apply the skills you’ve learned.
3. Meet with an Engineering Career Services Advisor and utilize their human expertise to further assist you. You can meet with a career advisor at any point or even multiple times in the process.
4. Repeat the process as many times as needed to update or improve your skills and materials. For example it’s a good practice to regularly update your resume. When you make an update or revision, make the update on your own then ask AI for feedback or ideas.

Dive Deeper

AI has broad applications for the employment process, but for this resource, we’ll focus on utilizing it on your Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview skills. If you have a question about another part of the employment process, chat with a career advisor, and we’ll be happy to help.

Resumes

It takes time and effort to build an effective resume and tailor it as much as possible to each position. But doing so can have a big impact on your chances to land the career opportunity you are pursuing. Utilizing AI can help with crafting bullet points, determining which skills to highlight, or brainstorming skills you’ve used that you didn’t realize you did.  

Consider Using the Following Prompts 

• Make this bullet point more concise. [paste bullet point]. 
• Optimize my resume for a [job title] role. 
• Using the resume and job description below, what are five relevant skills I should highlight. [paste job description].
• Craft 3 bullet points for a [job title] that highlights [specific skills].

Cover Letters

Effective cover letters take the skills the employer is seeking (based on the position description) and compares them to the skills you currently possess. You should take the time to tailor your resume so all skills are included, but you can then add your top skills and strengths into a letter that highlights the strengths you possess from the description. AI can help you by suggesting what skills to highlight, crafting an outline for your letter, or helping you put the letter together paragraph by paragraph. We would encourage you not to use it to write the entire cover letter for you.  

Consider Using the Following Prompts:

• Using the resume and position description below guide me through creating the outline for a cover letter. [paste resume and job description]. 
• Suggest improvements to my cover letter for a [position title] position at [company name] to better emphasize my unique qualifications and how they align with the company’s goals: [paste your existing cover letter here].
• Help me write a cover letter one paragraph at a time. The cover letter will consist of an introduction, body paragraph or body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. Ask me step-by-step questions one at a time to help write the cover letter. Make sure to ask me why I’m interested in the position, how I found it, whether I have talked to [company name] before, and if so when? Ask me to provide the position description, my resume, and the guidelines I want you to use one at a time and not at the same time. For each, ask me if that is everything. 
  • *Copy the guidelines from Module 4 in the Engineering Career Prep Resource on Canvas 

Interviewing

Preparing for interviews can be stressful. Use AI to help you determine which skills you possess and what potential interview questions may be asked.  

Consider Using the Following Prompts: 

• Tell me the top 10 interview questions that may be asked for [from this job description]. 
• What are 3-5 questions I can ask after the interview to learn about the culture of a company. 
• How should I answer a question about _____ based on my experiences [add resume in]. 
• Simulate a mock interview for a [job title] position and provide feedback on responses. 
• I want you to interview me for an X Role at Y Company. Start by asking me questions based on the job description below. Then provide constructive criticism on my answer and ask the next question. 
• Job description: [paste job description]. 
• Generate a list of the 10 most likely interview questions based on the following job description. For each question, generate an answer using the situation, task, action, result format, drawing only from the following resume. 
• Job description: [paste job description]. 
• Resume: [paste resume].

Additional ways to use AI in the Employment Process:

The applications of AI in the employment process can be applied throughout. Some example prompts have been provided below. Once you have an idea of what the output is you want, don’t hesitate to experiment and be innovative with the prompts you use. There are many different ways to get to the output you want. 

Career Exploration and Job Searching

• Generate a list of careers relating to [degree].
• What are the most important skills for a career in [field]? 
• How can I highlight [skill] on my resume in a way that is relevant to [field]? 
• Generate keywords and skills relating to [job title].

Company Research 

• Help me gather information about [company name] to help me prepare for an interview. 
• What are some key facts and recent developments about [company name] that I should know.

The tools listed above are low or no-cost 3rd Party tools not affiliated with Engineering Career Services at Iowa State University. As with any AI tools, follow the advice above to ensure you are receiving accurate and effective information. Be sure not to provide any sensitive or personal information. Email ecs@iastate.edu if you have any comments, concerns, or suggestions to add to the list.