Although the tech unemployment rate dipped last month, many tech professionals are still searching for jobs. As anyone who’s been on the job hunt can tell you, it’s an all-consuming task if done right, because you must constantly identify new opportunities, tailor your application to those opportunities, and then undergo a barrage of interviews and (depending on the role) coding tests.
Can generative AI make this process easier?
The short answer is “yes.” However, there’s definitely a wrong approach to using generative AI in your job hunt. For instance, if you use it to produce a generic resume, then send that resume to 100 companies, chances are good you’ll receive relatively few requests to interview in return; given how generative AI creates content, your resume will likely end up reading like every other one out there, and you’ll get lost in the applicant pile.
However, you can use AI-powered tools to speedily craft customized resumes that quickly catch the attention of recruiters. That’s in addition to using AI to analyze job postings and tailor your application accordingly. Let’s break down an “ideal” AI workflow for job applications.
Analyzing Job Postings
Not every job posting is well-written… and you’ll likely stare at a lot of them during your job hunt. Here are some ways to use generative AI to speed up this process; input the job posting into the generative AI tool of your choice and ask it to:
Identify keywords: Carefully review the job description to extract the most relevant keywords and phrases. These should include technical skills, experience requirements, and company-specific terminology.
- Understand the company culture: Gain insights into the company's values, mission, and work environment. This will help you align your resume with their expectations.
This will give you a better idea of whether the company is a fit and how to develop your application.
Build That Resume
You certainly have the option of using a “customized” generative AI resume builder. However, with a little thought, you can also use a generic one (i.e., ChatGPT or Gemini) to deliver solid results. If you’re doing some research into tools, use your time to explore AI-powered resume builders that offer customization features and template libraries.
When it comes time to build your resume, keep the following points in mind:
- Use multiple prompts: You’re going to want to play around with outputs, mix and match sections, and generally use as much material as possible to create your resume.
- You’re going to proofread regardless: Seriously, generative AI gets facts wrong. You’ll need to proofread your resume to make sure all information is correct; don’t just trust the machine.
- Be specific: Be as ultra-specific as possible in your inputs; the output is only as good as the information you give it.
If you already have a resume, even a generic one, you can ask generative AI to tailor the resume to the job description. Here are some potential prompts; you’ll do these one after the other.
Prompt 1: Tailor Your Resume
- Prompt: "Take this [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY] and align my resume to it. [Below, the prompt, copy/paste your current resume along with the job description for the target role]"
Prompt 2: Skill Identification
- Prompt: "Using that job description, show the skills and roles I should emphasize in this new resume. [Then copy/paste your resume from prompt 1 along with the job description.]"
Prompt 3: Tweaking for a New Role
- Prompt: "Rewrite my resume so that I am the ideal candidate for [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your resume and the job description.]"
Prompt 4: Insert Metrics and Adjust Experience
- Prompt: "Add relevant metrics to the experience section that will show how I have succeeded in my past roles [Copy/paste your resume.]"
If you’re starting your resume from scratch, rely on these prompts. Again, flow these one after the other.
Prompt 1: Generate a Resume
- Prompt: "Write a resume for a [JOB TITLE] based on this job description. [Copy/paste the job description from your prospective employer’s website.]"
Prompt 2: Tweaking Your Experience
- Prompt: "Write a tailored resume for this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. Here is my work experience [FILL IN WITH COMPANIES AND ROLES] for the past [X] years. Make sure that each role has 3-5 bullet points explaining what I did [FILL IN WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE] and includes relevant metrics [FILL IN WITH METRICS].
Prompt 3: Augment with Keywords
- Prompt: "Based on this resume, incorporate the five most important keywords from the job description.” [Copy/paste your resume and the job description]
Prompt 4: Add an Objective Section (optional)
- Prompt: "Rewrite this resume with an objective section that’s ideal for [TITLE] role at [COMPANY.].” [Copy/paste resume and job description.]
For each prompt, ensure that the job description is accurately copied and pasted to provide the AI model with the most relevant information. Additionally, you may need to experiment with different prompts or provide more specific instructions to achieve the desired outcome.
Keep in mind that you can ask generative AI to “pump up” weaker parts of your existing resume; for example, you could have the tool “optimize” an experience section to “emphasize metrics-based success.” While you might not feel like you have a lot of time during your job hunt, it’s sometimes worth playing around with generative AI to see if it yields something unexpected and useful in response to a prompt.
By following this workflow and utilizing the power of AI, you can create compelling resumes that stand out in a competitive job market. Remember, a well-crafted resume is just one piece of the puzzle; effective networking and interview preparation are also crucial for career advancement.
