How To Utilize AI Tools In Your Job Search

AI technology is no longer just a science fiction staple. With tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, anyone can experiment with artificial intelligence.

This technology is still being refined and can’t replace the creativity or contextual mind of a human, but it can be a great device to enhance all sorts of efforts—including aiding in your job search! From helping to build your resume and cover letter, to optimizing your LinkedIn profile, to interview prep, to simply being a wonderful research assistant, learn how to utilize AI technology to give your job search a boost.

Treat prompts like a conversation

ChatGPT works by typing in a prompt and it will answer as best as it can based on the set perimeters. But the bot isn’t all-powerful or all-knowing. To get the result you want, you’ll need to treat the chat box like a conversation and refine ideas or comes up with follow-up questions.

“As we often need to do when talking with a human, you may have to ask follow-up questions to get a more precise answer. Consider your prompt as the beginning of your conversation. (This is different logic than you use when searching Google.)” –Hannah Morgan

Career Sherpa’s Hannah Morgan writes to keep your prompts specific and descriptive. Set the perimeters you’d like covered, and don’t be afraid to start over as needed. The more information you provide, the better the bot can do its job!

Use it to spice up writing

Once you’ve gotten the hang of working with the AI, one of the best ways to use it is to spice up your writing. This wide-ranging feature can help you writes resume bullets, cover letters, LinkedIn bios, and more!

“If you are already a great writer, AI can make you an even better writer,” –Oliver Yarbrough

The tool can help fill out content for your resume, saving a great deal of time, or it can find the best way to phrase something, writes Klara Cervenanska. Specific resume-building AIs are becoming more common. Resumes and cover letters can take a lot of time, especially if you’re tailoring them for each position. Just remember that you’ll still need to proofread and make it your own. It’s often easy to tell if something was written by an AI, as it can’t compete with a human’s contextual ability and you want your unique voice to take the stage.

Use it as an assistant

AI can also be used as a reliable research assistant if you know how to ask the right questions.

Hannah Morgan says that you can use ChatGPT to find alternate job titles, find similar jobs in your industry, and create a list of target companies. The tool can also create thoughtful interview questions for you to ask or provide examples of questions you may be asked. Jaime Dubois highlights numerous programs that can help with interview preparation, which you can find here.

Resume writer Ruth Sternberg highlights AI’s abilities to translate your resume into another language, find industry-specific keywords, and flag suspicious claims for further research as a few highlights. While you still need to be cautious blindly trusting what the bot finds, it can be a great fact-checker if prompted correctly.

Create a job search plan

If you want to take AI’s role as a virtual assistant even further, you can use it to help you create a sustainable job search plan!

iHire suggests that ChatGPT can be used to create a job search schedule specific to your needs as well as provide insight into your industry’s trends.

“Type something like “create a personalized job search plan for a java developer tailored to their skills, experience, and goals” into ChatGPT, and it will give you an outline of lists that may be helpful during your search.” –iHire

Remember that it doesn’t replace your work

AI can be a wonderful tool to enhance your job search, but remember that the goal is to enhance the journey—not replace it!

These tools are still fairly new and always learning. The results you get may not always be exactly what you need, and there are plenty of programs that can tell if something was written by AI. The AI doesn’t possess the nuance or contextual information to replace human effort.

Teal’s Lia Zneimer writes that while ChatGPT tries to decline harmful results, occasionally they might provide harmful instructions or factually incorrect answers. Always fact-check when using these programs.

Wrap up

This just barely scratches the surface of how to use AI technology and what you can use it for. Learning the basics will help you pivot toward more specialized uses in the future. Whatever your needs are, remember that the AI can’t do everything for you. You need to learn to guide it yourself and enhance the results with your own human experience!

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Avoid These Virtual Meeting Mistakes

Virtual interviews and meetings were becoming more common even before the pandemic but are now a common part of life, especially if you work remotely. Zoom and its sister programs make working and collaborating from a long distance easy.

While most of us have adjusted to the quirks of virtual meeting technology, there are still common mistakes to avoid! Whether you’re prepping for a virtual interview or just getting ready for your next Zoom meeting, do a little self-scouting to make sure you’re avoiding these common blunders.

Your camera is off

It’s important to be visible in online meetings, and oftentimes that means showing yourself on camera. While it may not always be mandatory, it’s generally good etiquette to have your camera on if everyone else does.

Liv McConnell says that the expectation nowadays is to have your camera on in order to create a sense of community and continuity, especially if your team only meets online. This extra step can go a long way toward building a good rapport with your team.

“This makes you invisible, and that’s not a good look if you seek to impact, influence and impress. Plus, people in the meeting think you’re hiding something—or worse, goofing off.” –William Arruda

You aren’t making eye contact

With your camera on, your team can see your face. With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure you’re providing good body language cues like maintaining eye contact.

According to LinkedIn’s Hank Boyer, participants look at faces two-and-a-half times more in virtual meetings compared to in-person meetings. There isn’t much else to look at on the screen, This means you need to be even more aware of how you’re presenting yourself. Make sure your face is properly framed in your webcam and that you’re able to make eye contact.

Indeed also says to make sure not to appear distracted. If you have wandering eyes, it’s a clue that something on the other end might be distracting you. Consider setting up a “do not disturb” setting on your devices and make sure your eyes aren’t darting toward your phone.

Distractions are abundant

Minimizing distractions in general is good etiquette for your meeting. While working remotely offers additional freedom, it’s important to treat your coworkers with respect. Keep any pets or family members out of the room, put your devices on “do not disturb mode,” and focus on the meeting.

Alison DeNisco Rayome says that you never want to be the obnoxious person on the call that forgot to mute their microphone. If your coworkers can hear you typing, making food, or dealing with other problems, you’ll be disrespecting whoever is speaking and creating additional distractions.

Your background is distracting

Going even further, you’ll want to make sure you don’t offer any additional distractions on screen when the camera shifts your way. Finding the right, neutral background is crucial.

If the room you’re working in is messy, it will be very distracting and shift focus away from you. We’re all human and often need to put messes aside to work on other things, but if you know you have a meeting, take the time to make sure the room is clean.

Or, better yet, find a neutral backdrop behind you, whether a virtual option or some sort of backdrop directly behind you, writes Amanda Augustine. Sitting in front of a blank wall, a bookcase, a door, or some sort of curtain creates a neutral backdrop and lets your face and your words be the focus.

While not always appropriate, sometimes a virtual background can hide a messy room or create an air of professionalism. Just make sure it’s an appropriate one. A background where you’re on Mars or in the bleachers of Lambeau Field is probably distracting, even though it would be pretty neat.

Your screen is messy

Even if your room is clean and you have an inoffensive background, you may need to share your screen. You’ll want to make sure your computer is just as clean as your background.

At the bare minimum, Kenneth Terrell says to get rid of any distracting tabs or open programs. Your team doesn’t need to see your fantasy football team, or perhaps something not safe for work. Likewise, keep your desktop clear of any inappropriate files or of having too many cluttered on the screen.

“Play it safe by closing all windows and applications on your laptop and muting any default notifications on all nearby devices so your interview is uninterrupted by random pings or inappropriate ads popping up on open tabs.” – Amanda Augustine

Finally, Forbes’ William Arruda says to make sure that what you’re sharing can actually be read by human eyes. Create any items meant to be shared in a font big enough to be read and don’t overload the reader will too many words.

Wrap up

Even if you use virtual meeting apps daily, it can still be easy to fall for one of these classic blunders. Make time to brush up on your meeting etiquette and clear your screen (and workspace) of any distracting elements. Then, you’ll be ready to attack your next virtual conversation with a renewed sense of clarity.

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Curating Your Social Media As A Job Seeker

Whether for business or pleasure, social media usage is on the rise. We’ve come a long way from the MySpace days, and now a social media presence is an expectation rather than a hobby. We’ve previously stressed how vital a strong LinkedIn existence is, but even your personal accounts across the web are relevant to your job search.

Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and even Facebook make up your digital footprint, and this is something all job seekers must be aware of. A 2018 CareerBuilder survey found that 70% of employers use social media sites to vet candidates, and that number has surely risen since then.

“70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates (on par with last year), while 7% plan to start… And that review matters: Of those that do social research, 57% have found content that caused them not to hire candidates.” –CareerBuilder

Make sure your profiles are helping rather than hurting your job aspirations. Keep your social media profiles safe for work by following these strategies!

Avoid anything unprofessional

Some of the basics should be fairly obvious. You might not be actively trying to generate “content” on every platform, but be wary of what you post. Even on accounts that are completely personal, you don’t want to share anything offensive, overly risque, divisive, or overly argumentative.

Your personal pages are your personal pages, but employers are wary about hiring a candidate that might make them look bad down the road, and the previous study mentioned that over 50% of employers that have researched candidates’ social profiles found something that caused them to look elsewhere.

Google yourself

If you want to see what your potential employers can see, throw your name into Google, or your preferred search engine, and see what comes up. You can use Incognito mode or a different computer if you’re afraid of your regular system’s biases.

From there, you’ll be able to see how an outsider will view you. What pops up first? And is it flattering? By Googling yourself, you may find questionable profiles or posts you don’t even remember, and you can take necessary action. If nothing else, you can see which accounts need to be made private.

If you want to be really thorough, David Cotriss recommends setting up a Google alert on yourself to regulatory see if anything comes up.

“If you appear on an undesirable website, try reaching out to the webmaster to remove you. Ask people who have tagged you in inappropriate posts on social media to remove you as well. You can be sure employers will do a Google search on you, so why not be one step ahead?” –Michael Moran, recruiter

Look into privacy options

Every major social media platform has some sort of privacy settings, so you’ll want to learn what they are and curate them to your needs.

For example, if you only use Facebook to keep track of birthdays and keep up with what your high school friends are up to, it may not matter. But if you regularly post pictures of nights on the town, you may want to keep an eye on who can see that content.

It can be worth having both a private and public profile on the same site, depending on your needs. A public-facing Instagram and a personal one can have completely different content, and only the public one will be viewable to employers.

Keep an online presence

Even if you have a few less-than-professional things pop up during your self-scout, your first instinct shouldn’t be to put everything on private and delete every account. David Cotriss writes that 1-in-5 employers won’t hire a candidate that has zero online presence. This can make it seem like you have something to hide. Cotriss also says that deleting a profile won’t always hide all offending content, and employers may be able to see cached versions.

Instead, keep some accounts active and engaged. Make sure all of your contact information is up to date Keep your LinkedIn profile updated regularly, have nice conversations on Twitter, and keep telling your friends happy birthday on Facebook. You’ll be able to connect with people that can help you, and you’ll seem like a real person.

Engage carefully

“The good news is you can leverage social media to build your image as much as to wreck it.” –Jeff Lipschultz

Now that you’ve curated what you’ve already put into the digital world, make sure you continue good habits by making your engagements worthwhile. Alessandro Biascioli says to be choosey about your likes and follows, especially on public profiles. It’s not hard to see what posts you’ve liked and who you engage with. If you’re liking divisive content, you’ll scare employers aware, but if you’re engaging with professionally relevant content, this can be viewed as a plus.

Meanwhile, Alison Doyle says that you don’t need to connect with everyone. Quality is better than quantity, and you’ll be much more likely to find value or offer value to others in a more curated network.

“Put aside all the trash talking and trolling on Twitter and consider using it to your advantage. Look for your tribe on the site. Seek out trending topics that align with your skills and background. Then, weigh in with your comment, offering your unique perspective.” –Jack Kelly, Forbes

Wrap up

Social media is an endlessly valuable tool that needs to be used correctly. At its best, you’ll show off your personal brand and make valuable connections. At worst, you’ll frighten potential employers. Google yourself to see what employers can see, and clean up as necessary. Avoid posting anything vulgar or unprofessional and familiarize yourself with different platforms’ privacy options. Keep an online prescience, and make your engagements count!

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How To Not Be Annoying On LinkedIn

No matter what industry you’re in, networking is the supreme principle in advancing your career. In most cases, modern networking means a strong LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn has cornered the market as the prime social media option for the professional world, and proper LinkedIn etiquette is a skill every professional needs to learn.

Part of that etiquette is knowing what NOT to do on the platform. LinkedIn isn’t the same as other social media platforms, and if you annoy your network, you’ll find yourself alienating your potential allies.

Your personal brand is important, and you don’t want that brand to be “an annoyance.” Unless you’re looking to be a nuisance, avoid these annoying LinkedIn behaviors.

Don’t spam

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for getting in touch with people you otherwise may never speak to. You can research prospective employers, find informational interviews, reach out to those in new industries, or look into those previously employed at companies you’re interested in.

But you can’t simply fire connection requests and cold messages to every person on the website. You should take time to carefully craft any requests and take time to explain who you are and why you’d like to connect. Quality leads are better than quantity.

Josh Steimle uses mass tagging connections in posts as another type of spam to avoid. If you’re constantly looking for attention by overly tagging people, you’ll soon find yourself blocked.

LinkedIn itself, a pretty credible source on this particular topic, says to avoid coming across as “salesy.”The platform may be designed for professional development, but no one wants your service shoved in their face immediately. Treat your potential connections as actual people rather than pure customers.

Don’t be generic

Hand-in-hand with the above point, the more generic you are in your efforts, the less interested people will be in interacting with you. As Forbes’ William Arruda reminds us, spammers and bots are a plague on LinkedIn, and it can be detrimental to your efforts if you sound like one.

On paper, a high volume of messages sounds like a good way to get at least some positive responses. But like with applying for jobs, spray-and-pray techniques rarely work. Any pitch you’re planning on sending should be carefully thought out and provide value to your target. Make an effort to reference something they’ve done or how their experience inspired you. A generic pitch is wasting their time and yours.

“For some reason, people think it is effective to cold pitch people without any preparation or research. The funniest is when someone sends me a message on LinkedIn offering their totally irrelevant service and says something along the lines of “We see that at your company you do XYZ and thought you could use my product.”” -Hillel Fuld

Be honest

It should go without saying, but don’t lie to your potential connections about what you can do for them. While your pitch should have value to the connection, it needs to actually be something you can deliver.

Trickery on LinkedIn isn’t just lying about your skills, experience, or connections. William Arruda uses the example of deceiving your new connection by asking for time to get to know them or claiming you’re doing research for a project when in actuality you’re trying to make a sale or ask for a job opportunity. Once it gets out that you’re taking advantage of the generosity of others, you’ll find it harder to make connections.

“If your true intention is to make a sale, don’t imply it’s about the joy of just getting to know and learn about people. This subterfuge is beyond annoying.” –William Arruda

Don’t overshare

“Weird Al” Yankovic once wrote a song called “Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me” regarding chain emails and overshared images that plagued the early internet days. Unfortunately, the song is relevant once again as LinkedIn spammers fill your feed with unwanted content.

Alexander Krastev notes useless polls, irrelevant tear-jerking or viral videos, cringey memes, and overly shared stories as the types of eye-rolling content plaguing the platform. While it can seem cruel to vilify this type of content, a good deal of it is fake and overshared simply to generate clicks and engagement.

LinkedIn is supposed to be a place for professionals to connect and share relevant content. While it doesn’t hurt to have some fun, save the off-topic content for Twitter and Instagram.

Don’t use it as a dating site

Speaking of keeping it professional, while LinkedIn is a social media platform, it isn’t meant to be a dating pool. Save the cracking on for Tinder or Bumble, and let LinkedIn remain a safe place to grow professionally.

Wrap up

Good LinkedIn etiquette shares much in common with good social media etiquette, or just good manners in general. Treating your future connections like actual human beings and not just avenues for gain goes a long way. Be authentic and offer value to others, don’t bombard the platform with irrelevant content to get attention, and keep things professional and you’ll be viewed as someone people wish to connect with. Happy connecting!

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The Pros And Cons Of One-Click Apply

For job seekers, technology can be a wonderful thing. You can apply to jobs almost anywhere from the comfort of your home, you can stay in touch with your network easily through social media, and, thanks to the rise in remote work, you can even do a job from home.

But because of the ease of access, it can be much harder to stand out thanks to the high levels of competition. Experts say it can take 100-200 applications to get just one job offer, and your average job search could take up to nine weeks. To get a job in the traditional way, you’ll need to send a high volume of resumes.

That’s why job search websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter offer “easy” or “one-click” apply options. For someone looking to get as many resumes out as possible, these features are a massive boon!

Or are they? Despite the convenience, using these features may not make you stand out from the crowd. We’ll cover what easy apply systems actually do, their faults, and when they can help your search.

What do they do?

The name sells the basic function well enough—an easy or one-click apply skips through much of the traditional application process to quickly get your documents into the hands of recruiters. They may or may not offer the chance to attach relevant documents like a copy of your resume or cover letter.

In most cases, this allows you to quickly submit a generic, multi-use resume. In LinkedIn’s case, you’ll instead be submitting your LinkedIn profile. This allows you to quickly scroll through online job boards and apply to anything that strikes your fancy.

The problem

Bypassing the conventional application process, which is often time-consuming and tedious, is an amazing idea, but it has its drawbacks.

“As with all quick fixes, the easier option has its drawbacks. Primarily, you’re trading customization for simplicity.” – Jaclyn Westlake, The Muse

This convenience leads to a lot of applications being submitted. In spite of this volume, you may think having the right keywords will get your generic resume picked by the applicant tracking system, but Mac’s List says that may not be the case. Around 40% of companies don’t use ATS, and if your resume isn’t tailored it will struggle to get noticed by the person reading it.

Data shows using one-click apply methods doesn’t have an impact on whether or not you’ll hear back from the employer, according to SmartRecruiters. Your resume will be added to a large pile of applicants regardless, and your content will have to speak for itself.

In LinkedIn’s case, the Easy Apply puts a lot of pressure on your profile. Regardless of whether you attached a resume and cover letter, your profile is the first thing the hiring manager will see. If you’ve been neglecting your profile or hoping your resume will carry you, you may be disappointed when your application is quickly discarded.

You can help alleviate this by having a well-developed LinkedIn profile, which is good to have regardless. Lewis Parrott says having a professional photo, strong headline, relevant details in your job history, and interesting personal details can help alleviate some of the issues with using Easy Apply.

When can it help?

While network connections and carefully customized resumes are a superior job search strategy, one-click applying does have its place and can help lead to a well-rounded search.

Volume does matter in your job search, especially for entry-level roles. The application process is often tedious, and constant rejection after spending significant time applying is discouraging. Quick applies can help you cast a wide net. You may not always bring in the best jobs this way, but it can help build momentum. Career Sidekick does recommend at least tailoring your resume for a specific industry if you choose this route.

If you’ve already tapped your network and carefully applied to your dream companies, then using easy apply functions can be a way to supplement that search. Use them to compliment your job search, not to be the heart of it.

Relying on one-click apply is NOT recommended if you’re looking for your dream job, but sometimes you just need a job. Whether you need a source of income, you need to learn a skill, or you’re just looking to get your foot in the door, these functions are a great tool to find a low-stakes job.

Kindra Cooper believes if you have a top-notch LinkedIn profile already their method can work. In fact, if you’ve spent time adding URLs, displaying endorsements, highlighting your skills, and you have a strong summary, your profile may be even better than your resume. But this requires you to have done all the work beforehand, and it’s best not to put all your eggs in one basket.

Wrap up

Job searching can be a long and arduous process, and any tool that can make the journey easier is appealing. But while they offer additional assistance, it’s imperative to understand the pros and cons of using one-click apply methods. There are times to use these features, and they can complement a thorough job search, but they shouldn’t be relied upon as your only job-searching strategy. For more in-depth job search strategies, check out our other great articles!

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