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Using AI Tools for Career Development

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Career Development and Calling

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a key tool in society. Generative AI aids in career development by helping with resumes, creating interview questions, and finding jobs or internships. The Office of Career Development and Calling offers advice and resources for using AI effectively and ethically.

Examples of AI are ChatGPT, DALL-E, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot.

Essential tips for using AI

  • Use AI-generated content alongside a career coach, advisor, or mentor. AI cannot replace holistic, individualized coaching.
  • Remove all personal information from prompts, like names, addresses, and phone numbers.
  • Carefully read AI-generated information to ensure accuracy, avoid bias, and maintain authenticity.
  • Configure settings so the AI platform does not save your chat history.
  • Use specific prompts with detailed context to get the most helpful output.
  • Edit, edit, edit. AI outputs are rough drafts. Rewrite content in your voice before using it.

Resumes

Create accomplishment statements

AI assists in writing job-specific bullet points as accomplishment statements for each new application. Always check for random details that are not true of you!

Sample prompts:

  • Write resume accomplishments with metrics from [insert specific responsibility].
  • Review my resume and list five specific changes based on this job description.

Our SkillsFirst resume platform integrates many helpful AI features.

Pass resume screening

Employers’ initial resume screenings compare keyword matches with job descriptions. AI can identify keywords you must include in your resume to pass the initial applicant tracking system (ATS) screening. Check the generated bullet points for accuracy!

Sample prompt:

  • What are the top 15 skills to have if applying for [insert job description]?

Follow-up prompts:

  • Which skills are missing from my resume? [copy and paste your resume—after removing your personal information]
  • Write revisions to my resume bullet points to highlight the skills from the job description. 

Further reading 

Cover letters

When you need a cover letter, use AI to draft a rough version and edit it for authenticity. Show how you learned from your experiences. Explain how that will impact your work in the desired role. 

Sample prompts:

  • Write a three-paragraph cover letter to apply for this job using my resume experience. [copy and paste your resume—after removing your personal information]
  • Write a professional cover letter explaining how my experiences meet the requirements of this job description at [insert organization name].

Further reading

Networking

Networking starts with finding people to contact and sending a compelling introductory message. Always proofread and edit before you send the message.

Sample prompts: 

  • Write a brief and interesting elevator pitch from my resume for professional networking.
  • Write a 300-character LinkedIn connection request message based on [insert person's LinkedIn profile—after removing their personal information].
  • What are three questions to ask when networking with [insert person's LinkedIn profile—after removing their personal information]?

Further reading

Informational interviews

One way to explore career paths is to ask a professional in a field of interest for a conversation. AI can help create questions to ask.

Sample prompts: 

  • Generate a list of questions to ask [insert person's LinkedIn profile—after removing their personal information] about [insert your desired job description].
  • I am interviewing a [job title] who works at [company name] in the [industry/field]. I want to learn about their career path, industry challenges, skills needed to succeed, and their experiences at [insert company.] Write five questions to ask during the interview.
  • Write a follow-up strategy to keep this connection warm.

Interview preparation

Make a complete list of interview questions for the role and company. Practice answering the questions to feel confident and prepared.

Sample prompt:

  • Generate interview questions from [insert job description] for [insert company].

Follow-up prompts:

  • Create a STAR answer for question number [insert question number].
  • Generate responses to the questions from my resume in the STAR format. [copy and paste your resume—after removing your personal information]

Further reading

Additional resources