Using AI in the Job Search  

This handout outlines the various ways you can use AI, specifically ChatGPT or Copilot, in your job search.  

Tips when using AI: 

  • Keep in mind potential biases in AI algorithms.  
  • Understand the privacy policies of AI platforms you use and consider how your personal information may be used.  
  • Check all sources thoroughly.  
  • Whatever AI writes is a draft– ensure that any content you submit in applications accurately reflects your abilities to avoid unrealistic expectations of employers.  

Tips for Writing Strong Prompts 

When asking AI such as Copilot or ChatGPT to create content or answer questions, tell the AI who you are or give it a role or persona to embody, provide context including why you want the response, and ask it to respond within a certain format, framework, or tone. At the end of your prompt tell it to ask you questions one at a time until it can complete the task. Once it responds, you can ask it to try again and provide more or different details. If you don’t give enough information, the AI will invent skills, abilities, and experiences. The more details you provide, the better the response will be.  

Examples: 

  • Role: Act as a third-year engineering student 
  • Context: I am searching for a summer co-op in the energy industry
  • Format: Give me the answer in a list, spreadsheet, etc.
  • Tone: Make the writing more engaging, educational, or formal 

Resumes

Making sure to edit what it provides to match your style of writing, use Copilot to:  

  • suggest bullets that highlight specific skills you gained from certain jobs. Have it interview you to reduce made up content.
  • tailor your resume to a specific job.
  • get feedback about whether your resume is relevant for a certain job title or description. Paste your resume content in and provide key descriptors and/or required qualifications for the potential role. Be careful about sharing your personal information. 

Example Resume Prompts:

  • I am a second year Architecture student applying to architecture co-ops. Suggest 3 resume bullets for a restaurant job highlighting skills in teamwork, attention to detail, and working in a fast-paced environment. Focus these bullets on the transferable skills I just mentioned highlighting what I did, how I did it, and why I did it. Include spots where I can add numbers. Ask me questions one at a time until you can write the bullets.
  • I am a senior construction management student and I want to tailor my resume to this job (paste job description link). What are the 15 most important skill keywords in this job description according to a recruiter? Rank them by importance for the construction industry so I can highlight them in my resume and cover letter.
  • Act as a recruiter for the cybersecurity industry and create a list of the keywords in this job posting (insert job description). Compare that list to this resume (paste your resume bullets) and list in bullet point form which keywords are missing. Suggest ways I could incorporate the missing keywords as a third year cybersecurity student. Ask me questions one at a time until you can complete the task.

Cover Letters

If you are stuck getting started with a cover letter, ChatGPT can help create a template. Use it as a starting point, do NOT submit what ChatGPT or any other AI platform writes in your job application as it will not reflect your actual experience. The importance of a cover letter is to show an employer how you have gained relevant skills. Only you can provide this context. Employers have rejected candidates who clearly used AI to write their cover letters. 

Example Cover Letter Prompts: 

  • I am a third-year computer science student applying for a software engineering job at X Company. Write a cover letter template based on this job description (paste job description link), based on this resume (paste your resume), and focusing on skills X, Y, & Z. Ask me questions one at a time until you can write the template.  
  • Act as a second year mechanical engineering students and rewrite this cover letter for X position at Y company using the same writing style. Make it more concise and focused towards this job description (paste job description). Ask me questions one at a time until you can complete this task.

Interviewing

You can use ChatGPT to research companies before an interview or to practice interviewing. Upload a job description for the position you are interviewing for and have it create some questions (or use your own). Plug in your answers and ask for feedback. It can also help you create questions for the end of the interview.  

Example Interview Prompts: 

  • Use this job description to come up with 10 interview questions that a project manager would ask in a 30-minute, first-round interview. Also, create a list of 8 questions I can ask at the end of the interview that can’t be found on the company’s website.  
  • I am a senior construction management student applying for X position at Y company. This is how I would answer the question, “What are your greatest strengths”. How can I improve my answer?
  • I’m interviewing for X position at Y company. Check their website (paste link) and summarize what they do so I can best answer the question, “what do you know about the company” or “why do you want to work for this company?”

Networking

Use Copilot to create questions in preparation for a networking event or informational interview, to draft outreach messages to potential networking contacts, to find networking events to attend, or to role-play networking scenarios.  

Example Networking Prompts: 

  • Act as a junior electrical engineering student at a STEM university actively searching for a co-op and create a list of 10 questions to ask companies at a networking event or career fair.  
  • Use this potential networking contact’s LinkedIn profile (paste link to profile) to write a professional and authentic introductory email to increase the chance that they will respond to me for an informational interview.
  • Role Play Scenario: provide Copilot with details about the industry of the professional contact, type of networking situation, and goals for the conversation. Example Prompt: I would like to role play with you like I’m at a networking event. I am a student wanting to connect with a senior data scientist to understand job expectations and seek internship advice. Introduce yourself and Copilot will engage with you like the professional contact.

Job Search

ChatGPT can help with your job search by providing lists of companies that hire certain positions in specific geographic areas. It can also help you expand your search by providing a list of job titles to search.  

Example Job Search Prompts:  

  • Provide a spreadsheet of companies in Boston, MA that hire engineering interns or early engineering career roles in manufacturing. On the spreadsheet, include each company’s URL, physical address, and whether they are accessible by the MBTA. Add links to current internship or co-op positions where available.
  • Create a list of internship and entry level job titles for a student mechanical engineer in the automotive industry.
  • Provide a list of similar companies to X company in the Boston area.

Career Exploration

Copilot can provide information about possible job titles or career paths related to your major. It can identify in-demand skills for specific careers. It can help you match your skills to relevant positions. 

Example Career Exploration Prompts: 

  • I am a second year Data Science student and I want to work with data visualization. What types of entry level or intern roles can I work in?  
  • Create a list of entry level applied math positions where I could use these skills: X, Y & Z.
  • What are some possible career paths for someone who wants to be a Chief Information Security Officer?