Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been taking the world by storm for the last few years. Though AI has been around since the 1950s, it has quickly advanced and is becoming a common tool that people use.
There are many benefits of using AI, from saving time to automating simple tasks. However, it also has some disadvantages you should be aware of too. AI can make mistakes and it might copy human biases, such as using unfair stereotypes and assumptions of people.
A popular use for AI right now is for job hunting. But how can you use AI to apply for work? Will it help, and is it ethical? Read on to find out.
5 ways AI Can Help you apply for Work
In many ways, the job market is more challenging than ever before, particularly for young people looking for their first job. This means that you will need to make use of all the tools available to you to find the right roles and stand out from the crowd in the application and interview process.
In this section, we will look at the 5 key ways AI can help you to apply for work.
Find the right roles for you
One of the most time-consuming parts of job hunting is searching through all the available roles out there to find the best ones for you. We now have AI tools that can do a lot of this repetitive work for you, matching you with jobs that are ideal for your experience, career goals, and skills.
An example of one of the numerous job-matching platforms available is VERCIDA.
Create a CV using AI
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or specialist AI CV writing tools can help you create a great and professional-looking CV. You will need to feed the tool the relevant information about your past jobs, qualifications, and other experience, and it will help to craft it into a CV that grabs attention in the right ways.
A good AI CV writing tool will help you to present your experience in the best way and organise your CV so that it is cohesive and visually appealing.
Rezi and Kick Resume are two examples of CV-creating AI tools.
Use AI for interview practice
One of the best ways to prepare for an interview is to think about the kinds of questions that you might be asked and prepare answers for them.
When you have been invited for an interview, input the job description into a generative AI tool and ask it to suggest some interview questions that you may be asked. This can help you to organise your thoughts, rehearse your answers, and have some great examples ready to go. Some will even give you feedback in real-time if you prompt it to.
Yoodli are Google Interview Warmup some examples of tools you can use for interview preparation.
Track your job applications
If you are looking for work, you may be applying for a lot of different jobs. This can make it challenging to keep track of all your applications. AI job application trackers keep all this information in one place for you, showing you the status of your job search at a glance and allowing you to conveniently manage your schedule, interviews, and follow-ups.
Some examples of tools that can help you track applications are Teal and Huntr.
Improve your written materials
When you are applying for jobs, you may need to provide written materials such as a cover letter or answers to questions. Some job applicants make the mistake of allowing AI to do all the work for them when creating these materials, which we do not recommend. However, you can use AI to check, proofread, and make suggestions to improve your writing before you submit your application. Think of it like having an AI-powered editor! Just make sure that it is still accurate and honest.
Is using AI for job hunting ethical?
There is nothing inherently wrong with using AI to assist you in your job search. It is a tool like any other and, as long as you use it mindfully, can help you to put your best foot forward. It is not cheating to use AI to assist you.
What is unethical is to use AI to do all the work for you or to pass off AI-generated work as your own. Experienced hiring managers will usually be able to spot when you have done this, and it can harm your chances.
5 tips for using AI ethically and safely in your job search
When you understand how to use it, AI can be a powerful tool in helping you with your job search. Here are 5 quick tips to help you get the most out of it while behaving ethically and staying safe.
- Always be honest. Never say anything in your job application that isn’t true, even if it is suggested by an AI tool.
- Triple-check everything. Never simply submit AI-generated content as your own. Double and triple-check everything to ensure it is factually correct, in your own voice, and accurately reflects who you are and what you can bring to the table.
- Use AI to improve your work, not to do the work for you. AI is there to help you, not to do the work for you. Use it to conduct research, organise your job search, match you with suitable jobs, and improve your work, but not to fill out job applications or create all your application materials for you.
- Understand the limitations of AI. AI can help with many things, but it cannot replicate human emotional intelligence, empathy, creativity, or intuition. You have all of these things. Use them, and do not allow AI to take over your job search and remove the human touch.
- Be careful with your data. Before you input any personal data into an AI tool, make sure it is a reputable and trusted platform that will handle your information responsibly. If in doubt, avoid giving AI tools your data.
