Searching for work, especially if you’re currently between jobs, can be stressful.
With resumes to craft, cover letters to draft, forms to fill out, and interviews to prepare for, you might find the process exhausting. It can become discouraging if you have a hard time finding work—especially if your savings or emergency fund is dwindling.
Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) technology is transforming the job seeker’s job search experience. Instead of merely surfing the AI wave, you can tactically utilize it to make your job search smarter, faster, and more effective.
AI is here to stay, and companies are even incorporating AI into their software, so you might as well use it strategically.
From resume optimization to mock interviews, AI offers valuable help on the job-search trail. What follows are five ways to use AI to turbocharge your hunt for work.
1. Optimize Your Résumé and Cover Letters
Many companies use applicant tracking systems to screen resumes before a human recruiter gets to them. Your resume can be automatically ruled out if it’s missing the right keywords or has improper formatting.
Artificial intelligence software can help you tailor your resume to each job posting.
- AI resume builders can read through a job ad and suggest the best skills, keywords, and structures.
- AI writing assistants can help craft effective summaries and bullet points to maximize your achievements.
- Grammar and clarity tools can improve the quality of your application.
Similarly, AI can write custom cover letters in line with the tone and requirements of a particular job. Instead of copying and pasting from a generic template, you can quickly write customized cover letters that demonstrate passion and sincerity.
2. Discover Opportunities You’d Never Otherwise Find
Trying to find your dream job on job boards can be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Lots of great opportunities fall between the cracks simply because they’re listed on specialized sites or feature keywords that don’t match your keyword searches.
Job sites that leverage AI can scan your employment history, experience, and objectives and match you with jobs that you might not discover otherwise. There are sites that scan multiple corporate sites and job boards and forward suitable openings to your inbox.
3. Establish a More Professional Web Presence
A professional, optimized web presence—specifically on places like LinkedIn—can go a long way. AI can help you build a stronger web presence in the following ways:
- Profile optimization tools can give you recommendations for your LinkedIn headline, summary, and skills section to make you stand out.
- Content analysis tools can provide you with words to put in your profile so that headhunters can find you.
- Writing tools can help you create engaging posts or blogs that help you show your thought leadership acumen.
The more active and professional your online presence, the more likely recruiters will find and reach out to you.
4. Confidently Get Ready for Interview
Interviews can be intimidating, especially if you have no idea what questions you’ll be asked or even how to answer. AI can help you rehearse and refine.
Some websites leverage AI to conduct mock interviews. They even provide feedback on your responses, indicating what you did right and what you need to work on. Some programs even assess your nonverbal cues and verbal cues if you record yourself during the mock interviews so that you can practice verbal and nonverbal communication.
AI can even generate lists of possible interview questions based on job postings. You can get the confidence you need to ace any job interview.
5. Make Networking and Outreach Easier
Networking has been, is, and always will be important. But it can be daunting sometimes. The good news is that AI can help manage and automate the process.
Email assistants will enable you to craft personalized outreach emails to professional connections, alumni, or recruiters.
Meanwhile, sites like LinkedIn use AI to recommend connections with matching backgrounds, interests, or career goals.
AI is transforming the job search process from a maddening, time-consuming marathon to more of an efficient, strategic endeavor.
Keep in mind, however, that AI is a tool—not a replacement for your effort and personality. You can’t afford to stand still in today’s competitive job market.
By using AI strategically, you can accelerate your job search, wow potential employers, and land the best prospects for your career goals.