Generative AI has recently become more prevalent in the job search and is a fast growing industry with many advantages available to students. AI can be useful in exploring career paths, crafting resumes and cover letters, interview preparation and so much more. It is important to note that some tasks may require additional prompting to obtain the form you are looking for.While AI platforms can provide helpful ideas for these documents, it is important to note that you should use these points to help fuel your writing, not replace it.
Resumes
A well-edited, professional resume and cover letter among many other documents, formal or informal, greatly increases your chances of receiving your desired internship, job, etc. Below our office has provided helpful tips and information for students to effectively utilize AI in personal job search.Disclaimer: Currently, the University of Tennessee allows its professors to determine AI use in their classes. Students are expected to ask their professors if they can utilize AI on class assignments and other coursework. If allowed, students may employ AI to enhance their writing, however not use AI in place of their own work.
Ethics
Utilizing AI
While AI is a great resource that can help students brainstorm and enhance their writing, it is vital to understand that AI should not be used to replace original work. AI is here to help students formulate work based on their authentic thoughts and ideas. At the University of Tennessee, we teach all students to be genuinely themselves in their assignments and use their own ideas to create work that is uniquely theirs.
Job Searching
AI’s use in coursework differs from its use in job search. While there may not always be specific instructions regarding AI for some documents, such as resumes or cover letters, please be thoughtful in its use and your ability to speak on any topics that are added to your documents.
Student Support
AI’s use in coursework differs from its use in job search. While there may not always be specific instructions regarding AI for some documents, such as resumes or cover letters, please be thoughtful in its use and your ability to speak on any topics that are added to your documents.
Assignment Help
Additionally, AI cannot replicate the quality of support produced by the assistance of a career coach, peer career advisor or ACE coach provided in the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration. Readers /Employers can often tell when a document has been directly copied from AI. Select applications, such as medical school, have unique guidelines to follow when crafting essays, cover letters, etc. Please be attentive to these specifications.
What is AI?
AI is a fast-growing platform in the modern world that has capabilities to assist in countless aspects of life. Specifically, AI is appropriate in the job search as it can provide detailed feedback to be utilized in the creation of documents and simply help users to understand the best methods in improving career development.
Ask AI if it understands the task you are asking after giving the request
Example: “Do you understand the task I am asking you to do?”
Check out this brief video on how to effectively use AI in the job search process:
Career Exploration
Researching New Opportunities
Career exploration involves searching for career fields, jobs, internships, potential employers and companies that interest you. AI is able to save you time and effort when seeking for these factors in possible career opportunities. Prompting AI to supply you with positions related to your previous experiences or employers who hire similar candidates can be especially helpful.
“What career field would best suit my interest in ___?”
“List 10 job titles who hire students with a degree in [YOUR DEGREE].”
“What type of [DESIRED FIELD] companies hire international students?”
Resumes
Creating a resume can raise countless questions for students. What should it look like? Do employers look for something specific? How do my work experiences relate to the job I am applying for? AI can help you build a resume tailored to your specific application through organizational structure, brainstorming bullet points, selecting particular wordage and more.
“I will send you a job description for a job I am interested in. Please identify the top 10 skills related tothis position for me to highlight on my resume. [INSERT JOB DESCRIPTION].”
Follow-Up Prompt: “Here are my previous work experiences and responsibilities as listed on my resume. [INSERT WORK EXPERIENCES FROM RESUME]. How can I reword my duties to highlight the skills you identified above?
Disclaimer: Review information in bullet points provided for accuracy.
“Attached is my resume. How can I restructure it to become more visually appealing and professional? [INSERT RESUME].”
Applying for Jobs
Cover Letters
Cover letters are essential in expressing your interest in a position to an employer further than what is listed on your resume. You may want to include additional information on experiences that relate to the position or possibly make the reader aware of a connection you have with the company.
“Provide a typical 3 paragraph structure of a cover letter to [COMPANY].”
“Attached is my resume. What should I emphasize in my cover letter applying to be a [INSERT RESUME] ”
“Rewrite this paragraph into 3 sentences focusing on its relevance to applying to be a [JOB TITLE].”
Please refer to theVol Guide to Resumesfor additional help (Refer to document page 26)
Interview Preparation
The interview stage of the hiring process is often the most stressful for potential employees. Some employers even opt to conduct numerous rounds of interviews which can create more uncertainty. Luckily, AI is available to help alleviate this pressure by preparing you for possible questions and teaching your mind to use past experiences to prove yourself as a prime candidate.
“Ask me 10 interview questions I would likely be asked during an interview for [JOB TITLE]. Here is the job description. [INSERT JOB DESCRIPTION]”
Follow-Up Prompt: “If an interviewer asks me question X, what skills or experiences from my resume should I highlight [INSERT RESUME]? Please use the STAR interview answer method.”
“What are potential questions I could ask my interviewer for this role [INSERT JOB DESCRIPTION]?”
Disclaimer: Be sure to decide which questions align best with your interests and alter them to your specific interview.
UTK Center for Career Development & Exploration Information
Peer Career Advisors Drop-In Hours: Located in the Career Center on the 2nd Floor of the Student Union Phone Number: 865-974-5435 Email Address: career@utk.edu
Please schedule a career coaching appointment here through Handshake if you would like one of our coaches to help you discover your passion or help you build any career related documents.
