How To: Use AI in your Professional Development Journey

Landing your dream job often starts with a resume that grabs the attention of hiring managers. However, crafting a compelling and ATS-friendly resume can be time-consuming. Here’s how AI can become your secret weapon:

• Keyword Optimization: AI can analyze job descriptions and identify relevant keywords employers use. Integrate these keywords naturally throughout your resume to improve your chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), software used by many companies to automatically screen and rank resumes based on predetermined criteria. Navigating around ATS doesn’t mean tricking the system but strategically incorporating
  relevant keywords to ensure your qualifications are recognized.
• Tailored Content: Tell AI about your target job and experience. It can then suggest accomplishments and skills most relevant to the position, ensuring your resume speaks directly to the employer’s needs.
• Action-Verb Powerhouse: AI can help you rephrase your responsibilities into impactful statements using strong action verbs. This creates a more dynamic and results-oriented resume that showcases your achievements.
• Language Refinement: AI can suggest improvements to your resume’s grammar, sentence structure, and overall clarity. This ensures your resume is not just informative but also professionally polished.

Remember: AI is a powerful tool, but it doesn’t replace your own voice and experience. In fact, some employers are now using Applicant Tracking Software that can detect if the majority of a resume or cover letter has been generated by AI. So make sure that you review AI suggestions critically and personalize your content wherever possible. The Career Center’s resource Big Resume is an online platform that offers job seekers AI-powered resume feedback to help them best align their experience with the role. Explore more by searching ‘Big Resume’ on Career Connections.

• Tailored Achievements: I’m applying for a [Job Title] position at a [Company Industry] company. My past experience includes [Brief description of relevant experience]. Using my skills and accomplishments, can you suggest 3-4 impactful bullet points highlighting achievements most relevant to this role?
• Keyword Magic: Analyze the job description for a [Job Title] position I’m interested in. Identify 5-7 key skills and keywords employers are looking for and suggest how I can naturally integrate them into my resume.
• Strong Verb Boost: Rewrite the following sentence from my resume: “[Responsibility]” into a more powerful and results-oriented statement using strong action verbs. (Example: Increased website traffic by 20% through strategic SEO implementation)
• ATS Friendly Rewrite: I have a draft of my resume experience section, but I’m worried it might not be optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Can you analyze it and suggest improvements to make sure relevant keywords are included while maintaining clarity and flow?
• Overall Polish: Review my entire resume and offer suggestions for improvement in terms of language, sentence structure, and overall clarity. Ensure the resume maintains a professional tone and effectively showcases my skills and experience.

Your resume may get you noticed, but a well-crafted cover letter lands the interview.
Here’s how AI can elevate your cover letter game:

• Personalized Introduction: Struggling with a generic opening? Provide details about the specific job title and company you’re targeting. AI can then suggest personalized introductions that grab attention and demonstrate your genuine interest.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Tell AI about your skills and accomplishments most relevant to the position. It can analyze these and craft compelling paragraphs that connect your experience directly to the needs outlined in the job description.
• Tailored Tone and Style: Worried your cover letter sounds too formal or informal? Share the company website or social media content with the AI. It can analyze the company’s communication style and suggest adjustments to ensure your cover letter aligns perfectly.
• Compelling Storytelling: AI can help you structure your cover letter with a clear narrative. Provide details about a past achievement or challenge you overcame. AI can help craft a compelling story that showcases your problem-solving skills and value proposition.

Remember: Don’t let AI overshadow your unique voice. Cover letters are much more susceptible to mistakes and need to be proofread before you send them out to employers. Review AI suggestions, personalize the content, and ensure your cover letter reflects your passion and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

• Personalized Hook: I’m applying for a [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. Briefly describe what excites you most about the company or role. Can you suggest an opening paragraph that grabs attention and showcases my interest in a personalized way?
• Skill Spotlight: Tell AI about 3-4 key skills from your resume most relevant to the [Job Title] position you’re targeting. Can you help me craft a compelling paragraph that connects these skills directly to the responsibilities outlined in the job description?
• Company Voice Match: Share the link to [Company Name]’s website or social media page. Analyze the tone and writing style used by the company. Based on this, revise the cover letter draft I provided to ensure it aligns with their communication style.
• Storytelling Powerhouse: I’d like to showcase my problem-solving skills in my cover letter. Tell AI about a specific challenge you overcame in a past role. Help me craft a compelling story that demonstrates my ability to think critically and achieve results.
• Overall Flow and Clarity: Review my entire cover letter and offer suggestions for improvement in terms of language, sentence structure, and overall clarity. Ensure the cover letter flows smoothly and effectively conveys my qualifications and enthusiasm for the position.

While AI can be a game-changer for crafting standout resumes and cover letters, its potential for professional development goes far beyond the initial application stage. Here are some additional ways students can leverage AI to enhance their professional journey: AI can be a powerful tool for crafting detailed suggestions on how to achieve your career goals and enhance your professional development.

• Self-Discovery First: Before diving into AI recommendations, take some time for self-reflection. Identify your career goals – what do you want to achieve in the next few years or even the long term? What are your existing skills and areas of strength? Consider your learning style – do you prefer visual aids, hands-on activities, or in-depth written content? The more information you gather about yourself, the more accurate and personalized your AI-powered learning path will be.
• Data is Everything: Many AI learning platforms offer skills assessments or quizzes. These assessments help the AI understand your current knowledge base. Take advantage of these tools and answer honestly to provide the AI with a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses.
• Goal Setting Power: Don’t be afraid to tell the AI what you want to achieve. Many platforms allow you to input specific learning goals or desired skill sets. This focused approach allows the AI to curate a path that directly targets your aspirations.
• Feedback is Your Friend: As you progress through your AI-powered learning journey, don’t hesitate to provide feedback. Let the AI know what content resonates with you and what areas you find lacking. This ongoing feedback loop helps the AI refine your learning path and ensure it continues to meet your evolving needs.

By actively participating in the process, you can transform your AI-powered learning path from a suggestion box into a dynamic and personalized roadmap to success. Embrace the power of AI, but remember, you are the driver of your own learning journey.

• Self-Assessment Spark: I’m interested in exploring potential career paths. Can you suggest a skills assessment that helps identify my strengths and weaknesses in various areas relevant to different professions?
• Goal Setting with AI: I’m aiming for a career in [broad industry field]. Based on my interests and skills, what specific job titles within this field might be a good fit for me?
• Learning Style Lens: I find traditional textbooks a bit dry. Can you analyze my learning style preferences (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and suggest online courses or resources that cater to my preferred learning approach?
• Skill Gap Spotlight: I’m interested in developing my skills in [specific skill area]. Can you assess my current knowledge base in this area and recommend a personalized learning path to bridge any skill gaps and reach my desired proficiency level?
• Interest Intersection: I’m passionate about [specific interest] and want to explore how it can connect to a future career. Can you suggest online courses, articles, or even podcasts that explore the intersection of this interest with various professional fields?

While ChatGPT and other GenAI platforms are useful tools and can generate practice interview questions, we here at the Career Center recommend using our virtual interviewing platform, Big Interview, for all of your interview needs. Big Interview is an online platform that offers job seekers practice interviews with simulated scenarios and AI-powered feedback to help them prepare for and ace their real interviews. Explore more by searching ‘Big Interview’ on Career Connections.

Not a fan of virtual platforms? You can book a practice interview with a Career Counselor on Handshake.