Which AI Tools Should I Use & When?
AI tools are transforming the modern workplace, and as a college student, you have a unique opportunity to get ahead of the curve. Whether you’re polishing your resume, preparing for interviews, building professional projects, or exploring career paths, AI can be a powerful companion throughout your career development journey.
The challenge? There are dozens of tools available, each designed for different purposes, and it can be hard to know which one is right for the task at hand.
Here you’ll find a curated overview of some useful AI tools for students actively building their careers – what each one does, where it excels, and how to access it.
| Tool | Primary Use Cases | Strengths | Access |
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) https://chatgpt.com/ | Writing, brainstorming, mock interviews, research | Versatile, widely used, strong writing quality | Free (GPT-4o); Plus plan paid |
| Claude (Anthropic) https://claude.ai/ | Writing, reflection prompts, nuanced feedback, long documents | Strong reasoning, nuanced writing, safety-focused | Free tier available; Pro plan paid |
| Perplexity AI https://www.perplexity.ai/ | Industry research, company research, fact-checking | Cites sources; more current info; great for research | Free tier available |
| Jobscan https://jobscan.com | ATS optimization, resume keyword matching | Compares resume to job description for ATS score | Free limited scans; paid plan |
| Grammarly https://www.grammarly.com/ | Writing quality, tone, grammar, clarity | Seamless editing, strong on professional writing | Free tier; paid plan |
| Big Resume (Villanova) https://villanova.biginterview.com/ | Villanova platform with Single Sign-on Provides AI generated resume feedback with Villanova benchmarks | Villanova secure sign-on; Can feed in job descriptions for keyword insights for ATS | Free for Villanova students; secure |
For more Villanova recommended and supported AI tools for students, visit: https://www.villanova.edu/university/ai/tools.html
Note: These tools do not suggest a specific endorsement of useage from Villanova. Tool availability and pricing may change. Users should verify current access options and understand confidentiality/security through terms of service before using tools.
