How to Use AI for a Smarter Job Search

Whether you’re new to AI or you’ve been using tools like ChatGPT since they launched, there are lots of great ways you can use AI for a smarter job search.

AI (artificial intelligence) lets you find the perfect jobs to apply for, easily optimize your resume, prepare for interviews, and even engage in better networking. We’re going to take a look at the types of AI tools you’ll want to use and how to get the most from them.

Even if you’re not a huge fan of AI, the reality is that more and more jobs are using it, from customer service to accounting. So, trying out different AI options during your job search could also benefit you by making you more familiar with these emerging technologies.

Ready to dig in?

 

👉 Personalizing Your Job Search with AI

Many top job search platforms already have AI built in to help you find the right job for you. 

For instance, Indeed uses AI to customize job recommendations – and they found that this led to 13% or greater success for candidates. Not only were candidates more likely to apply to jobs that used AI in the “Invite to Apply” text, but employers also found those applicants were a better fit.

With LinkedIn, premium subscribers get AI-powered job search tools, helping job seekers with answers to questions like “Am I a good fit?” and “How can I position myself?”

If you’re using any large jobs board, there’s a good chance that AI is already baked in. You can go further by using features like filters and alerts to make sure that the AI delivers the jobs you’re interested in straight to you.

As Reyansh Mestry, Head of Marketing at TopSource Worldwide, said, “AI saves job seekers a lot of time by highlighting the most relevant results. With AI, they don’t need to wade through lots of irrelevant posts or unsuitable positions. They can quickly find the roles that are the best match for their skills and preferences.”

 

👉 Optimizing Your Resume with AI Tools

For most job seekers, the biggest time-sink is writing a resume… and tailoring it to each position. If you’re not a confident writer, this can be a hugely stressful process (and your resume may be underperforming, too). Even if you enjoy writing, you may be using an old resume that’s rapidly looking outdated.

Peter Čuček, Owner of Tuuli, says, “If you’re applying for a role that requires professional writing skills – and a lot of jobs do – then you really do need a well-written cover letter and resume.”

And that’s all before we even come to the formatting and presentation of your resume, which can also take up a ton of time and effort.

Generative AI excels here. You can use AI resume builders to help you:

• Describe your skills and achievements in powerful, engaging ways
• Set out your resume correctly with all the information you need
• Make sure you’ve used the right info to pass automated ATS (Applicant Tracking System) filters
• Format your resume so that it looks attractive and professional
• Proofread what you’ve written yourself in case there are any typos or grammatical mistakes

Michael Nemeroff, Co-founder & CEO at RushOrderTees, says, “Your resume can make or break your job hunt. That’s a lot of pressure, but with AI tools to help, anyone can create a high-performing resume that stands out from the crowd. You don’t need gimmicks or anything like that, just a well-written, professional-looking resume that does a great job of showcasing your achievements.”

Some great AI-driven resume tools to try include:

• Canva’s Resume Builder: a free online tool that lets you pick from over a million professionally designed templates. You can generate content (and images) using AI. 
• Grammarly’s Job Search Tools: these let you create a Cover Letter, Resume Objective, and Resume Skills list in seconds.
• Kickresume’s Resume Builder: writes your resume for you, powered by OpenAI, and has 40+ ATS-friendly templates to choose from.

Tip: AI may not fully understand your industry, so make sure you check the text carefully and add industry-specific terms/acronyms where appropriate.

 

👉 Preparing for Interviews with AI

You’ve found the perfect role for you, written a killer resume, and now you’ve been invited for an interview.

For most candidates, this is the most nerve-wracking moment in the whole job hunt process. Very few people like being interviewed, and it can feel like there’s a ton of pressure to perform.

AI tools can help you prepare through practice interviews, and through help getting your head around the types of questions you’re likely to be asked.

As Murtaza Oklu, Owner of OMO Transfer, says, “If you’re getting shortlisted and interviewed, that’s a great sign that your cover letter and resume are working for you. But lots of candidates who are great on paper struggle to come across well during the interview. Practice ahead of time and prepare for common questions – it can make a huge difference.”

When it comes to mock interviews, Interview Warmup by Google is a great tool to use. It lets you:

• Pick from different fields to practice questions in. (Most of these are fairly technical, like “Data Analytics” or “IT Support,” but you can also opt for “General.”)
• You’ll be given some questions to answer: you can either use your mic (the best option) or type your answers. You’ll hear each question read out, as well as seeing it on the screen. Google will automatically transcribe your answer and analyze it; you can edit your answer if you want. 
• The questions will cover Background questions (about your past training and experience), Situational questions (about how you’ve dealt with situations in the past and what you’d do in the future), and Technical questions (about knowledge and skills specific to your field). Google has tips for answering each type of question.
• At the end of your practice interview, you can see insights about talking points, as well as when you used job-related terms. You can also save your answers.

Getting used to answering questions like these out loud can help you feel more confident and prepared. As Adam Young, CEO and Founder of Event Tickets Center, explains, “AI tools like mock interviews are a great way to prepare. They focus on the exact types of questions you’ll get asked in real-life interviews and help candidates practice under realistic conditions. It might feel a little odd to run through a mock interview like this, but it’s really good practice.”

As well as practicing interview questions, think about any tasks you might be asked to complete during a practical interview. For instance, you might be asked to review and comment on a fictional case study or to create an action plan for an imaginary project. 

 

👉 Expanding Opportunities with AI Networking

Not all jobs are advertised openly. In fact, career experts believe that just 20–30% of jobs are publicized, with the remaining 70–80% making up the “hidden job market”. 

That can be hugely frustrating when you’re job hunting. So how do you find these hidden jobs?

The answer is through effective networking. The more people you know, the more likely it is that someone will refer you to a position that’s not been advertised or that may not even yet be officially “open.” You may even get headhunted by an employer.

Jesse Hanson, Content Manager at Online Solitaire & World of Card Games, points out, “When you have great connections with other people in your industry, it’s in their interests to help you out with your job hunt. If they can fill a gap for their employer or help out a contact of their own, then that looks great for them too.”

If you’re not a natural networker, AI is here to help. You can use it in all kinds of ways, including:

• Optimizing your LinkedIn profile: Use a tool like Resume Worded to get specific, tailored AI feedback on how to improve your LinkedIn profile so you can rank higher in LinkedIn search. 
• Reaching out to new connections: Tools like WonsultingAI will automatically help you find great contacts to reach out to (and draft your connection message for you). You can tailor what you want based on your goals, e.g., “I want an interview” or “I want industry connections.”
• Writing great LinkedIn posts: Using Taplio or a similar tool, you can instantly craft powerful, attention-grabbing LinkedIn posts to boost your personal brand and your profile within your industry.

Maryanne Fiedler, Director of Marketing at Psychic Source, recommends, “Look for networking connections who you truly resonate with: people who you’d enjoy sharing a meal with or chatting to over coffee. You want to surround yourself with people who share values and outlooks similar to yours so that they’ll be in your corner when it counts.”

Remember, though, that networking is all about people. Take time to tailor AI text to suit your own voice and style, and focus on quality (deep, meaningful connections) over quantity (lots of shallow connections to people who won’t remember your name).

 

Use AI and Land Your Next Job With Ease

There are so many great AI tools out there to help you find a role, write a cover letter, craft a resume, and ace your interview. Give them a try today!

Whichever tools you pick, remember that other candidates have access to them too. Add your own personal touches – and give the tools as much information as possible about your unique skills, experiences, and qualities that you’ll bring to the role.