Empower your job search with AI
ALMOST HALF of all job-seekers have used AI to build, update or improve their CV, according to a new survey. The worldwide study of 10,000 people, by Canva and Saga, saw 45 per cent of respondents saying they had used Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to improve their chances of finding work.
To help members of the community make the most of this emerging technology, Work Avenue has run courses, events and workshops focused on AI, as well as offering free one-to-one support from its team of expert advisers.
The charity’s CEO Debbie Lebrett says: “Artificial intelligence has changed the landscape for job seekers and, in 2024, this is now more prevalent than ever.”
At its recent webinar “Empowering Your Job Search with AI in 2024”, Work Avenue’s Melissa Athersych and Richard Linden took participants through all the latest tools and tricks to get the most out of the tech for job seekers.
Here are five of Melissa and Richard’s top tips:
1. PICK YOUR GENAI TOOL
ChatGPT and Gemini are super-easy to set up and a great way to start using GenAI. Along with Claude 3, these free tools come highly recommended for job seekers, to leverage and enhance their applications to remain competitive in today’s job market, especially for developing CVs and covering letters. Each has pros and cons, so test them — or come and speak to us — and see which is the best fit for you.
2. PERFECT YOUR PROMPTING
Prompting is a crucial aspect of interacting with GenAI. You will need to “prompt” the AI to generate a relevant and engaging response, by asking the right initial questions or giving it well-thought-out input.
No matter which GenAI model you are using, the key is to clearly state your objective, provide relevant context and structure the prompt in a way that guides the AI effectively.
3. MATCH THE APPLICATION TO THE ROLE
GenAI tools have enabled CVs and applications to evolve into something more useful than ever before. Instead of being static, one-size-fitsall documents, they should now become dynamic and personalised to each job you are applying for, highlighting aspects of your background to match the specific role – this stands out to employers.
4. PRACTISE FOR INTERVIEW
Once you are through the application stage, there are also GenAI tools to help you prepare for your interview. For example, Google’s interactive and AI-run Interview Warmup is a great way to practise and get
more comfortable with the process. It will ask you a question and you can then speak or write your answer, before receiving insights about your responses. You can then book a mock interview with us for that extra human touch…
5. KEEP THE HUMAN TOUCH
No matter how good you are at prompting GenAI, and we have done this hundreds of times with clients, you will need to make changes to what the AI generates. As Melissa says: “Treat GenAI like an intern not a director” – AI is not you, so personalisation is key. Don’t just double-check spelling and grammar (which is often Americanised), but also ensure the output sounds and feels like you. Otherwise, employers can pick up on this straight away. Our employment team are on hand to help, so please book an appointment.