Using AI in your work search

Tools like ChatGPT can be used to create many types of documents, including cover letters and résumés. It can even help you practice for an interview.

You can prompt AI to read and analyze content and it will answer by gathering information from a wide range of sources. 

We've put together some suggestions on how to use AI tools like ChatGPT but we encourage you to consult with a UVic Co-op and Career staff member for feedback.

General tips

AI tools pull from information that was available online in 2021 so don't rely on it to be current. Make sure to do your research. Here are a few general tips to follow:

Ask questions in different ways

Chatting with AI generative tools is like having a conversation that you lead by asking questions.

We recommend that you asking questions in different ways as this can give you a range of answers. We have found this especially useful when you're searching for jobs or asking AI to give you names of companies. 

For example, you could ask:

• what companies hire [specific academic program name] graduates?
• what companies hire students with a [specific degree name]?
• where can a graduate with a [specific degree name] get a job?

Include specific information

Be direct about what you're looking to learn. Include details like geographic locations or specific skill sets to receive tailored results.

For example, you could ask:

• what companies in [province or city] hire [specific academic program name] graduates?
• what companies hire students with a [specific degree name] in [province or city]?
• where can a graduate with a [specific degree name] get a job in [specific industry] in [province or city]?

For résumé writing

AI tools can be useful when you're writing accomplishment statements for your résumé, but remember to review and add your own style and voice.

You can use AI to:

• describe transferable skills that are needed for specific job postings 
  • e.g., "Look at the job posting and describe the skills that would be a good fit for the job"
• look at the job posting and compare it to your résumé to tell you what's missing (make sure to proofread to confirm that it's correct)
  • e.g., "Compare the job posting and my résumé and identify missing skills"
• provide suggestions for formatting and keywords (edit to make sure the keywords are appropriate for your industry)
  • e.g., "How should I format my résumé based on this job posting?"
• provide suggestions for how to describe your competencies on a résumé
  • e.g., "This job is asking for [specific type of] skills. Write some bullet points for my résumé to show how I have these skills"

To be clear, AI tools will make up skills so you will need to make sure they are accurate and true to your own experience. You will need to review and rewrite in your own voice.

You can use these résumé resources as you build your résumé.

Writing cover letters

You could ask AI tools to:

• "write a professional cover letter that describes the transferable skills in my résumé and how they can be applied to the job in the posting"

Give the AI tool as many details as possible, including who the audience is and what the tone should be. 

This will give you a starting point but you'll need to do your own writing. Spend time modifying the letter to make sure that it is in your voice and that the statements are accurate and persuasive.

You can also access these cover letter resources as you put together your cover letter.

Searching for work

 You can use AI tools to inform your job search strategy. You can ask it to: 

• find companies that hire graduates of your program area 
• tell you what companies hire specific types of positions or job titles
• share entry-level jobs and job titles in your industry
• identify transferable skills that specific companies are looking for
• research company hiring trends and patterns
• search for companies that are looking for transferable skills that you already have or are developing
• assess your résumé and suggest job postings that would be a good fit 
• provide information about job trends, salaries and other aspects of different industries

Remember that AI tools don't have up-to-date information as they don't access the internet. Explore these work search resources for guidance.

Networking

 You can ask AI tools to:

• get ideas about networking opportunities
  • e.g., "I'm looking to get into [industry or type of work] in Victoria, BC. Who should I talk to or what networking events should I attend?"
    
• write a first draft of an introductory email, LinkedIn message, etc.
  • e.g., "I want to reach out to a professional contact in [industry] about work opportunities. Write an introductory email using my résumé."

Interviewing

When you're preparing for an interview, you can use AI tools to:

• put together a list of questions the employer might ask for a specific position
  • e.g., "I am a civil engineering student interviewing for a co-op job. Use the following job description to identify questions that I may be asked in an interview."
• suggest how to answer these questions based on your résumé, transferable skills and experiences
  • e.g., "Use my résumé and the following job description to put together a list of interview questions and answers based on my skill set and the job requirements."

You can also use these resources to prepare for interviews.

Explore career options

You can provide AI tools with descriptions of your passions, interests and skills and ask for recommendations of career options and even degrees to pursue.

You'll still need to research to learn more about these options, and you can also explore possible career options here.

Or, meet with your career educator for one-on-one support.

You can access Co-op and Career approved tools like VMock here, or explore resources related to AI tools through UVic’s Learn Anywhere site.