This YouTube video is based on a video from the WGU Career & Professional Development channel is a presentation on utilizing AI tools to enhance one’s job search. The speaker discusses the benefits and limitations of AI in career development, highlighting the importance of human oversight and a nuanced understanding of the technology’s strengths and biases. The video also provides a detailed overview of various AI tools, including those for resume optimization, interview preparation, and job matching, while emphasizing the need for tailoring applications and using these tools to improve the quality, rather than simply the quantity, of applications. From the archives.
The Missing Ingredient in Most Resumes
So we’re diving into AI and how to use it to get ahead in your job search, which is pretty smart given how competitive things are out there. We took a look at this YouTube video called “Leveraging AI in Your Job Search” by career coach Jeff Altman on JobSearchTV. He seems to know his stuff.
Yeah, and the best part is he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Like, he comes right out and says the job market is rough right now. He even points out that a lot of the job growth everyone is talking about isn’t even in fields where someone with more experience would even be looking, you know.
Yeah, it’s easy to get excited when you see job growth, but it’s not always the whole story.
Yeah, exactly. And this is why using AI—well, using every tool you can—is super important. One myth he debunks right away is that AI is going to reveal some secret list of jobs for you.
Like some magical AI job board?
Exactly. Yeah, he makes it really clear—and I think this is something you really have to understand—that things like ChatGPT can’t look at job boards like that. They don’t have access.
So no magic AI job board. Noted. So how can you use AI in your job search?
Well, Jeff talks about a bunch of ways you can use it. A good place to start is with your resume and cover letters. It can basically be like a tireless assistant, you know, to help with polishing everything and customizing it for every job you’re applying to.
Oh, that would be amazing. When you are sending out a ton of applications, it can be really tiring to rewrite everything every single time.
Oh, for sure. And that’s where AI can be so helpful. There’s this free tool he mentions called EarnBetter, which helps you do exactly that. It can even tailor cover letters for you.
Wait, did you say free?
Yeah, it’s free.
Wow, that’s awesome. Usually you have to pay for stuff like that.
I know, right? Huge time saver, and can really help make a good impression.
Okay, so AI for resumes and cover letters—that’s a great start. What else?
Oh yeah, that makes sense. It’s like anything else—you have to practice, right? Even if you’ve been in the workforce a while and are just a little rusty.
That is such a good point. You can never really do too much practice when it comes to interviews, and these tools let you do it whenever you want.
It’s like having an on-call interview coach in your pocket, basically.
Yeah.
Oh man, Jeff loves LinkedIn. He has some cool advice for how to really stand out to recruiters, too.
I’m listening.
Everyone knows LinkedIn is important, but it can be really hard to, well, stand out.
He suggests using AI to write better LinkedIn comments.
Oh, interesting.
Yeah, so it’s not enough to just have a profile. You have to be active and engaging to really get noticed, you know.
Yeah, that’s a great way to put it.
Okay.
He also talks about that “Open to Work” feature.
Ooh, that one. I’ve heard different things from different people about whether or not that’s a good idea.
It really depends.
Okay.
Like, if you’re unemployed and you want everyone to know you’re looking, it could be a good idea then. But if you already have a job and are trying to keep things quiet, probably not so much.
Yeah, that could be awkward.
Definitely don’t want to accidentally tell your boss you’re looking for a new job.
Oops.
Yeah, so he doesn’t really say if it’s good or bad overall.
Makes sense.
Because it really does depend on your own situation, you know.
Totally. So it’s less about “always do this” and more about knowing what the tools can do and then deciding how to use them for you.
Exactly. It’s like that AI prompting we talked about before.
Yeah, yeah.
You have to know the right questions to ask to get the information you want.
For sure.
He actually gives an example of a prompt you can use to find new careers you might like.
No way, really?
Yeah, he says try this: “You’re an HR professional with 20 years of experience. I want you to help me find another career I may be suitable for.”
Wow. Okay, that’s really specific.
I know.
I bet you would find some interesting options that way, things you never would have thought of on your own.
Totally, like having a career counselor, but, you know, AI.
That’s really cool.
It is cool. And this is why you have to get good at giving instructions to these programs.
Like being a good boss.
Yes, yes, exactly. Like, you’re not just asking a question; you’re telling it what to do, right? Just like you were saying before, it’s your own superpowered intern.
I like that analogy.
It’s good, right?
Oh yeah.
And he says, “Don’t just take the first answer you get and stop there.”
Oh, interesting.
Yeah, keep asking questions.
So you’re saying we are training the intern to be even better.
Yes, you got it.
I like it.
‘
Okay.
Okay, so we’ve talked about resumes, interviews, and even how to use AI to find a totally different career. But at the end of the day, you still have to talk to people to get hired.
Right, 100%. He says that like 85% of jobs are found through networking.
Seriously? 85%?
That’s what he said.
Wow, that’s most of them then.
Yeah, so no matter what you do online, you still got to network.
Yeah, you can’t forget the human connection, for sure.
Oh, tell me about it. Those things are the worst.
I know, right?
Like, if your resume isn’t formatted perfectly, it’s like they just toss it out, you know.
Yeah, he was saying they use software that looks for patterns, and if your resume isn’t formatted the right way, the software might not see your qualifications, which is crazy.
Exactly. I like how he doesn’t just tell you to do something, he tells you why.
Yes.
So you really understand how it all works.
So important.
Okay, so after all that, I feel like his main point was that while AI can really help you out, you still have to make human connections.
Totally, 100%.
You have to connect with the hiring managers.
You can’t just rely on AI to do all the work for you.
Because at the end of the day, it’s people who hire other people, not robots.
Exactly, and no computer program can really show off your personality or your passion, you know.
That’s so true.
And that’s what makes you stand out.
So how can our listeners use this information to make their job search better?
I mean, that is the whole point, right? I think it’s about finding that balance you’re talking about, right? Like, AI can help you put your best foot forward, but it can’t do everything for you.
Right. It’s about using AI to help you, but still making those human connections, too.
So if you had to pick one thing to take away from all this and use in your job search, what would it be?
Honestly, I think I’m going to try out that EarnBetter tool.
Yeah.
See if it can help with my resume.
That’s a great idea. I might have to try that myself.
See, we’re already putting all this to good use.
It’s true. You’re never too experienced to learn new tricks. So, what’s next for you? How are you going to use all this stuff we talked about today?
I think I’m going to check out some AI tools to help me on LinkedIn. Like he was saying, you got to build your brand.
I love that.
Yeah.
That’s awesome. Well, you’ve definitely got the knowledge now, that’s for sure.
I think so.
And don’t forget, even with AI, you’re still in control, right?
For sure. It’s like using AI to help you achieve your goals, not to make decisions for you.
You said it perfectly. That’s a great point to end on, I think.
Yeah.
Thanks so much for doing this deep dive with me. This was really fun.
