We all know the job search has not been easy in 2023. But if there’s one bright spot of the year, it’s been this: the emergence of ChatGPT and how it can help!
From creating a stellar resume that highlights your best skills, preparing for a big interview, and even writing a thank you email to the recruiter, there’s a ChatGPT prompt out there. Let’s unravel how this trusty virtual sidekick can make your job search journey simpler, more efficient, and a lot less stressful.
Writing A Resume
What I love about ChatGPT is its adaptability. It starts as a blank slate, absorbing context from your input, and then delivers the most relevant assistance. Kick-start your resume-writing process by feeding ChatGPT with a job description, enabling it to hone in on the specific skills and qualifications that a recruiter is looking for. Keep in mind that crafting a tailored resume for each job application is far more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Once you’ve given it context, and copy and pasted the job description, ask ChatGPT:
“What are the main skills and experiences they are looking for that I should highlight on my resume?”
For instance, if you input a Project Manager’s role into ChatGPT, it will sift through essential skills such as strong organization, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and informed decision-making capabilities. With this information, you can structure your resume in a way that directly highlights the right keywords that meet the expectations of the hiring manager.
Writing Strong Bullet Points
Now that you’ve got down the basics for your resume, let’s turn things up a notch with your bullet points. To start, you could ask ChatGPT:
“Provide resume bullet points that showcase metrics and impact for a role as a <INSERT ROLE>.”
ChatGPT will then respond with a collection of bullet points, highlighting action verbs that reflect your proactive style at work. Using the Project Manager’s role as an example, let’s look at some sample bullet points ChatGPT has generated:
- Led a team of X number of people, delivering a $X project X% ahead of schedule and within budget.
- Leveraged [software] to enhance project delivery speed by X%.
- Managed contracts with 15+ vendors, boosting project completion rate by X% and partner satisfaction by X%.
- Implemented risk management strategies that identified and mitigated potential issues, reducing project setbacks by X%.
- Orchestrated training sessions for team members, increasing project understanding by X% and enhancing team performance by X%.
Including these types of bullet points will show that you are a results-focused candidate with the right skills and experience for the role!
Doing Market Research
Next step is the interview stage! As I often share with my clients, how you prepare before the interview sometimes matters more than the interview itself. Invest time in getting to know the company inside-out, familiarize yourself with its culture, and stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the industry.
If you don’t know where to start, you can ask ChatGPT:
“I’ve got an interview with Company XYZ which is a leading player in the <INSERT INDUSTRY>. Share relevant market research for this industry and the latest news on this company.”
You’ll get a tailor-made list of hot topics you should know about to stay on point during your interview, especially when applying to industries that need specialized knowledge. Plus, ChatGPT will give you suggestions on how to get specific information when you want to dive deeper. This will be a great starting point for your research but I also encourage you to read through blog articles, listen to the CEO’s podcasts, and review their employees’ LinkedIn profiles.
Acing The Interview
Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to face the next challenge: nailing the interview! While every interview is unique, there will always be questions that are routinely asked by recruiters. This is where ChatGPT can help you prepare.
To get started, ask ChatGPT: “I have an interview for <ROLE> at Company ABC. What are the most common interview questions for <ROLE> and what are some sample answers I can share?”
Once you see the list of questions, choose one you’d like to hone in on, and follow it up with another prompt like this:
“I have five years of experience in project management, led an X number of people, used X software that increased our productivity by X%. How do I best answer ‘Tell me about yourself?’ for a project management role I’m applying for?”
ChatGPT will then give you an answer to help you build a strong story that connects your experience with the new role! The more context you give it, the better the advice becomes. But remember, ChatGPT is a tool and here to support you but will never replace the human element of interviews. So, use it to do your research but it’s on you to go out there and deliver! Rooting for you!
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