The tech world has recently been a buzz with AI Technologies such as ChatGPT. These computer programs use algorithms to do amazing things, mimicking human interaction and language.
What effect might this have on the job application process? Below, we’ll discuss how computers are already affecting the hiring process – and how they have been doing so for years.
We’ll also look at how ChatGPT may make human resource departments more responsive to emails and social media inquiries, as well as whether you should use ChatGPT to write your resume – and how to do it the right way.
How Computers Already Affect the Job Application Process
Even before the advent of ChatGPT, computer programs were actively involved in the job application process. These programs are known as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
What does the ATS do? They sort and rank resumes and applications to help hiring managers quickly find the most qualified candidates. One way they do this is by looking for resume keywords.
Resume keywords may be skills, education requirements, or experience requirements listed in the original job posting. You should always examine job postings for potential keywords, but a lot of keywords are transferable between positions. You can check out this keywords example for resumes to discover more than 500 common resume keywords. Do any of these appear in your job listing?
Automating Other Parts of the Process
Busy people are always looking for solutions to help them be more productive at work. ChatGPT may be used to help Human Resources departments become more responsive during the hiring process by automating emails.
For example, Google Chrome extensions like chat GPT Writer can quickly compose personalized email responses. The product’s demo, for example, shows a job applicant commanding the extension, “Generate a reply to this email that I’m interested, ask about salary and remote work options.”
The Engage AI extension does something similar for social media. Engage AI can read others’ posts “and generate a comment on your behalf based on the content contained in the post. You can choose the tone of your comment—friendly, funny, disagreeable, congratulatory, or inquisitive—and edit it before you send it out.”
Don’t Let A Computer Write Your Resume
Even though it is only been a short time since its release, ChatGPT has been shown to accomplish amazing feats of linguistics. However, you shouldn’t use it to write your resume any more than a college student should use it to write an important paper. Why not?
The main reason is that your personality should go into every cover letter and resume, and these documents should be tailored to each position you apply for.
However, as the magazine Fast Company recently noted, ChatGPT can be used as an inspiration or basis for drafting these documents, much like an online resume template.
One human resources consultant pasted a job description into ChatGPT and asked it to create a cover letter. She was surprised by how well it included keywords and the company’s mission and values. She said, “I was blown away by how good the cover letter was. You would still need to edit it before you created your final draft, but it’s a good start.”
Some recruiters, however, have found AI-generated resumes and cover letters to be “sterile or generic.” Others mentioned that these automated documents work better for junior-level positions where differentiation between candidate skill levels is less defined.
So, if you do choose to use this new tool in formulating cover letters and resumes, you should always review the material to make sure it is accurate, honest, and relevant. Remember the need to make it your own, as other candidates may also be using ChatGPT to help with their resumes and cover letters.
Will ChatGPT Replace My Job?
Some people worry that ChatGPT will result in the elimination of some jobs, such as those in customer service. AI founder Mihir Shukla estimates that “anywhere from 15% to 70% of all the work we do in front of the computer could be automated.”
At the same time, it is predicted that AI technology will also create jobs – a pattern seen with many technological advancements throughout history.
Key Takeaways
You shouldn’t be overly concerned that ChatGPT will interrupt the job application process. After all, ATS software has been analyzing and ranking resumes for years. At best, ChatGPT may make this process more accurate and intuitive. It may also help human resource departments respond more efficiently to inquiries.
You can use ChatGPT to help you draft a basic outline for your resume or cover letter, but you should edit the document carefully and tailor your resume to each job you apply for.
While AI technology may minimize the need for some positions, it will also create new jobs.
