Artificial Intelligence Career Toolkit

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a category of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content based on patterns it has learned from existing data. It can autonomously generate outputs that mimic or extend upon human creativity.

Understanding how to use generative AI ethically can give you a competitive advantage by using its capabilities to brainstorm ideas, provide a starting point when developing your application materials, and enhance your creativity. Use these tips regarding how you may use AI in your career development/exploration, and how AI can help you create your application documents (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn sections).

Note: These tips are only to help you generate ideas for career exploration and career documents; these do not apply to your coursework in the classroom. Check with your professors regarding the use of AI when completing your assignments.

Things to Keep in Mind

Supplement AI with Human Advice - Meet with career specialists for personalized advice. AI can enhance, but not replace, human guidance. Schedule an appointment with a career specialist.

Verify the Information -

Check for Accuracy: When responding to prompts, AI can hallucinate (invent) false information. For example, when using AI to create something like a cover letter, be aware that it might make up details that didn’t really happen. Always double-check AI-generated content for accuracy.
Evaluate and Tailor: Be sure to evaluate and tailor the generated content to best reflect your skills, experience, and career goals.
Offensive/Biased Output: AI learns from various internet data. Keep in mind that some of it might be biased or offensive, and it won’t represent everyone’s perspective.
Ensure Information is Current: The information you receive from an AI prompt may not be up to date. Always check company websites for accurate information and job/internship postings.

Privacy - Be careful about sharing personal information when using AI tools. Check the privacy policy of the tool you’re using to understand how your data is handled. And remember, never include personal information like names or addresses in your AI search.

Be Ethical - AI can spark ideas, kickstart your writing, and enhance your work, but it should not be used as a substitute for your own effort. When using AI-generated content, make sure it matches your writing style and that you can discuss it confidently in an interview.

When using AI in career exploration, treat it as a starting point or a tool for revising content. Never rely on it entirely for creating application materials. Remember that AI-generated text isn’t considered your original writing. Avoid plagiarism by citing any sources you use, and always cite directly from the original source.

Use AI in Your Career Planning Process

While Generative AI can’t predict your entire career journey, it can offer a valuable starting point for research. Use it to explore careers related to your interests and values, enhance your job search and networking strategies, prepare for interviews, and tailor your application materials for specific job applications.

Major & Career Exploration
What (undergraduate/graduate) degree programs align with an interest in (interest)?

Generate a list of careers relating to (degree)

Generate a list of industries where professionals with a background in (major) are in high demand and provide insights into specific job titles

Job Search & Networking
What job search strategies help applicants seeking positions in (field) specifically?

What technical and soft skills should an applicant develop to excel in (field)?

What type of networking options or mentorship programs relate to (field)?

Resume & Cover Letter
What are the 15 most important skills in this job description? Which of those skills are missing from my resume? Include your resume (minus your name/contact information) and the job description.

Provide suggestions to optimize my resume for this position. Highlight key skills, experiences, and achievements.

I did these activities for [company]. Create a resume bullet point in the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe this work using strong action words and quantifiable information.

Interviewing
What are some common interview questions for (field/position title)?

For the following job description, please give me 10 possible interview questions. (Input job description.)

Now please provide some good example answers using the STAR method where possible. Answers should be confident and engaging, no more than three minutes.

Remember, you are ultimately responsible for any application materials you submit. Double-check everything for accuracy, make sure it truly reflects you, and avoid sharing personal data!