One of the worst ways to use ChatGPT as a job seeker is to rely on those viral posts on LinkedIn that promise the world with a one or two-sentence prompt. Many of these so-called tips claim to help you research a company, generate a personalized cover letter, or even prepare for interviews. But here\’s the truth: these quick fixes are often written by people who aren’t even job seekers themselves, and their advice hasn’t been tested. The main purpose of these posts is to generate hype and get you to sign up for their products.
So, how do you really leverage ChatGPT as a job seeker? In this post, we’ll walk through better, tested methods to research companies, craft compelling cover letters, and prepare for your interviews. We’ll also debunk some common misconceptions and introduce techniques like Chain of Thought prompting that can take your job search to the next level.
1. Avoid Generic Prompts for Company Research
You’ve probably seen LinkedIn posts with prompts like, \”Research this company and give me all the information I need for my job application.\” Sounds convenient, right? But these kinds of prompts are way too broad and often lead to generic, shallow results. The authors of these prompts clearly haven’t done their homework. They don\’t know what it’s like to be in the trenches, researching companies and applying for jobs.
A Better Approach:
One of the best ways to research companies as a candidate is to get specific. Assume the role of a job search coach with over 20 years of experience. Then, ask ChatGPT something like this:
\”I’m interviewing for the product marketing manager position at Stripe. Your task is to conduct detailed research and return the following: Stripe\’s core business model, how they make money, their top three competitors, and how Stripe’s products are differentiated. Also, provide specific tips for candidates applying for the product marketing manager position.\”
This prompt follows the 80/20 rule by only asking for information relevant to the initial research phase of your job application process. You’ll get a comprehensive overview of the business model, competitive landscape, and the key experiences you should emphasize in your application materials.
2. Don’t Rely on ChatGPT for Complete Cover Letters
Another bad piece of advice floating around is the idea that you can use ChatGPT to generate an entire cover letter with one simple prompt. This is almost guaranteed to leave you with a cover letter that feels generic and robotic. Current AI models struggle with solving complex problems like writing a personalized cover letter from start to finish in one go.
Introducing Chain of Thought Prompting:
Instead of using one prompt to write your entire cover letter, break it into parts—let’s say, paragraphs. Use separate prompts to generate each section of the cover letter. Here’s how you can do it:
- Start with a Strong Hook: Assume the role of an experienced career coach for the rest of this conversation. Begin by sharing your resume with ChatGPT. There’s no need to take additional action. If ChatGPT understands, it will respond with \”yes.\” Next, share the job description for the position you\’re applying for. Again, no further action is needed if it understands.Now, prompt ChatGPT to reverse-engineer the job description to uncover exactly what the company is looking for. Ask it to analyze the job description and identify the biggest challenge someone in this position would face day-to-day. Request the root cause of this issue.Finally, ask ChatGPT to write an attention-grabbing hook for your cover letter that highlights your experience and qualifications, showing you can tackle the challenges mentioned in the job description. Ask for three variations of a 70-word hook.Using four prompts instead of one may seem like more work, but the high-quality output you get from ChatGPT is well worth the additional effort.
- Expand on Relevant Experiences: After getting your hook, it’s time to flesh out the second paragraph of your cover letter. Use this prompt:\”Now your task is to write the next paragraph of my cover letter by expanding on a specific experience from my resume that most relates to the cover letter hook.\”This focused approach ensures that your cover letter is cohesive and relevant.
- Close with a Strong Finish: Finally, prompt ChatGPT to close out your cover letter with a concise paragraph reiterating your strong interest in the role. Keep it within 50 words.Yes, some edits will be needed, but using these prompts will shave hours off the cover letter writing process across multiple job applications.
3. Be Cautious with Auto-Apply Tools
One of the worst trends in job hunting is relying on auto-apply tools that market themselves as a one-click solution for job seekers. As we’ve established, the more tailored your application, the higher your chances of success. AI can make the process more efficient, but it doesn’t replace the work you have to do.
Why Tailored Applications Matter:
Auto-apply tools often result in a one-size-fits-all application that doesn’t stand out. Instead, use AI tools that complement your workflow rather than trying to replace it entirely.
For instance, some tools allow you to import your experiences and tailor your resume bullet points to match specific job descriptions. You can select the job description, pick a bullet point, and then use AI to customize that bullet point to fit the role you’re applying for. This method allows you to leverage AI for efficiency while still maintaining the necessary level of personalization.
4. Steal with Pride: Learn from Successful Job Seekers
Another effective strategy is what I like to call \”steal with pride.\” This involves taking inspiration from others who have succeeded in their job search and adapting their methods to your own.
Example 1: Crafting LinkedIn Headlines
Find a LinkedIn creator or professional whose headline stands out and prompt ChatGPT like this:
\”Assume the role of a career coach with over 20 years of experience. I will share my resume, and your task is to generate an eye-catching LinkedIn headline for my profile using this template: [paste a headline template you like]. Keep the headline within 100 characters and give me three variations. Here’s my resume.\”
This approach helps you create a LinkedIn headline that captures attention and is aligned with your professional goals.
Example 2: Writing Professional Summaries
Similarly, you can use this method for crafting professional summaries for your resume. First, find a mentor or colleague whose professional summary you admire. Then, prompt ChatGPT with something like:
\”Assume the role of a career coach with over 20 years of experience. I will share my resume, and your task is to generate a concise and compelling professional summary for my resume. Use the structure of this professional summary from my colleague who just successfully landed a new job: [insert example]. Keep the summary within 200 characters, include quantifiable metrics, exclude adjectives and adverbs, and give me three variations. Here’s my resume.\”
This method ensures that your professional summary is not only concise but also impactful.
5. Learn from the Best: Using Reputable Sources to Tailor Your Application
When it comes to job applications, learning from reputable sources is key. For example, if you find an article or a guide that offers advice on resume writing or interview preparation, you can ask ChatGPT to help you apply those insights to your own situation.
How to Implement This:
Let’s say you’ve read an insightful article where an expert analyzed a large number of resumes. You can prompt ChatGPT like this:
\”First, I’ll share the link to this article where the expert analyzed over 125,000 resumes. No action needed for now. If you understand, please respond with yes. Then, I’ll share the job description of the role I’m applying for. Again, no action needed if you understand—just respond with yes. Finally, based on the article and the role I’m applying for, your task is to analyze my resume and give me 10 specific recommendations on how I can tailor my resume for the target role. Be as detailed as possible. Here’s my resume.\”
This strategy leverages the best practices from industry experts and applies them to your specific job search.
Pro Tip: Using the XYZ Bullet Point Structure
One of the best examples of learning from the best comes from Google recruiters who recommend using the XYZ bullet point structure in resumes. The structure is simple:
\”I accomplished X by doing Y, which resulted in Z.\”
To implement this, copy and paste each bullet point from your resume into this prompt:
\”You are an expert resume writer with over 20 years of experience. I will share a bullet point I have on my resume. Your task is to rewrite the bullet point using this structure: I accomplished X by doing Y, which resulted in Z. Use compelling language and keep the bullet point within 50 words. Here’s my bullet point.\”
This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to upgrade your resume with minimal effort.
Final Thoughts:
Using ChatGPT effectively as a job seeker requires more than just copying and pasting popular prompts from LinkedIn. By avoiding the pitfalls of generic prompts, taking the time to use advanced techniques like Chain of Thought prompting, and leveraging AI tools that complement rather than replace your efforts, you can significantly improve your job search outcomes.
Remember, the more you tailor your application materials—whether it’s through in-depth company research, personalized cover letters, or optimized resumes—the better your chances of landing the job. So, take these strategies, put them into practice, and start seeing the results you deserve.