A Guide for Candidates: Using ChatGPT - Part I

Part I: The Job Application

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It’s no secret that ChatGPT has revolutionised many things across many sectors. It’s fast and relatively simple to use. But, to get a strong output, you have to give a strong input.

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Since its launch, we’ve seen AI-generated resumes, cover letters, and outreach messages. You name it, we’ve seen it. Some are fantastic. Others, not so much.

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But, we can’t deny that ChatGPT has the potential to be incredibly helpful for job seekers. Whether you’re looking for interview tips, need some help with your resume, or want to build a personal brand on LinkedIn to boost your credibility, ChatGPT claims to be able to help.

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Here are some prompt tips from ChatGPT themselves to maximise what results you get.

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In this series, we’ll explore and review ChatGPT’s capabilities for candidates. For now, let’s focus on the job application.

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So, how exactly can ChatGPT help?

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ChatGPT told us that it could help in 5 ways:

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1. Resume/CV review
2. Cover letter assistance
3. Job search strategies
4. Interview preparation
5. Job application tips

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We dug into each part to explore its capabilities and write a review.

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Resume/CV Review

Our rating: 1/10 ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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If you upload your resume to ChatGPT, it’ll offer feedback on its format, content, and effectiveness. It will also give you a template if you’re starting from scratch.

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We were hopeful but unfortunately, we weren’t impressed. ChatGPT gave a decent resume structure but offered very generic suggestions. It also gave no encouragement for candidates to add tangible evidence of their success to their resume - things like metrics, targets, and achievements - which is something we always strongly advise.

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Cover Letter Assistance

Our rating: 0/10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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Tell ChatGPT which job role and company you are applying for and it’ll generate a cover letter that aligns with the job description and requirements.

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Again, we were pretty disappointed with the results. ChatGPT’s output was super generic and very passive. For example, it highlighted the candidate’s “passion for sales” and their “keen understanding of the industry”, which are statements that anyone could use whether they’re qualified or not.

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If we received this cover letter, we wouldn’t interview the candidate! Again, we’d highly encourage adding tangible evidence of your “passion” and “understanding” by using examples of specific projects you’ve worked on and how you’ve performed against your targets.

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Job Search Strategies

Our rating: 10/10 ★★★★★★★★★★

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For this one, we pretended to be an Account Executive looking for a role in fintech and asked for help with a job search strategy.

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The results were fantastic. ChatGPT provided ten suggestions for our job search. Granted, some were common sense, but others were outside the box and encouraged candidates to be proactive, which we strongly agree with.

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Some of the highlights include:

• Research companies that align with your career goals, interests, and values.
• Participate in forums, social media groups, and online communities.
• Be proactive by directly contacting companies of interest, even if they don’t have a job opening listed. Reach out to hiring managers and recruiters to express your interest, enquire about potential opportunities, and share your qualifications and experiences.
• Optimise your LinkedIn profile, share thought leadership content, and engage in industry discussions to build a strong online presence.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasise your experience and achievements in fintech including specific projects and technologies you’ve worked with.
• Research common interview questions and prepare strong, concise responses. Showcase your understanding of the industry, trends, and regulatory landscape, and highlight your track record of driving sales, managing client relationships, and exceeding targets.
• Keep yourself updated with the latest trends, news, and advancements. In interviews, demonstrate your passion by discussing industry challenges and emerging technologies.

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Bravo, ChatGPT! 👏🏻

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Interview Preparation

Our rating: 8/10 ★★★★★★★★☆☆

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This one really relies on your input - you need to tell ChatGPT as much information as possible about the role and company that you’re applying for. It would also be helpful to tell it which stage of the process you’re at and which questions have been answered already.

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The results were generally good - ChatGPT offered good interview tips and good interview questions to ask at the end. But, they must be taken with a pinch of salt instead of being used blindly. Some questions need to be tailored and it’s important to make sure they haven’t already been answered elsewhere (or this could be interpreted as your lack of research).

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Job Application Tips

Our rating: 10/10 ★★★★★★★★★★

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ChatGPT ended on a high!

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It gave ten useful suggestions to help with job applications including tailoring your resume, carefully following instructions, and showcasing your achievements using tangible evidence. It is a little strange that it did not follow its own advice about tangible evidence when helping us tailor our resume, but we will forgive you, ChatGPT!

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Our Conclusion

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Overall, if you’re looking for general advice and ideas to support your job search, we would recommend giving ChatGPT a try. But, remember that your input will determine the output, so give as much information and context as possible.

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Also, don’t follow its guidance blindly. Take everything with a pinch of salt and remember that there are huge benefits if you do the work yourself. For example, your resume and cover letter will genuinely reflect you and you will be better prepared for interviews by doing the research yourself.

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Check back next week for Part II: The Job Search