Should I Use AI To Apply For Jobs For Me?

iStock | hirun

Given the choice between filling out seemingly endless job applications and an invasive root canal, many people would have their dentist on the phone within minutes. Contemporary job applications are laborious, repetitive, frustrating, and, once finally complete, are sent into a digital void reminiscent of the 1979 film, “The Black Hole,” which is described as “the vast empty nothingness where time and space end.”

If you believe that describes the fate of your job applications you’re not alone. If you have the resources, the temptation to outsource job applications is strong. You can pay people all over the world to fill them out for you. However, that is so 2022. The new hip and happening way to punt the grunt work to a third party is Artificial Intelligence. AI bot services like LazyApply and Sonara specialize in filling out a ridiculous number of job applications on your behalf “while you sleep.”

AI-powered job applications sound like the answer to all your hopes and dreams, doesn’t it? AI does the heavy lifting and you swoop in for the interviews and dazzle your future employer with your mad skills and effervescent personality. Everybody wins. Right? Unfortunately, using AI to apply for jobs is more nuanced. Not everybody is on board and the pitfalls may outweigh the benefits.

1.     AI is not ready for primetime. AI, whether it’s Chat GPT or LazyApply, is in the beta testing phase. Think of self-driving cars. The technology exists and at some future point, it may actually work without killing someone. Meanwhile, your average person isn’t comfortable letting the car drive itself. Similar caution should be applied to AI-powered job applications. For example, AI likes to make stuff up. A typo on your resume can sink your chances. Content that goes off the rails on your job application not only dooms your prospects but may be so obviously AI-generated that you permanently lose the confidence of recruiters and hiring managers. Sloppy work isn’t in demand.

2.     Recruiters don’t like it. AI-powered applications are like a black snake slithering across a white floor – they’re easy to spot and the general reaction isn’t positive. If you can’t be bothered to fill out your own application, why would a recruiter believe you’re serious about the company they represent? If you’re using an AI bot with the term “lazy” in it, it’s not a stretch to associate that trait with the applicant. If you’re literally not doing the work, that’s the first and maybe the last impression you’re making. While there are recruiters who may not mind, for most AI-powered applications are a turn-off. You should ask yourself if the benefits of AI are worth the risk of compromising your professional reputation.

3.    You’re not in control of your fate. If you’re asleep and an AI bot is charged with the most important task in your life – finding gainful employment and advancing your professional goals – you have no idea what’s being done on your behalf. You may not know all the places “you” to which you have applied or if your applications are being sent to companies you want to target. That can make for some awkward conversations if a recruiter or hiring manager actually reaches out to you. Yes, you will save time. Yes, you may score some interviews. However, you’re flying blind and that isn’t the best way to travel. For example, AI bots will apply to the same job twice with different content. That raises multiple red flags you don’t want.

4.     Quality over quantity. It is true that searching for a job can be a numbers game. Getting through all the digital gates (e.g., applicant tracking systems) is important and can be difficult. AI bots can apply to so many jobs that the sheer number will most likely result in more applications slipping through (in a click). At some point, however, the numbers game can turn into saturation that degrades the process and, by extension, you. You’re selling yourself. Are you an AI-powered bot? You’re not. So, who are you? That’s what potential employers want to know. If your goal is to send as many applications as possible as quickly as possible regardless of the final product, which, once again, is you, then AI-powered applications may be the perfect solution. If you want to find the job of your dreams, fewer, high-quality applications may be more work and take more time, but the end result will be better.

5.     Job applications are legal documents. During the job search process, both the employer and job seeker have legal obligations. Employers must follow laws about what information they can request and job seekers are obligated to tell the truth. If an AI bot provides inaccurate information and you didn’t know about it because you were asleep then the consequences are somewhat deserved. Ignorance is not an excuse.

6.     People like people. Sure, R2D2 and C3PO are great and who doesn’t want a protocol droid who can speak five billion languages? But, like Will Rogers said, “It’s great to be great, but it’s greater to be human.” There really is no substitute for person-to-person communication and face-to-face encounters. There’s a reason a machine-made wine glass is $10 and a mouth-blown one is $50. The machine-made one is an impersonal object identical to all others and the mouth-blown one is an artisanal extension of human talent. When you’re targeting a company, a customized application that makes an emotional connection with whoever reads it is ideal. AI can’t do that. Not yet.

7.     Artificial Intelligence can still be remarkable. Artificial intelligence is an exciting and mind-blowing technology, and, when used in the right way, can accelerate what we want to achieve. In our current moment, AI is a fantastic tool to supplement whatever it is you want to do. Explore how AI can help you write cover letters, resumes, and LinkedIn/job board profiles. AI can reduce your upfront work and associated stress. The many benefits of AI really can make things easier for you. However, ceding complete authority to AI in important aspects of your life, like job applications, may still be too risky. Take the time to weigh AI’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Don’t let AI eclipse the number one thing needed to find a new job – you.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

The Era Of Career Inertia: What Do You Do If There’s Nowhere To Go?

iStockphoto | Harvepino

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “The New Headache for Bosses: Employees Aren’t Quitting,” (11/6/23) the Great Resignation has given way to record low attrition rates at many large companies. Nobody is going anywhere, which means two things. First, when financial projections overshoot reality employers balance the budget by cutting staff. Second, if you’re not cut, record-low attrition rates mean record-low promotions.

For example, let’s say you work for one of the companies featured in the WSJ article, like a big bank or pharmaceutical company, and your career is suddenly on pause because of low attrition, looming and corresponding layoffs, and a contraction, if not elimination, of internal advancement opportunities coupled with a more restrictive and competitive external job market. That puts high-performing and ambitious professionals in an epic bind. 

The immediate issue is you may be caught up in a wave of terminations. If you remain where you are, you’re stuck and you’re not learning the new skills and gaining the next level of work experience that advances careers.

What do you do if there’s nowhere to go?

1)    Acknowledge the situation. The shift from mass quitting to no quitting has been so swift and unexpected, that you may not be aware of this trend and its potential consequences. The same applies if you work somewhere that’s the opposite in every way to the corporate behemoths that were the focus of the WSJ article, but your employer’s existing structure has built-in limitations. Take a look at your situation and make a sober and honest decision about whether or not your personal circumstances are likely to be affected by the current labor stagnation.

2)    Assess your options. If you believe your job may be in jeopardy or you can’t advance in your current position, take an honest look at your situation. For example, let’s say you work for a company where the top-level jobs earn a percentage of sales. Naturally, if you do not make a percentage of sales you want to advance into the role that does. If you can’t, it follows you would want to go somewhere you can. What can you do to help yourself land a position like that somewhere else?

3)    Stretch the boundaries of your job. Being stuck in your job doesn’t mean you have to be complacent. Chart out new initiatives and responsibilities. Develop novel approaches to squeeze all you can out of your position. If you elevate your experience and visibility, it can only help down the road. On your resume, self-initiated growth demonstrates a proactive mentality and an advanced level of professionalism.

4)    Take opportunities where you can. Training? Take it. Upskilling? Do it. Earn professional certifications. Attend conferences.  Join professional organizations. Connect with alumni groups. Volunteer. Fill your quiver with as many arrows as you can.

5)    Speak to your manager. If you work at a company where the pathways to advancement are vague, speak to your manager. Ask what they are. Have a candid conversation about your personal goals and how best to position yourself to reach them, whether it’s with your current employer or into the great unknown.

6)    See what’s out there. You may be a member of the 73% of people who reported this year that they plan to stay at their jobs, but you may consider that now is the time to explore other opportunities. Just dip your toes in. You may discover the grass really is greener where you are, but you don’t really know until you do the research.

7)    Do your best work. Top-performing employees typically rise to the top. If you do an exceptional job, advancement will come your way. Some extra patience and innovation may be needed in the current climate, but your professional accomplishments will be rewarded.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Busted! What To Do If Your Boss Finds Out You're Looking For A New Job

iStock | ioanmasay

Job hunting is difficult and complicated. So, you’ve put word out on the street that you’re open to hearing about new jobs. Lucky you – your boss just called you into her office to say she just found out you’re actively looking for a new job. In professional parlance, you’re busted. Here are some tips to manage this awkward reality:

1.     Don’t put yourself in this position. Manage your search with discretion. Don’t let anyone know. Don’t post your resume on job boards. Don’t activate the “Open to Work” icon on LinkedIn. Don’t use a company phone or email in contacting potential employers, since those are company property that track everything that’s on there. Conduct your search on personal time using personal equipment. Schedule interviews on a day off. There are only so many “doctor appointments” you can have before things get suspicious, so use common sense and keep your search a secret from everyone except people who absolutely must know (such as references).

2.     Assess the situation: You’re busted, but circumstances vary. Did you show up to the same job interview as your boss? Yes, that happens more than you think. Or were you careless and posted your resume on a public job board? Make as honest an assessment of all the moving parts in your particular case and proceed accordingly.

3.     Prepare for the worst. You may have no idea what kind of retribution may be forthcoming, which would not be surprising as this is a scenario that isn’t covered in most employee handbooks. With exceptions made for extreme situations like corporate restructuring that includes mass layoffs, it’s common sense that you don’t want your current employer to know you’re searching for a new employer. It’s like you’re cheating on them and hell hath no fury like a company scorned. The axe may fall.

4.     Are you the “Purple Squirrel”? If you’re one of the only people who know the secret formula for the widgets your company produces, or you’re the last standing COBOL programmer keeping the accounting software from wheezing toward a painful end, you may be the exception in this whole shakedown. It’s good to be indispensable. When they find out you have a foot and a half out the door, the company may take steps to retain you – or not.

5.     The coverup is worse than the crime: If you’re not immediately terminated, come clean. There is no reason to deny what there is clear evidence to support. Do not add, “lying through your teeth,” to the conversation. You can downplay the details but don’t lie. There’s nothing like a “moment of truth” to clarify what you want to do. If your admission rolls off your tongue easy as Sunday morning and you feel like a million bucks afterward then that is that. However, sometimes getting caught makes you realize you don’t really want to go anywhere. You’re inclined to stay, but only if your overall situation improved. For a brief moment, the door is open to that dialogue, as in number 6…

6.     If the door is open, take the opportunity to have a conversation about your career. If you’re caught looking for a new position, chances are you will need to address the situation directly. Request a meeting and express your commitment to your current role while emphasizing your reasons for exploring other options. Go in with a written career plan that spells out your long-term career goals and see if you can align on a path forward.

7.     Plan your next steps: Evaluate your options. Should you stay, or should you go? Only you can decide whether or not staying in your current position is the best course of action. Don’t make any false promises to stay. If it’s out in the open that you plan to move on, do so in as expedient and professional a manner as possible, and do your best work! Exceed expectations.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.