AI for Internship and Job Seekers

By Cory Werkheiser
Director of Career Success
School of Business Student Success Center

You’ve probably heard your students say something about using AI for resumes, cover letters, and internship/job searches. I know it’s on their minds because I hear the stories almost daily. How it’s helpful, annoying, useless, amazing, life-changing, discouraging, etc. While they may disagree on its usefulness, they all use it on some level. Doubtless, with the ability to analyze large amounts of data, provide personalized recommendations, and streamline application processes, AI has become an indispensable tool for our students seeking internships and jobs. From resume optimization to interview preparation, AI-powered solutions are changing how candidates navigate the job market.

It’s been true for some time that candidates must include keywords/phrases from each posting in the resume and cover letter before applying. What was once a tedious process is now much faster, using generative AI to create customized documents for each application. Since the Internet became the central location for hiring in the early 2000s, companies have embraced Applicant Tracking System software to manage the tidal wave of applicants. ATS is programmed to look for keywords, and candidates skipping that step are typically the ones who get a rejection email almost as soon as they apply. Using AI resume tools, like Resume.io and Jobscan, can provide applicants with customized, personalized documents for each posting in a fraction of the time. A caution: just because the docs generate quickly doesn’t mean they are error-free. It’s amazing how many times it’s clear [insert name here] didn’t proofread the content. (Yes, I did that on purpose. No, it’s not because I generated this with AI and forgot to proof it, but I see this frequently in AI-generated cover letters.)

Job seekers should also use AI features built into platforms like LinkedIn and Handshake. By adding relevant skills, education, and experience, with an emphasis on keywords found in typical postings, LinkedIn and Handshake can help match candidates with appropriate employers and opportunities. AI-powered platforms, including LinkedIn, use machine learning algorithms to analyze content and recommend suitable postings. But the keyword is “relevant.” Students with skills and experience focused on tasks for jobs like F/B and retail will continue to get F/B and retail postings pushed from LinkedIn.

Finally, AI has greatly enhanced preparation for the dreaded interview. The Student Success Center provides free access to Big Interview (https://cofc.biginterview.com/) to help prepare for interviews with built-in AI reviews of the student’s practice answers. Immediate feedback on filler words, eye contact, and concise yet thorough answers helps students practice and prepare. Employers, particularly in business, are using AI platforms like HireVue to narrow the field of applicants before a human is even involved. Getting comfortable with video interviews using Big Interview will help students perform better when they get the link to HireVue for the internship or job they applied for.

You may recall the good old days when you could drop off a paper application at the Personnel Office and meet face-to-face with a hiring manager. Over the last quarter century, the Internet, Applicant Tracking System software, and AI have altered the application and interview process to an impersonal level. Students need to understand the process and use the resources available (especially the SB Student Success Center) to demonstrate their relevant skills and experience, with polished interview techniques, to every employer in every situation.