Written by: Jeff Altman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Recently, Google relaunched its AI model Bard as Gemini. I’ve always held out hope for Google for job hunters because it has access to real-time data about job openings that other language models don’t have yet. I engaged in a conversation with Gemini about how it could help job hunters find work. This is the first in a series I’ll be doing specifically about Gemini.
I started by asking Gemini, “Act as if you are a very experience career coach. You have more than 40 years of recruiting experience and 8 years of job search coaching experience. You want to give someone an honest assessment of what Ai, in particular you, Gemini, can do to make a job search easier. What are 10 things you can do to make a job search easier and how can you do it for someone?
It provided 10 instances and then I dug deeper.
As a seasoned coach with decades of experience, I, Gemini, your AI assistant, can be your secret weapon in navigating the modern job search jungle. While I can't guarantee your dream job just like magic, here are 10 ways I can significantly ease your journey:
1. Targeted job hunting
Personalized algorithm: I analyze your skills, experience, and aspirations to match you with relevant jobs, filtering out the noise and saving you precious time. Think of it as having a 24/7 recruiter scouring the web for your perfect fit. To do this, ask “"Can you provide me with personalized job recommendations tailored to my skills, experience, and aspirations? I'm looking for a service that acts like a 24/7 recruiter, scouring the web for the perfect job fit while filtering out irrelevant noise and saving me valuable time." To dig deeper, ask, “ To delve even deeper and get more granular with the job-matching process, you could follow up with these prompts:
"Could you further refine the job recommendations based on specific industries or sectors that align with my interests?"
"Can you consider location preferences or remote work opportunities in the job recommendations?"
"Are there any particular company cultures or values that you can take into account when suggesting job matches?"
"Can you factor in my desired salary range or compensation package when providing job recommendations?"
"Is it possible to prioritize certain job attributes, such as career growth opportunities or work-life balance, in the recommendations?"
These follow-up prompts can help fine-tune the job-matching process to better align with the individual's preferences and priorities.
Then, I shared this advice at JobSearch.Community and found Gemini lied. It reported that “due to privacy concerns it cannot show me jobs that match my skillset, etc..” It just gave me advice on how to search for a job. It was such a good conversation and Gemini acted like a bad girl/boyfriend.
Future-proof your search: By understanding industry trends and emerging skills, I suggest jobs that align with your long-term career goals, helping you stay ahead of the curve. Then to dig deeper, ask
Industry trends
What are your ideal career aspirations in the next 5-10 years?
What type of role would allow you to contribute to the industry trends you identified?
What skills and experience do you need to acquire to reach your career goals?
How can you leverage your current skills and interests to align with future-proof jobs?
Research industry reports, articles, and expert interviews to stay updated on trends.
Talk to professionals in your field or those working in industries you're interested in.
Explore online courses, certifications, or bootcamps to develop relevant skills.
Network with people in your field and attend industry events to stay connected.
Highlight your future-proof skills and experience in your resume and cover letter.
Consider freelancing or volunteer work to gain experience in emerging areas.
By actively engaging with these prompts and taking action, you can ensure your job search is focused on future-proof opportunities that align with your long-term career goals. Remember, continuous learning and adaptability are key to staying ahead of the curve in today's dynamic job market.
2. Resume & cover letter magic
Keyword optimization: I analyze job descriptions and highlight your relevant skills, crafting a keyword-rich resume that passes Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and lands on human eyes. To do this, you would.
Step 1: Share the job description
Provide me with the link or text of the job description for the specific position you're applying for. This is crucial as it allows me to analyze the requirements and keywords used by the employer.
Step 2: Self-reflection & skills inventory
Tell me about your relevant skills and experience for this particular job. Highlight accomplishments, specific projects, and skills directly related to the job description.
Share any quantifiable achievements or metrics related to your skills. Numbers and data points can be powerful keywords.
Think about industry-specific jargon or acronyms relevant to the job or your field.
Step 3: AI-assisted optimization
Based on your input and the job description, I will analyze and identify the key skills, qualifications, and technical skills mentioned.
I will suggest relevant keywords to integrate into your resume, focusing on both ATS optimization and readability for human reviewers.
I can help you revise your existing resume content to strategically incorporate these keywords while maintaining natural flow and authenticity.
Step 4: Feedback & collaboration
I will provide a draft of your optimized resume with highlighted keywords and suggested changes.
We can work together to refine the resume based on your feedback and preferences. You have the final say on the content and wording.
Additionally, I can offer general resume writing tips and best practices to ensure your resume is polished and professional.
Remember, I'm here to assist you, not replace your judgment. As you review the suggestions, keep in mind:
Quality over quantity: Don't stuff your resume with keywords unnecessarily.
Maintain authenticity: While incorporating keywords, ensure your resume reflects your skills and personality genuinely.
Proofread carefully: Check for typos and grammatical errors after any edits.
Compelling storytelling: With AI-powered writing tools, I help you craft impactful cover letters that showcase your unique value proposition and leave a lasting impression. To do that, ask Gemini, To help you get the most out of AI-assisted cover letter creation, here's what you can do:
Gather key information
Target job & description: Share the specific job title and a link to the job description. Having access to the description is crucial for identifying relevant keywords and tailoring the message.
Client profile & achievements: Provide key details about your client's skills, experience, and accomplishments that directly relate to the target job. Highlight quantifiable achievements, unique projects, and relevant certifications.
Client's value proposition: Ask your client to describe their unique selling points (USPs) that distinguish them from other applicants. What specific value can they bring to the company? What sets them apart?
Motivation & goals: Understand your client's reason for wanting this job and their career aspirations. Are they passionate about the industry or company? What motivates them?
Crafting the cover letter
1. Prompt questions: Based on the gathered information, ask these prompts to guide the AI in crafting the cover letter:
Why are you interested in this specific position and company?
What skills and experiences from your previous roles most align with the job requirements?
Can you highlight a specific accomplishment or project that showcases your value proposition?
How would your unique skills and perspective benefit the company?
What are your career goals, and how does this position fit into your bigger picture?
Is there anything specific you want to address from the job description or company information?
2. Refine & personalize: Once the AI draft is generated, collaborate with your client to refine the content. Ensure it accurately reflects their voice, personality, and career aspirations.
3. Focus on storytelling: Encourage your client to share personal anecdotes or experiences that illustrate their skills and passion in a relatable way.
This means tailored content: No more generic applications! I personalize each resume and cover letter to speak directly to the specific requirements of each job, demonstrating your genuine interest.
Experiment with Gemini for job search. Connect with me on LinkedIn and then send a message to me about your experience with Gemini. Part 2 will be next month.
Jeff Altman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine People hire Jeff Altman to give them no bs job search advice and coaching globally because he makes getting a job much easier for people. He has written 11 books and guides to job search and hiring including "The Ultimate Job Interview Framework" and "The Right Answers to Tough Interview Questions” and is the host of No BS Job Search Advice Radio, the No.1 podcast in Apple Podcasts for job search with more than 2600 episodes, as well as JobSearchTV.com on YouTube.