6 Ways to Use AI in Your Job Search

About 88% of companies used some form of artificial intelligence (AI) to screen job candidates in 2025, the World Economic Forum reports, and that number is likely to grow as the technology gains greater adoption.

At the same time, there’s growing reason to be thoughtful about how you use AI in your job search. Used well, AI can help strengthen your application materials. But relying on it too heavily can make resumes sound generic, strip away the personality that helps you stand out, or introduce details that don’t quite reflect your experience.

In other words, AI can be a useful tool, but simply copying what it gives you and hitting submit can work against you.

This guide offers tips for using AI responsibly during your job search.

1. Get Job and Career Path Recommendations

When searching for a job, you may focus on a specific job title or role, which could limit your job opportunities. AI can help identify roles that align with your skills, education, and career goals, including positions you may not have considered.

Use AI to broaden your search by asking it to:

• Analyze your background and suggest relevant job titles
• Identify transferable skills and adjacent career paths
• Find jobs based on location, salary range, industry, work arrangement (remote/hybrid), and experience level

Example Prompts

• Based on my bachelor’s degree in business administration and 3 years of customer service experience, what career paths should I consider?
• Which entry-level jobs align with someone with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability?
• What remote positions match my experience in health care administration?

2. Create Targeted Employer Lists

Instead of waiting for jobs to appear in your search results, use AI to build a targeted list of organizations that fit your degree, career goals, and location. You can create lists of employers based on industry, function, location, company size, or remote work opportunities.

Example Prompts

• Create a list of 50 nonprofit employers in New York City that hire recent graduates.
• What are the 20 most notable accounting firms in the Dallas area?
• Provide a list of 20 organizations focused on fire and emergency management in the Pacific Northwest.

3. Optimize Your Resume and Cover Letter

According to Jobscan, almost 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage applications. These tools scan your resume for relevant keywords and put it into a “yes” or “no” digital pile.

Use AI to:

• Identify keywords for inclusion in your resume
• Tailor your cover letter to the specific role
• Proofread for clarity, grammar, and typos

Example Prompts

• Compare my resume to this job description and identify any important skills, qualifications, or keywords that may be missing.
• Rewrite these resume bullet points to be more results-oriented and concise while remaining truthful to my experience.
• Review this cover letter and suggest ways to make it more specific, professional, and tailored to the employer.

Caveat: Use AI to Improve, Not Write the Final Versions

The most effective resumes and cover letters combine AI-assisted optimization with genuine experiences, accomplishments, and career goals. Think of AI as an editor and coach, not a replacement for your own judgment. Purdue Global students and graduates also have access to VMock, which provides AI-powered feedback to help strengthen resumes and cover letters.

>>Related Reading: How to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

4. Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is one of the most important tools for professional networking and recruiting. For some premium members, LinkedIn offers an AI-powered writing assistant to strengthen your profile and improve visibility in recruiter searches. Use it to:

• Optimize your headline
• Strengthen your About section
• Clarify your job descriptions and duties for positions listed within your Experience section

If you don’t have access to the AI writing tools within LinkedIn, you can use an AI tool outside of LinkedIn to optimize your headline and profile. Tools such as Gemini don’t have direct access to your LinkedIn profile, but you can summarize your information and ask for relevant suggestions.

Example Prompts

• Help me rewrite this bullet point using an action verb: [insert your bullet point here].
• Suggest five LinkedIn headlines for an RN who has recently earned a BSN degree.
• Based on my resume and career goals, what important information may be missing from my LinkedIn profile?

5. Brainstorm Strategic Answers to Application Questions

Many application questions are designed to reveal how you think and communicate. AI can help organize your thoughts before you submit your response. Use it to:

• Interpret what the question is “really” asking (what employers may be looking for with this question)
• Identify relevant experiences
• Structure your responses
• Check for grammar issues and typos

Example Prompts

• What skills or qualities are employers likely to evaluate when they ask this question?
• I have three possible examples for this question. Which one would likely be strongest, and why?
• Review this response and suggest ways to make it more specific and compelling while keeping my original voice.

6. Prepare for Interviews

Employers want to see that you have prepared for the interview, can think on your feet, and can connect your experiences to their needs. Use AI to:

• Research employers
• Anticipate likely interview questions
• Structure stronger responses
• Conduct mock interviews

Example Prompts

• Summarize this company’s mission, recent news, and competitive landscape. What should I know before interviewing?
• What behavioral interview questions should I expect for an entry-level accounting position?
• What are some insightful questions I can ask someone in a finance role about their team structure and goals?

Purdue Global students have access to the AI-driven interview training tool Big Interview, which through video analysis provides feedback on vocabulary, cadence, eye contact, and use of filler words like “so” or “um.”

Tips for Using AI in Your Job Search

1. Always Review AI Outputs

AI can make mistakes and be biased. Always evaluate output using critical judgment, and never blindly accept suggestions from any AI tool. Building strong AI skills can also help you use these tools more effectively and responsibly throughout your career.

Note: If an employer specifically prohibits the use of AI during an assessment or application process, follow those instructions.

2. Add Your Own Voice

AI is excellent for generating first drafts and helping you identify points you may have overlooked — but always add your own voice, specific details, and honest experiences. Recruiters can quickly spot generic AI copy, especially in cover letters and application essays.

3. Specificity Is Everything

The more context you give AI (the actual job description, your real bullet points, your genuine reasons for wanting a role), the more useful the output. Vague prompts produce vague results.

4. Don’t Share Sensitive Information

Experts warn against sharing your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information.

AI doesn’t replace your job search, but it can help you do parts of your job search faster and better.

Purdue Global Is Here to Help

Purdue Global’s Center for Career Advancement offers students and alumni assistance with various aspects of the job search. Students and alumni gain access to the CareerNetwork platform, where they can search and apply for jobs, request a resume review, explore career-related resources, post questions to the online community, and more.

Are you thinking about going back to college to earn a degree online? Purdue Global offers more than 175 online programs to help you reach your career goals. Request more information today.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.