ChatGPT cheat sheet for your job search

Leveling up your job hunt using A.I.

Robot interviewing for a job. | Art generated by Leonardo.ai

“When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

ChatGPT isn’t magic. It’s a tool.

But like all tools, it can be wildly helpful if you know how to use it. It can function as a job coach, writer, editor, and research assistant.

But only if it gets the right inputs. And only if you know what to do with the results.

Part of the secret sauce of ChatGPT is writing good prompts. Prompt is just a fancy word for the instructions you give the system. The better and more specific those prompts are, the better results you will get.

So I’ve gathered up a bunch of prompts you can use in your job search. But first, some things to keep in mind:

• Start with the basics. Get your resume, and any job listings you are considering applying for, into plain text. Those can be pasted into the system to provide it with a starting point.

• A.I. loves data. The more specific and detailed you can be with your prompts, the better results you will get back. Context helps ChatGPT give you good answers.

• It remembers. Each prompt/question in a single session can build on a previous one. So you can input your resume text once, then ask a series of questions about it.

• Never use it for final product. ChatGPT’s writing is still quite generic, and any “facts” it might unearth aren’t necessarily correct. So use it for brainstorming and first drafts; don’t just cut and paste.

Research

• Tell me about [company]. Provide details on their history, mission, and services.

• List 7 of the biggest challenges currently faced by [industry].

• I am looking for a job in [industry]. Here is my current resume: [resume]. List 15 common job titles I can use to search for job listings online.

• What are some online courses or certifications that can develop my skills in [industry]?

• I currently work in [industry]. I want to pivot to [new industry]. Here is my current resume: [resume] How can I leverage my existing skills to accomplish this pivot?

• Tell me how [Company A] compares to [Company B] and [Company C].

• Write a brief LinkedIn message, less than 100 words, to a recruiter in [industry]. Highlight my expertise in [skills].

• List 5 job search websites that I should monitor in [industry]. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Materials

• Write a short cover letter highlighting my experience for [job title].

• Edit my current cover letter draft and list recommendations to improve it. [cover letter text]

• What are 12 keywords I should include in my cover letter and resume to improve my chances of being chosen for an interview for [job title]?

• Here is my resume. [resume plain text] Give me suggestions for improving it in an application for [job title] with [company].

• Here is a job description. [job description] Summarize 5 key qualifications I need to have to be a top candidate for this job.

• Write a resume professional summary based on my current resume and the requirements of the job listing I provided.

• Write an engaging LinkedIn headline in less than 220 characters for [industry]. Use keywords such as: [Keyword 1], [Keyword 2], [Keyword 3].

• Write a LinkedIn “About” section based on my resume and current LinkedIn profile [link], focusing on how I can solve problems in [industry].

• Proofread my [resume/cover letter/etc.] Highlight and correct any errors in spelling, syntax or sentence structure.

Interviews

• Suggest 10 questions I could be asked in a job interview for [job title].

• Help me brainstorm an answer for #5 [question from previous prompt].

• Conduct a mock job interview with me. Ask me those 10 questions, then give me feedback on my answers as if you were the hiring manager.

• Suggest 5 questions I could ask in an interview for [job title], showing my willingness to solve their problems.

• Give me 3 examples of job interview answers using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) for [job title/industry]. Explain each step.

• Help me develop a 30-second elevator pitch, based on my resume: [resume].

• Write a short thank-you email I can send to the hiring manager for [position] at [company].

• I’ve been asked to prepare a presentation in a job interview for [company] in [industry]. Give me 5 possible topics and an outline of the content for each.

BONUS TIP: You can click the “Regenerate” button above the prompt box to ask ChatGPT to give you another response without re-writing the prompt. This can give you some new ideas if you’re not satisfied with the first result.

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Of course, this just scratches the surface of what you can do with ChatGPT. It’s quite amazing that tech like this exists, and you can use it for free.

In case you didn’t see it, you might want to check out my first article on ChatGPT. It’s more of an introduction to the system.

If you’re interested in learning more about A.I. in general, there are two newsletters I would recommend: Superhuman and The Deep View.

See you next week!