Artificial Intelligence: A Tool for Finding Employment

At a recent NCBiotech Career Development Network event, career coach Lauri Andrews provided a practical guide for using AI strategically at every stage of a job search, from clarifying career goals to acing the final interview.

AI is fully embedded in the hiring process

Andrews emphasized that AI is utilized in nearly every part of the hiring process. Understanding how the technology works is the first step to working with it, rather than against it.

  • Sourcing: AI routinely scans professional profiles and job databases to identify potential candidates
  • Screening: Applicant tracking systems (ATS) now handle much of the resume review, ranking candidates based on keywords before a human ever sees an application
  • Interviewing: Some companies use AI to schedule and conduct interviews, analyzing candidates' responses in real time

Ideally, job seekers should be searchable on platforms like LinkedIn, keep resumes ATS-friendly, and feel comfortable with AI-driven video interviews. 

Artificial Intelligence: A Tool for Finding Employment  

The same technology reshaping hiring can help job seekers get more creative and effective in their search.

Andrews recommends using AI for the following roles:

  • Editor: AI refines and enhances existing resume content
  • Thought partner: AI helps job seekers brainstorm career paths and articulate their value
  • Personal assistant: AI can handle research and organizational tasks, like tracking job postings

Use the RACE Method for better AI Prompting

Generative AI results are only as good as the prompt it’s given. A prompt with clarity and context will yield the best results. When using AI tools while job searching, Andrews recommends using the RACE framework:

  • Role: What role should AI play (i.e., career coach, seasoned recruiter, or research analyst)?  
  • Action: What specific task do you want AI to complete?
  • Context: What information should AI use? Think about job descriptions, your resume, or assessment results.
  • Expectation: What should the final output look like?

Four stages of an AI-Powered job search

Clarify your goals

  • Before writing a resume or applying for a job, it’s important to set clear goals
  • Think about what energizes you, not just what you're good at or what others expect of you
  • Build a short elevator pitch
  • Validate AI’s suggestions with working professionals. AI can hallucinate. So treat its recommendations as a starting point, not a final answer.

Use AI to optimize your resume

Use AI as an editor to enhance your resume with stronger action words and ensure all content is ATS-friendly.

  • Put contact information in the body of the resume. ATS can’t always read headers.
  • Use clean, simple fonts
  • Divide content into sections: summary, skills, experience, education, certifications
  • Include keywords from the job description. Skip generic phrases like “team player” or “hard worker.”
  • Focus on specific tasks and measurable results  

Search for jobs and network

  • With clear goals and a strong personal brand in place, the focus shifts to creating job alerts and networking
  • Expand your search beyond LinkedIn. Some companies don’t post jobs there due to high costs
  • Create job alerts on NCBiotech’s Career Center, which only lists life sciences jobs
  • Check Glassdoor for employee sentiment and salary information
  • Always apply directly through a company’s career page

Although generative AI is a powerful tool for efficiency, networking remains essential. In-person networking builds trust, reveals new opportunities, and provides empathy and human connection that technology can’t replace.

  • Be curious. Ask someone how they navigated their career, or where they see industry trends heading.
  • Be specific about what jobs you’re targeting, so others know how to help.
  • Ask people in your network about their current challenges.

Prepare for the interview

  • Preparing for every interview is essential. By preparing, you will feel more confident and in control.
  • Use the job description and your background to generate possible interview questions
  • Practice answers using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) format and include specific metrics where possible.
  • Ask AI to help you refine and format answers before the interview.
  • Get comfortable with video interviews. Observe how you respond under pressure.  Learn to eliminate rambling, being too quiet, or avoiding the camera.

Finding employment may feel daunting at times. But AI is a tool that can make you more efficient and help you land a job that’s perfect just for you. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned professional switching careers, NCBiotech’s Career Development Network offers a range of resources to support you at every stage of your job search.

Visit the NCBiotech YouTube channel to listen to the full recording.

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