Technology provides valuable resources that integrate into all aspects of our lives, often enhancing our experience by making things faster and easier. Recent advancements have transformed the recruitment and job searching arena. Now, candidates and recruiters have more opportunities than ever before to connect with others.
While new technology such as AI can be helpful, understanding when and where to utilize it ensures you’re making the most of your job search. As co-founders of Prepare to Launch U, career consultants Kelley Biskupiak and Susan Rietano Davey have over 40 years of experience in helping women across the globe successfully navigate work and life transitions along the continuum. In that time, they’ve watched the landscape shift and learned the unique ways technology can aid a job search and what’s best left to traditional approaches.
Ready to discover how technology can revitalize your job search? Susan and Kelley share how to best construct your resume, how technology plays into traditional networking, how to strategically use LinkedIn, and much more. We go over the highlights below, and you can follow along with the full Masterclass to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Technology is a tool
The first thing to understand is that technology is a tool that can enhance your job search. As with any tool or resource, you’ll want to look at the best ways you can leverage it to serve you.
Consider the ways that the internet has completely changed the job searching process. Now, candidates have access to jobs all over the world. Within the online realm, progress continues to develop. Susan and Kelley work with candidates to help alleviate feelings of overwhelm and empower them with education so they feel confident to move forward.
Today, most employers use technology in their hiring process. Whether through online assessments to gauge your skills, robots to evaluate you during the in-person interview, or aggregates to determine how much to pay you, technology is already center stage. With AI on the rise, the use of technology is poised to play even more of a role in hiring. In fact, 84% of executives polled think AI tools will make hiring even easier — though only time will tell.
Ramp up your resume
As much as technology has progressed, your resume is still the foundational piece you need for your job search. Gone are the days of plain white paper resumes with pain text, though. Technology has enabled job seekers to create visually striking resumes that can help you stand out and really make an impact. Canva even has templates you can use as a starting point so you can create something that will land you your next interview.
Tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help you write content, though be sure to only use it for support, as your unique voice is what will really help your skill set shine. You can leverage AI to help organize your thoughts, make your sentences more active, and help you uncover what recruiters and companies are looking for with specific roles. In fact, Susan and Kelley recommend pasting a job listing into your AI tool to help you pull out what skills of yours to highlight based on what they’re seeking.
Make your LinkedIn profile stand out
Once you have your new resume, you’ll want to make it digital so you can share it with others. The easiest way to do so is to put a digital version on your LinkedIn profile. Susan and Kelley recommend that everyone be on LinkedIn, regardless of your industry. It offers the simplest way to put yourself out there and help you build connections with colleagues.
They recommend using the LinkedIn recommendations as you fill out your profile to ensure you share the right information to get you noticed. Add a photo as it helps you make connections — people like to put a face to a name.
If you’re actively looking for work, don’t be afraid to display your Open to Work banner. Make sure everyone has access to your profile to help with visibility.
Once you have the basics set up, Susan and Kelley recommend refining your profile. Start by adding an engaging About section. Here is where you’ll want your voice to shine. This can double as your elevator pitch. Create a custom banner on Canva. Make sure the job titles you list are clear and showcase your value and experience. Finally, reaching out to someone you worked with previously can bring a personal touch to highlighting your skills.
One important note that Susan and Kelley mention is the fact that LinkedIn ranks candidates for recruiters based on the number of connections you have. The best way to meet others is to be active on the platform. This doesn’t have to mean posting daily. They recommend setting a modest goal of posting once a week. Interacting with others is also important, so be sure to like or comment on other people’s posts. You can also repost what someone else wrote, adding an introduction. Any combination of these actions will drive people to your page.
The importance of networking
LinkedIn networking is a job seeker’s superpower. There are multiple ways you can use LinkedIn to connect with others who can help you on your job-seeking journey. First, you can go to your target company’s profile and use the search filters to connect with their employees who may share commonalities with you. Write a note with a short intro when connecting, letting them know what you have in common, whether you live in the same city or share a mutual connection. It’s all about relationship building — once you establish that initial contact, you can progress to getting to know them to learn even more about the company.
Accept invitations from all recruiters. You never know when they might have a position you’ll be interested in. Even if you aren’t currently looking or don’t think what they have is quite the right fit, they suggest still talking to them to establish your relationship. Make a good impression so they’ll keep you in mind once the position you want becomes available.
Lastly, Susan and Kelley suggest following organizations on LinkedIn and elsewhere on social media, as that’s where you’ll hear notable news first.
Interviewing with technology
Before your interview, it’s best to go in prepared with as much information as possible. Start by reviewing a company’s LinkedIn page and look for patterns in who they’re hiring. If you notice something you have in common with this group (Susan and Kelley use the example of being a former school athlete), lead with that.
Online forums can often be great places to get information. Many people will share information about a particular company’s interview tactics, including questions asked during the interview and more. You can also use ChatGPT and other AI tools to determine common questions and answers. Sites like Glassdoor or PayScale can prepare you with salary info so you know how to negotiate.
Once you’ve prepped for the interview, set up a Zoom call for yourself and watch how you do. These days, many companies use AI to quickly screen through and look for qualities about energy, confidence, competence, and more in recorded interviews.Check the speed of your talking, and take note of filler words or overused phrases. Use AI-powered interview prep tools such as Interview Warmup by Google.
When job searching, make sure you prioritize using technology that best suits you. Remember that it’s a resource and that your personal touch is the unique aspect that will set you apart.
Join our talent community and be sure to watch the Masterclass recording to see Kelley and Susan demonstrate specific use cases for ChatGPT!
