It’s not a surprise to hear that artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the biggest disruptors in today’s workforce. From interview preparation, to résumé optimization, to job matching and to market research, AI is reshaping the way employers hire – and how candidates search for their next career opportunity. But despite all the headlines predicting that AI will replace jobs, one truth remains: people still hire people. And while AI is a powerful tool, it is changing the process, not the importance of human connection and in each company’s need to find the right humans to hire and to help their company continue to grow and thrive.
In the age of AI, your résumé is no longer enough. Recruiters are reviewing LinkedIn profiles, reading social media posts, evaluating your professional work history, volunteer work and reviewing your recommendations, all in an effort to look for signs that candidates understand their industry and actively engage within it. Maintaining an updated online presence and sharing your interests and expertise can communicate far more than a list of job titles ever could.
“In today’s job market, you are not just competing against other candidates; you are also competing against bots and AI,” said Tarah Jakubiak, business development manager with Alendel Fabrics. “Now more than ever, it’s vital to lean on your network, industry peers or networking groups like WithIt. They are out in areas where you may not be. They know who is growing, who is struggling and even potentially which roles have not been posted. If you rely solely on AI, or search engines, you are behind in the game and against your competitors. Where AI is useful is in determining if you are a good fit for a job posted based on your credentials and it helps give you the background on a company and its culture, the bottom line is that you cannot solely depend on AI – you also must depend on yourself!”
Seasoned professionals know that preparation has always separated great candidates from average ones, and AI gives candidates better tools to prepare. To help fill in and identify gaps in your résumé, suggest stronger language, and to suggest more descriptive terms. It can also compare your experience to a specific job description. One of the biggest misconceptions is that AI can simply write the perfect résumé or land you your dream job. It can’t. AI Is a tool – not your career coach. What AI can do is help you become a better communicator and a more informed candidate. Whether you’re a recent graduate entering the workforce, a seasoned executive pursuing your next leadership role or someone making a career pivot, success today requires balancing technology with authenticity.
Pulling insights from several recent job searchers and hiring professionals, I found that it’s best to think of AI as your research assistant. The most effective candidates aren’t asking AI to invent their story. They’re teaching AI their story so it can help tell it more clearly. The professionals who will thrive in the AI era won’t necessarily be those who know the most about artificial intelligence. They’ll be the ones who embrace continuous learning, remain adaptable, invest in meaningful relationships and use technology to amplify – not replace – their authentic voice. Just as businesses build brands, professionals must build credibility, and articulate who they are in a digital way.
“In my position, I’ve seen firsthand how AI is transforming both the candidate and employer experience,” said Kiersten Garland, HR business partner at Furnitureland South. “Job seekers today have access to tools that can help them improve resumes, prepare for interviews, research companies and explore new career paths more efficiently than ever before. On the employer side, AI helps us streamline time-consuming administrative tasks, analyze hiring trends and identify candidates whose skills align with our opportunities. While AI is creating new possibilities, I believe the most successful candidates will be those who learn how to leverage technology without losing the human qualities that set them apart. Relationship-building, communication, adaptability, critical thinking and authenticity still matter tremendously in the hiring process. AI can help open doors, but people ultimately build the connections and trust that lead to career opportunities.”
AI Is Not the Future of Your Career
Remember, AI isn’t the future of your career. You are. Your career and future prospects will benefit from being able to adapt. Technology may become faster and smarter, but certain qualities remain uniquely human: empathy, curiosity, adaptability, communication, conflict resolution skills and being able to collaborate. These skills AI can’t replace – and in many ways, AI has made these skills even more valuable. These interpersonal skills continue to rank among the most valuable traits employers seek because they influence culture, leadership and customer relationships in ways algorithms cannot replicate.
“AI was helpful in looking across my experience and identifying the things that kept showing up in different roles. I could also give it more context about the parts of my work I really enjoyed, what I was passionate about, what I was good at and, just as importantly, what I didn’t want to do again. That helped me think more broadly about what I could do next instead of just looking for another version of my last job. It also helped me think about the types of companies and work environments where I would be happiest and consider some opportunities I might not have thought about on my own,” said Cheryl Dobbins Hege, director of advancement and marketing at WithIt. “That was something I hadn’t really expected when I started using AI. I wasn’t only using it to help me get a job. I was using it to help me figure out what I wanted – and didn’t want – in the next stage of my career.”
Before an interview, do your homework. Learn about the company’s mission, competitors, financial outlook, culture and recent news. AI can help you to summarize a company’s mission, research competitors, evaluate the company’s culture and overall standing in the marketplace. Try to study the people you’ll be meeting. Ask AI what challenges the organization is likely trying to solve and how your experience aligns with those priorities. And ask AI for help suggesting interview questions. Used correctly, it can help you prepare – not pretend. The goal isn’t in memorizing answers. The goal is to prepare to have informed conversations so you can make the best decision on where you will go next on your career path.
Despite advances in recruiting technology, relationships still open more doors than algorithms. Networking continues to outperform cold applications, and personal referrals, mentors, internships, professional associations and industry events remain some of the most effective ways to discover new opportunities. Conversations often lead to opportunities long before a position is publicly advertised. While technology may introduce you to opportunities, relationships help you earn them.
I have found that being authentic and honing your skills that AI can’t replace is the key to success in life and in business. When I share advice as an interview coach, building resumes and offering insights into how AI can be useful in job prospecting, I emphasize that you get out of life what you put into it. If you apply yourself, work hard, be present and show up for yourself, you gain valuable opportunities that will grow your career. And don’t be afraid of AI. It’s not going anywhere. It is a tool that you can use to enhance and further your business goals.
I also strongly believe in the power of professional networking. My recipe for learning how to network, you ask? Show up, listen and don’t forget to laugh. Sounds simple, but it can be hard to do when you are experiencing a career change or job loss. Oh, and join WithIt, too! You will find that its members are fiercely passionate about supporting one another, and will help you connect and to thrive.
The professionals who succeed will be those who combine innovation with integrity, preparation with curiosity, and technology with the one advantage no algorithm can duplicate: being authentically human. Your personal brand and reputation matters more than ever. Cultivating a reputation and experience that will speak for itself will ensure career growth that won’t have you standing still. AI can just help you to craft a stronger picture of who you are, and may even help you to make the best informed decision on the next chapter in your career.
—Serena Martin is founder of 24/7 Creative Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency and co-chair/VP of Events at WithIt, the Women’s Leadership Development Network
