Starting your career in the age of AI: What every new grad needs to know

By Toni Frana, Career Expert for Zety.com 

Not only is beginning your career an exciting time, you have the opportunity to start your professional life at a time that is unlike any other in recent history. Why? AI has exploded recently and is not only reshaping how we work, it is also changing roles, creating new ones, and even eliminating others. As a result, there is a lot of excitement around AI and job searching, but there is also anxiety as well, particularly for new professionals. 

AI is not going to replace you, but, there may be changes to how you work, how you apply for jobs, and how you are able to make yourself stand out in applications. New grads who understand how to collaborate with AI will be at an advantage moving into their careers. 

Why AI Matters 

AI simply refers to computer systems that are able to conduct tasks that often require human inputs and perspective. Tasks like decision-making and problem-solving can be facilitated using this technology. In the job market, AI is automating routine tasks, developing new jobs, and changing how new professionals will be hired. 

Currently, aside from providing workplace tools, AI is also used in ATS, to help recruiters source candidates, for skill matching, and for interviewing. The bottom line is that this new technology is here to stay and it will be impossible to avoid. Becoming familiar, efficient, and confident with AI and how it is used will help you stay flexible and adapt to changes that come from this new and constantly changing technology. 

Think of AI as a Skill, Not a Shortcut

Human judgement, creativity, communication and empathy are, and will continue to be, highly valued skills. As a result, AI should be considered a skill and not a shortcut. Zety’s resume template usage offers a window into how job seekers present themselves, and using AI at work to help brainstorm creative ideas and solutions is a good example of how professionals can embrace this tool, rather than asking it to solve a problem for you. 

Employers are looking for people who are comfortable using technology as a tool to enhance their work and effort, not use the tool as a replacement for their work. Being able to layer in AI tools to strengthen your work is attractive to employers because it shows you have digital literacy that is critical for the workforce today. These tools and your comfortability using them give you a competitive advantage when used correctly. 

Practical Ways To Use AI in a Job Search 

It is very important that when using AI for job search activities, it is leveraged as a tool. When adding prompts to AI, then you read through the information AI gives you, it is important to personalize, refine and make sure the final product you share in your application is in your own tone and voice. 

Here are some key ways AI can be a helpful tool when facilitating a job search:

Resume and Cover Letter Drafting

• Brainstorm action verbs 
• Help rework bullets to show results and accomplishments
• Offer ideas for tailoring to a specific job description

Interview Preparation

• Conduct ‘mock’ interviews with AI interview tools 
• Work on STAR answers to commonly asked behavioral questions
• Receive feedback on making sure answers are clear and concise

Skill Building and Career Exploration

• Find out key skills and certifications that can enhance your candidacy
• Outline common career paths for your major
• Help identify job titles matching your strengths

Networking and Outreach

• Compose outreach emails, LinkedIn notes and informational interview topics
• Help plan effective networking tasks 
• Give ideas on personal branding and digital profile content 

Job Descriptions and Company Research

• Distill and summarize job descriptions to help with tailoring your resume
• Compare your skills with the requirements of job descriptions
• Researching company information 
• Preparing talking points for upcoming interviews 

What Not to Do With AI

Using AI tools requires guardrails and ethical use to maintain your credibility. Hiring managers can tell when applications are submitted using AI to write all the content. Also, AI could inflate your skills and experiences depending on the prompts you give it, which is why it’s so important to lean into this technology as a tool, not to produce the final product. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to verify any facts about companies that you learn from AI, to make sure you have the most up to date and current company information. 

An important point to remember is that AI should help you accelerate your learning. It isn’t a substitute for preparation or practice. 

Human Skills Become More Valuable in an AI-Driven Workplace

Even as AI helps accelerate learning and increases productivity, human centered skills will remain invaluable in the workplace. 

Skills like communication, creativity, and adaptability will remain crucial for teams and organizations to continue innovating and moving forward. Other skills, particularly problem solving, critical thinking and professional judgement cannot be replaced by AI, and for early professionals, exercising these skills in your work will help you build a solid foundation for a successful career. 

Collaboration and emotional intelligence are two skills that will also remain valuable in the workplace. Where AI can make you more productive, collaboration across a team increases creativity, brainstorming is stronger, and problem-solving together often helps uncover solutions not previously thought of. Many of these ‘soft skills’ can be leveraged to make AI more effective, but make you very valuable at work. 

Your Career Grows Alongside AI Not Compete With It

Each generation experiences major shifts in their workplace, and for new grads, this shift is happening in real time. As you begin your career, AI is reshaping the jobs you will do, which requires you to approach these tools with curiosity instead of fear. 

Here are some steps to taking your AI learning to the next level: 

• Experiment with a few of the many AI tools (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity)
• Be consistent and practice using them weekly 
• Explore free courses to enhance your learning
• Include AI know-how on your resume and LinkedIn profile
• Ask employers how they integrate and use AI
• Keep a growth mindset in order to keep up with the changes 

It’s an exciting time to be entering the workforce right now as transformation is happening every day with this new technology. You will be the creative force and human element that remains such an important part of daily work. AI will bring support and efficiency to the work that we do, and collaborating with this technology will help achieve things not previously imagined. 

Embrace the technology, remember you do not have to master everything, but comfort with these tools will be a differentiator for you in this quickly evolving job market and economy.