AI in Support of Application Materials & Interview Prep in an AI-Driven Hiring Space
Understanding the AI-Driven Hiring Landscape
Over 90% of U.S. employers now use AI-powered tools to screen applicants at scale. These tools take several forms: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) with built-in AI algorithmic scoring, automated video interview platforms that analyze speech, tone, and facial expression, and AI-powered assessments and games designed to evaluate cognitive and behavioral traits. Most of these tools come from a small number of vendors, meaning a significant portion of the job market is filtered through similar automated systems.
Research has raised serious concerns about bias embedded in these tools. If you have experienced unexpected rejections, it is worth knowing that the system itself may be the problem, not your qualifications.
Recognizing these challenges, we recommend two parallel strategies:
- Optimize your application materials for an automated screening process. Strategically, and somewhat ironically, AI can be helpful here.
- Whenever possible, seek a human referral. Network with a recruiter, employee, alum, or other professional within a target company to flag your application for personal attention and bypass automated screening.
Many employers report receiving a high and increasing volume of generic, clearly AI-generated application materials. These read as impersonal and can work against you. We recommend that you initially write your resume and cover letter yourself, in your own words, following our best practices for resume and cover letters.
Once you have a solid draft, AI can play a useful supporting role. Use it to suggest targeted adjustments to your personally written materials so they align more closely with a specific job description. In this role, AI is a tool for strategic optimization, not a replacement for your critical thinking and writing.
For example, you can use AI to analyze a job or internship posting for keywords and skills, and then evaluate how your existing resume aligns. AI can help identify where specific language might be updated to more closely resonate with the job description. Any skills and experience you claim must, of course, be authentic and accurate.
The prompts below have been developed by the Center for Career Design for use with LLMs such as ChatGPT, Claude, and others. To get the best results:
- Customize the fields [bolded here] before using. Sample content has been included to show you the format; replace it with your own information. You can either cut and paste directly into the LLM and customize the fields before sending, or cut and paste into another document to customize first. Either way is fine, just make sure the LLM receives your actual materials.
- Evaluate the results critically. Any suggested changes must reflect your genuine skills and experience.
- Iterate. Follow up with additional questions. Speak conversationally with the LLM to refine the output further.
- Feel free to experiment, changing the prompts as you see fit!
Remember, generative AI should not replace guidance from humans. The coaching team at the Dartmouth Center for Career Design brings years of experience, knowledge of Dartmouth, and access to our expansive alumni network. Meet with a career coach to review your materials and strategy.
Start here. Use this prompt to analyze a specific job or internship description. The LLM will break down the posting into keywords, hard and soft skills, and desired experience. Review the output carefully and consider which of the identified terms and phrases you can authentically incorporate into your resume and cover letter. Think of this as strategic word substitution: where you have genuine experience that matches what the employer is looking for, make sure your language reflects theirs. This is not about padding your materials or overstating your background. Every claim must be accurate and true to your actual experience. That authenticity is non-negotiable.
Paste the full prompt at once into the AI.
Prompt:
1. Task: Analyze the job/internship posting provided to identify and categorize the following:
- Keywords
- Hard Skill Requirements + aligned Action Verbs
- Soft Skill Requirements + aligned Action Verbs
- Desired Experience/Accomplishments
- Educational Background
2. Instructions: Organize findings under the appropriate category headings, using the exact words and phrases as they appear in the job description. List findings in order of importance, based on frequency and context.
3. Purpose: This information will be strategically used to tailor a resume and cover letter.
4. Job Description: [uploaded / pasted text]
Once you have analyzed a job posting, use this prompt to adapt your existing cover letter to target it. You will provide your current cover letter, your resume, and the job description, and the LLM will suggest a revised version that strategically aligns your experience with the role while preserving your tone and voice. Treat the output as a draft to review and refine, not a finished product. Read it carefully, make sure it still sounds like you, and verify that every claim accurately reflects your experience.
Paste the full prompt at once into the AI.
Prompt:
Task: Adapt my current cover letter to target a new [internship/job description], incorporating relevant information from my [resume]. Ensure the tone remains professional yet approachable, closely matching the existing content, experience descriptions, and overall tone.
Instructions:
- Retain and align content: Keep all existing core experience content intact, but strategically align this content with the new [internship/job description]; also, selectively integrate additional experience from my [resume] that strategically aligns with the new [internship/job description].
- Alignment of key skills and relevant experience: Highlight and align key hard/soft skills, transferable skills, and relevant experience to match the new job requirements and context.
- Structure:
- Introduction: Clearly state my interest in the employer/industry, the specific position, and succinctly mention the key qualities I bring.
- Body: Over multiple paragraphs, detail how my skills and experiences are beneficial to the position, explicitly linking them to the job description. Aim for similar length and level of detail.
- Closing: Reaffirm my interest in the role, explain why, and include a call to action that facilitates a reply.
Important: Do not proceed until the following documents are provided: [existing cover letter], [resume], [internship/job description].
AI-screened interviews are increasingly common, particularly at larger employers. These may take the form of recorded video interviews reviewed by AI, real-time automated assessments, or structured question sets scored algorithmically before a human ever sees your responses. Preparing strategically for these formats is just as important as preparing for a traditional interview.
The good news is that many of the same principles apply: know the role, know your stories, and align your language with the job description. AI can help you identify that alignment before you walk in.
This prompt takes things a step further. Rather than analyzing the job description alone, it compares your resume and cover letter against it to find the overlap: the keywords, skills, and experiences that appear across all three. The result is a focused preparation list of the topics and themes most likely to come up in your interview. Use this list to guide what stories and examples you prepare, and how you frame your answers.
Paste the full prompt at once into the AI.
Prompt:
Assist me in identifying key words, skills, and phrases to prepare for an AI-screened interview. Proceed along these exact steps:
- Job Description Submission: First, ask me to provide the job description.
- Resume and Cover Letter Submission: Then, prompt me to provide my resume, and if available, my cover letter.
- Overlap Analysis: Analyze submitted documents and identify overlaps between the job description, resume, and cover letter using the following criteria. Only include elements that are common across all provided documents.
- Keywords: Words and phrases crucial for the role.
- Hard Skills: Technical abilities and specialized knowledge.
- Soft Skills: Interpersonal and transferable skills.
- Action Verbs: Words that align with the identified hard and soft skills.
- Important Experience/Accomplishments: Specific experiences or achievements emphasized in the job description.
- Educational Background: Required or preferred academic qualifications.
- Output: Arrange the overlapped findings under their respective category headings, listed in order of importance based on frequency and context within the job description.
This information will be used to help me strategically prepare my interview answers.
Use this prompt after running the Overlap Scanner above, while the job description is still loaded in your conversation. The LLM will suggest behavioral, fit, and technical questions to prepare for, and after you draft your answers, it will evaluate them for alignment with the job description and offer feedback. This is a great way to stress-test your responses before the real thing. Draft your answers in your own words first, then use the feedback to sharpen them.
Prompt:
Play the role of an expert career coach. Based on the specific job description provided earlier [or provided here], as well as typical and similar positions in [this field], suggest a set of [technical*], behavioral, and fit interview questions I should prepare for. After I craft responses, evaluate them for alignment with the job description’s Keywords, Hard Skills, Soft Skills, Transferable Skills, Action Verbs, Important Experiences/Accomplishments, and Educational Background. Additionally, offer constructive feedback, including sample responses that demonstrate optimal alignment with the job description.
*Important note on technical interview questions: When preparing for technical interview questions, it is strongly advised to consult with a Center for Career Design Career Coach, an appropriate resource, or an industry professional for targeted preparation guidance. AI should not be your only strategy for technical prep.
- Write your materials first. Draft your resume and cover letter in your own words before turning to AI. Visit our resume and cover letter resources for guidance, or meet with a career coach to get feedback on your drafts.
- Use AI to optimize, not to write. Once you have a solid draft, use the prompts above to analyze job postings and align your materials with specific descriptions.
- Seek a human connection at target employers. Use connect.dartmouth.edu and LinkedIn to find alumni or employees at companies you are applying to. A referral or personal connection can make a meaningful difference in getting your application seen.
- Follow employers and associated recruiters on Handshake and LinkedIn. Message recruiters strategically, with a clear and personalized note about your interest in the organization or the position. For more specific information on networking strategies, please visit our networking resources.
- Practice your interview. Use [Platform Name] to record and review your responses, then meet with a career coach for personalized feedback.
- Meet with a career coach to review your application materials, discuss your strategy, and prepare for interviews. Schedule an appointment to get started.