Is it wrong to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to try to land a job?
There is much hand-wringing over how to manage the use of generative AI tools as they become more widely available, often free, and able to do tasks ranging from writing a resume to debugging computer code to completing work and trying to pass it off as something you did on your own without any assistance.
In academic settings, it falls on institutions and instructors to be clear with students what is an acceptable use of AI in the classroom. Instructors would also be wise to give serious thought to how best to use AI as an effective teaching or class management tool. (Good guides are beginning to appear on the latter, with one written by a colleague, Dan Levy, and his co-author, Ángela Pérez Albertos: Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT: A Practical Guide to Creating Better Learning Experiences for Your Students in Less Time.)
While the hand-wringing has intensified, basic generative AI tools have been around for a while. Grammarly, for example, began in 2009, and has helped many writers correct grammar and usage in their writing. Especially when tools like Grammarly explain why it is they are suggesting certain corrections, they can help writers learn to write better.
It was only when you could start telling generative AI tools like ChatGPT to write a whole paper or take on another assignment that the wringing heated up. The resulting paper or assignment may read like a soulless, often error-plagued and clunky mash of words that needs a human touch to make it good, but more often than not it will oblige your request.
It's also true that AI tools can be useful to create or strengthen a resume or a cover letter when in search of a job. But your success at finding a job is lessened if you give over the writing of these solely to the AI tool and don’t spend time making sure the resume is accurate and that the cover letter reflects whatever passion and desire you want to use to convince someone to hire you. An AI tool is not yet capable of capturing the beliefs, knowledge or passion you carry in your head. Even if you do use AI as a starting point, it’s essential to take the time to make sure whatever you plan to send off truly reflects whatever you want to present about yourself in the strongest way possible.
Remember, even if your resume and cover letter help you get an interview for a job, it is you and not a generative AI tool who will be in the room answering the questions during the interview. You cannot and should not expect AI to answer interview questions for you. The right thing is to work on your own resume, write your own cover letter, research as much about the company interviewing you as possible, find out as much as possible about the specific job, and be the most brilliant version of yourself you can be. It wouldn’t hurt to remember to turn your phone off before the interview begins.
Jeffrey L. Seglin, author of "The Simple Art of Business Etiquette: How to Rise to the Top by Playing Nice," is a senior lecturer in public policy, emeritus, at Harvard's Kennedy School. He is also the administrator of www.jeffreyseglin.com, a blog focused on ethical issues.
Do you have ethical questions that you need to have answered? Send them to jeffreyseglin@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @jseglin
(c) 2024 JEFFREY L. SEGLIN. Distributed by TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
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