Artificial Intelligence and Career Development

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a new development. But its rapid growth and incorporation into existing tech products related to career search and the creation of new ones over the last few years means that it’s important that you understand when and how to use this technology in your job and internship search.  This page is intended to give you general best practices regarding using AI tools.  Refer to our how-to guides for details related to specific parts of the career search process.  

Using AI can streamline and assist aspects of this process (i.e. helping to create a resume draft), but the career exploration and planning process is still human-centered.  There is value in taking time to reflect on your skills, goals, and experiences and articulating them in your own words for your personal growth and in preparation for parts of the job and internship search where you cannot rely on technology (i.e. the interview).  

Whether you decide to use AI tools or not, the Loeb Center is still your best resource for support regarding your career planning.  Make an appointment with an advisor in Handshake to discuss your questions regarding your internship and job searches.

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term for actions related to the simulation of human intelligence, problem-solving, creativity, and other processes by machines or computer systems.   There are several AI subfields, but the one that will likely impact your career search the most is generative AI (also called genAI).  Gen AI is an AI model that generates new content (i.e. text, images, video, etc.) after learning the patterns and structure of large amounts of input training data.  Examples of Gen AI include Open AI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.  Users operate these platforms by providing a prompt in the form of text, image, video, or sound that the system then generates a response to.  

What should you keep in mind when using AI?

  • Some companies and graduate degree programs have policies prohibiting or strictly limiting candidates from using AI to craft any or all parts of their applications.   Take the time to read a company, organization, or school’s policies regarding the use of AI before using a tool to aid in drafting your application documents. Failure to adhere to these policies could result in you being disqualified from a position or admission to a school. 
  • Use AI tools as a starting point to provide yourself with first drafts, brainstorm ideas, or suggest improvements to your resume and cover letters. Edit and personalize each draft, especially ensuring each one is targeted for the position you are interested in applying for.
  • Familiarize yourself with best practices for resumes, cover letters, interviews, etc., before utilizing an AI platform to assist you with your job and internship search. A good starting point is to read the Loeb Center’s how-to guides. 
  • Research a company/organization and jobs/internship position on your own to fact-check any document produced by a platform.  Research includes speaking to alumni who work at the company or in the field to receive valuable insight and feedback on your application.
  • AI is not foolproof and is prone to generate “hallucinations,” which are incorrect or misleading results presented as facts.  Use your judgment and critical thinking skills to know when to utilize an AI platform and when to trust its information.  
  • Data uploaded to generative AI platforms becomes public, and it is difficult to know how that data can or will be used for future purposes.  Therefore, do not put personal or copyrighted information onto any AI platform.  Read a platform’s data policies before using it, and only use systems with strong privacy and security measures.

Loeb Center Application Material How-To Guides

Resume 
Cover Letter
Interview Preparation

Glossary of Common AI Terms

Artificial Intelligence (AI): An umbrella term for actions related to the simulation of human intelligence and processes by machines or computer systems.   

Machine learning: The ability of a computer to process data inputs to make predictions and recommendations without being explicitly programmed.  

Deep Learning: A form of machine learning that processes data utilizing neural networks to mimic the human brain.  This method allows a computer to repeatedly analyze large amounts of data until it improves the accuracy of a specific task, much like human studies and practices to develop a skill.

Generative AI: AI models that generate new content (i.e. text, images, video, etc.) after learning the patterns and structure of large amounts of input training data.  

Chatbot: A program designed to communicate with people through text or voice commands that mimic human-to-human conversation.  Examples: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, and Anthropic Claude

Large Language Model: An AI system that analyzes text to understand and generate human language.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS): A software system that allows employers to organize the recruitment and hiring process for jobs and internships, including the collection, analysis, and ranking of submitted resumes for an open position.  This process assists hiring managers with filtering for the most qualified candidates.

Additional Resources

Generative AI Recommendations for the Amherst College Campus
Amherst College IT’s Information on Generative AI Tools’ Accessibility, Privacy & Security 
Amherst College Library Guide to Generative AI