How to use AI for job hunting (without losing your identity)

Tec de Monterrey specialists agreed that although artificial intelligence (AI) can be your ally when job hunting, its true value only becomes apparent when it is combined with personal reflection, self-awareness, and human judgement.

These were the thoughts of Víctor Eldrei Robles, project leader at the Educational Artificial Intelligence office; and Marco Vinicio del Ángel, Director of the Outreach and Professional Development Center (CVDP) for the Central-Western region and Guadalajara campus.

What’s more, both agreed that technology by itself does not replace personal reflection or guarantee real differentiation from other candidates.

Generating résumés and more

These experts said that one of the most visible uses of AI for job hunting is preparing and improving résumés, professional profiles, and cover letters.

Marco Vinicio warned that although large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT can generate résumés based on the information they are provided with, it will be difficult to make these documents stand out if they are not framed within a human context.

“If you put your information into an LLM, it’s going to generate a résumé. However, it won’t really stand out if there’s no human context behind it”.

Eldrei reinforced this idea by pointing out that AI can only provide better results when it is given a rich, defined context. 

He explained that AI can use this information to generate different approaches, specific knowledge, and versions that are more customized to each professional profile.

“Personalization comes from individual reflection. When you provide it with that context, artificial intelligence enables you to generate specific knowledge and different approaches”.

“Personalization comes from individual reflection. When you provide it with that context, artificial intelligence enables you to generate specific knowledge and different approaches”.

How AI can improve your résumé and professional profile

For Eldrei Robles, AI should not be viewed as just another application or tool. 

“We see this technology as more like infrastructure than a product. It’s like the Internet: it’s not an app in itself but something that enhances all processes”.

To this end, he identifies three of AI’s main strengths, which enable the technology to be applied in different settings such as hiring:

- Personalization

It will enable résumés, portfolios, and job application recommendations to be adapted to each student’s profile.
 

- Content generation

It will facilitate the creation of materials, re-contextualization of résumés, and interview practice.
 

- Pattern recognition to support decision-making

Data analysis will help match ideal employers to ideal candidates.
 

“We can shuffle these cards to apply them in different contexts. At the CVDP, the three of them work very well together”, he said.

Del Ángel gave one example:

“If you put your information into an LLM, it’s going to generate a résumé. It enhances it for sure. However, that doesn’t make it stand out. 

Personalization comes from individual reflection. When you provide it with that context, artificial intelligence enables you to generate specific skills and knowledge”.

Artificial intelligence and recruitment

Beyond the technology, Marco Vinicio underscored how hiring processes continue to have a profoundly human component. 

Before we start thinking about algorithms, platforms, or LLMs, he said that the basis for any career decision should come after personal reflection and recognition of our own talents.

From the CVDP’s perspective, one of its main tasks is helping students to understand who they are, what they can do, and how this skill set can generate value within a community or organization. 

To this end, he mentioned that an academic program does not fully define a graduate’s profile.

“The processes related to career decisions are processes in which people examine themselves, recognize their talents, and understand how these generate value within a community. That’s where the work lies”, he said.

“Students can study one program and devote themselves to something else entirely. Any human can do that”.

High-demand skills in the AI-era workplace

Regarding high-demand skills, the CVDP director talks about cross-cutting competencies such as communicating in more than one language, diverse thinking, multicultural collaboration, and soft skills.

“AI isn’t going to replace you; it’s going to make you quicker and more efficient. That frees up your time as an expert for developing relationships, which is the point of the soft skills”, he said.

Robles Chávez shared how they work from a multidisciplinary perspective:

“We’re working with the schools to analyze which AI competencies can enhance each degree course. 

“Accountants need different tools than dentists or engineers. We want our students’ education to include how to use AI in their discipline so that they can stand out in the job market”.

“AI isn’t going to replace you; it’s going to make you quicker and more efficient. That frees up your time as an expert for developing relationships, which is the point of the soft skills”.

The future of work with artificial intelligence

Looking to the future, Robles Chávez predicted a phase of stabilization after the current technological hype.

“It’s going to reach a point where AI becomes infrastructure, like the Internet. We’re not going to question it anymore; we’re just going to use it. From now until 2030, we’re going to see products that surprise us, but then it will become normal”.

The specialist said that obtaining structured information quickly does not imply we know what humans want from their lives. 

“AI is going to force us to think critically to question what we want as a community. What we have to do is apply talent, not just hire people”, remarked Del Ángel.
 

The Tec’s Outreach and Professional Development Center

Although many platforms and social networks have already incorporated artificial intelligence, the specialists recommend not depending solely on external tools such as Gemini or ChatGPT. 

Marco Vinicio encouraged Tec students to visit the Outreach and Personal Development Center as part of an integrated career guidance process.

“It’s a great service that Tec de Monterrey provides. They can give you advice and everything you need for success when you leave us for the job market”, said Robles Chávez.

Del Ángel added: “We want our students to be successful. Although success is subjective, there’s a community that wants to see them apply their passion and talent in Mexico and the world”.

He concluded by saying:

“The challenge lies not only in learning how to use AI but also incorporating it ethically and strategically to build purposeful careers”.

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