If you are an Illinois Tech student graduating soon or recent alum, I just want to say, I feel for you. You are unfortunately privvy to being a participant in a revolutionary experiment in a lot of areas of life – not the least of which is the entry level job search.
In Rose Horowitch’s recent Atlantic piece, “The Entry-Level Hiring Process Is Breaking Down“, a startling picture is painted for a rapidly shifting landscape in entry level hiring. This is a landscape that students, talent acquisition specialists (i.e. corporate recruiters), and college professionals are all trying to make sense of – along with all the other areas that Artificial Intelligence is reshaping in real-time.
I’m sure there are things you love about AI. You may love how it can help you think through ideas, providing feedback on homework assignments, crafting resumes, papers, etc. I know I’ve used it to help me plan events or come up with program names as a part of my job. It is such a powerful tool at our fingertips…but with great power comes great responsibility.
The issue with having such a powerful tool that can take over 80-90% of the job search process (writing resumes, cover letters, quick applying to jobs, etc) is that if everyone is using them to their fullest extent (in terms of taking most of the work off of the human user), then no one has an advantage with these tools. As the article points out, it is likely that the Cover Letter is dead as a signal for an employer in the recruiting process, whereas it used to show written communication competency and the ability to craft a narrative about yourself. If employers think it’s written by AI, then what value is it to them? The same extends, to a lesser degree, to resumes, but once again, if the descriptions of experiences are fully being written by AI, recruiters can’t distinguish between the 100+ resumes they are reviewing for a position.
This may all sound like doom and gloom, but in the midst of this experiment lies opportunities, and advantages, for Illinois Tech students:
- The author states explicitly that employers are looking more at students from “hard” majors where grade inflation is less evident. Illinois Tech has lots of very hard degree programs! Take pride in your Chemical Engineering degree!
- If AI is reducing valuable signals for employers in candidate selection, the obvious next step is seeking more in-person engagement with prospective employees/interns. Illinois Tech students are well-positioned in Chicago to connect with a wide variety of employers/contacts through career fairs and other career events – it’s all about getting these events on your radar and showing up – showing up also means that employers are more likely to visit campus again and again and again!
- The author quotes a recruiter on how students often feel their degree is the ticket to a great career, when the reality is that it is the degree PLUS work product. Illinois Tech provides a very hands-on educational experience, both in the classroom and through co-curricular activities. Get involved in great hands-on orgs like SAE, EcoCar, Illinois Tech Robotics, and others to enhance the ‘work product’ side of the equation. Don’t leave Illinois Tech without at least ONE hands-on experience outside the classroom – the more the better!
- As the Georgetown researcher on the workforce notes towards the end of the article, personal referrals are more important than ever in an ecosystem swarming with bots and AI systems. The development of a strong network of business relationships is something we talk about ALL THE TIME in our coaching, and my colleague Bernie Floresca has taken the lead in building an excellent LinkedIn network of Illinois Tech students, alumni, and industry professionals with which to build business relations. It’s never too late to start connecting! Join us at Illinois Tech 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 | Groups | LinkedIn
So, if you are struggling in the job search, I hope this gives you a sense of optimism. Yes, there are headwinds in today’s job market, but most of them can be overcome, and Illinois Tech students/alumni have a unique advantage in overcoming them. Don’t hesitate to connect with me (at jengelha@illinoistech.edu) or one of our career coaches to discuss your situation!
All the Best,
BJ Engelhardt
Executive Director
Career Services
