AI is new for all of us, and it's likely you have questions—just as we did. Here’s what we’ve discovered. We hope this helps you grasp the reasons behind College Possible’s effort to equip students with AI for their career tasks.

Why is College Possible developing career AI?

AI technology is rapidly becoming as standard and indispensable as GPS technology. Leading tech companies are advancing AI's capabilities, making it increasingly integral to various sectors, including career development. By learning to use AI tools like ChatGPT now, students can gain a significant advantage. These tools streamline traditionally time-consuming tasks by offering tailored and efficient solutions. College Possible is committed to helping students get a head start in mastering AI for career tasks, ensuring they are well-prepared as AI becomes a standard in the professional landscape.

LEARN MORE: Harvard Gazette

Can students really use ChatGPT for free?

Yes, students can use the free version of ChatGPT to effectively complete tasks like creating and tailoring resumes or cover letters at no cost. The free version provides substantial capabilities that are ideal for personal and educational use, such as drafting documents that do not require the input of sensitive information. Although there are usage limits, they are typically generous enough to complete these tasks within a reasonable timeframe, such as within an hour or a single session. This makes it a practical tool for students who need assistance with career development tasks without any financial burden.

LEARN MORE: OpenAI ChatGPT free tier

Isn’t using AI for resumes and cover letters cheating?

Using AI like ChatGPT to assist in crafting resumes and cover letters is not cheating, but a practical tool for enhancing your true qualifications. AI analyzes large volumes of career data to suggest effective ways to present your skills and experiences, ensuring you adhere to industry standards without misrepresenting your capabilities. However, it's important to input accurate personal data and achievements to maintain integrity.

LEARN MORE: Pew Research Center Survey.

Won’t AI make my resume and cover letter sound robotic?

Modern AI tools are sophisticated enough to offer a range of styles and tones, making each document feel unique and personal. By inputting detailed and specific personal experiences, you can guide the AI to produce content that reflects your voice and professional image, thus avoiding a one-size-fits-all result. Active customization based on the initial drafts provided by AI ensures the final product is both professional and personalized.

LEARN MORE: McKinsey AI Report

How does using AI to optimize job applications enhance my chances of being considered for a job?

AI can significantly boost your application's chances of passing through resume screening software, which many companies use to manage high volumes of applications. These systems scan resumes for keywords linked to job descriptions. AI tools are adept at identifying and incorporating these keywords into your documents, ensuring your qualifications are recognized by the ATS, thus increasing the likelihood of your resume reaching human eyes

LEARN MORE: McKinsey AI Report

Why is this Guide better than just using ChatGPT directly?

The prompts in this guide have been specifically developed and refined to produce desired outcomes efficiently, saving you the time and effort of formulating effective queries from scratch. With over 100 hours of development time, these prompts have been rigorously tested with real students in partnership with College Possible, ensuring they are fine-tuned to deliver usable and relevant results. This structured approach increases the probability of generating high-quality first drafts that are directly applicable to career tasks.

LEARN MORE: Essential Career Tasks AI Guide

Will AI do it all, perfectly, the first time?

Of course not. While AI provides a strong starting point, it's not infallible and should be used as an aid rather than a definitive solution. The outputs serve as a preliminary draft that should be reviewed and refined. This process is similar to a spell check—it catches many errors and offers suggestions, but the final polish requires human judgment and revision. Most students find that the AI effectively addresses the challenge of starting a document, which is often the most daunting part of writing.

LEARN MORE: University of Saint Thomas