AI Hacks for Candidates and Employees to Work Smarter
Let’s be honest — tech fatigue is real. Everywhere you turn, it’s AI-this, AI-that, and it can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, this isn’t another dry lecture on the future of work. We’re here to give you simple, practical tips to help you actually use AI to your advantage, whether you’re job hunting or already working.
Because like it or not, AI is here to stay — and it’s already reshaping the business world in big (and sometimes brilliant) ways.
At Velocity Resource Group, our core has always been the same: powered by people to source and engage top talent. But that doesn’t mean we’re ignoring AI. We’re watching how candidates are using it, and we’re in constant conversation with employers from every industry and for every job type. So today, we’re bringing you three tips on how to leverage AI as a candidate, and three tips on how to use it as an employee.
Table of Contents
How to Use AI as a Candidate
1. Embed the Right Keywords in Your Resume
Resist the urge to let AI write your resume — it’s still your story to tell. But once you’ve written it, tools like ChatGPT can help you embed industry-specific terms and keywords pulled from job descriptions. This can improve your chances of getting through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) while still keeping your authentic voice.
Just make sure those keywords actually reflect your experience. Don’t overload your resume with buzzwords just to beat the bots — that will backfire when a real person starts asking questions.
You don’t need a different resume for every job, either. Just make sure your core resume includes relevant, accurate keywords that match the types of roles you’re going for.
2. Use AI for Smart Research
AI tools are like having a research assistant in your pocket. You can use them to find out which companies sponsor international candidates, estimate salary ranges, or understand which skills are trending in your field.
You can also use it to prep for interviews by researching the company, understanding its mission, and even generating questions to ask your interviewer.
But please, fact-check. AI isn’t perfect — always double-check the info you get before relying on it.
3. Practice for Interviews
AI can be a great way to prep for interviews. Ask it to simulate common questions for your industry or job title, and practice your answers. You can even create a custom chatbot where you upload your resume and background so it gives you more tailored questions.
But don’t memorize scripted answers. It’s still important to think for yourself and be authentic. Let AI help you prepare, not perform.
How to Use AI as an Employee
1. Create Your Own Custom Chatbot
More people are building their own AI assistants to help with work and everyday tasks. You can train your bot on your company’s info and your specific role — like a personal assistant that knows your job.
For example, you could create a marketing bot trained on your brand voice that helps you write blog posts, brainstorm social media ideas, or even improve SEO.
How-to Tip: Check out How to create your own chatbot with ChatGPT | Tom’s Guide for a beginner-friendly walk-through.
2. Use ChatGPT Projects to Stay Organized
Here’s a hidden gem: the Projects tab in ChatGPT. Think of it like a workspace where you can keep chats, documents, and instructions all in one place. Upload files, set context, and keep everything related to your project neatly grouped.
Projects are like dashboards for your tasks. Similar to custom chatbots, but more about the project than the person.
How-to Tip: See How to use Projects in ChatGPT to get started.
3. Use AI for Inspiration (But Keep It Human!)
AI is a great brainstorming partner. It can help you improve rough ideas, explore new angles, or just get unstuck when you’re staring at a blank screen.
Just don’t let AI take over. People can tell when something was written by a bot. Your voice still matters — and it’s what sets you apart.
Something to Watch Out For
Have you ever gotten incorrect info from AI? Well, we have.
A couple of weeks ago we asked ChatGPT to examine the testimonials posted on our website and provided the link to the landing page. What we got back were some of the best testimonials — we were reading them thinking, “Wow, this is amazing, I didn’t know people had said these things about us!”
But when we went to the website to check… we couldn’t find those testimonials anywhere. When we asked ChatGPT where these quotes came from, here’s the response we got:
In the end, we didn’t get the real testimonials until we copied and pasted the text directly into the chatbot.
Here are the two big lessons we took away from that experience:
- ChatGPT is not great at reading content from links.
- Never trust an AI output at face value. If ChatGPT doesn’t know the answer, it won’t always admit it — sometimes it will just make something up.
We have amazing client testimonials already, no need for AI to invent them! But imagine if we’d just taken those outputs at face value and passed them straight to a boss… ouch.
Final Thoughts
AI doesn’t replace you — it amplifies you. Whether you’re looking for a new opportunity or thriving in your current role, it’s worth learning how to use tools like ChatGPT to your advantage.
Just remember: tools are only helpful when used intentionally. If we lean too hard on AI without critical thinking or real effort, it can actually hurt performance. So, use the best of what AI has to offer — and skip the rest.
Trust yourself. You don’t need AI to write every email, every caption, or every message. Keep your voice in the mix. Because that’s what really makes the difference.
Velocity Resource Group assists recruiters in the identification of qualified, available, and interested candidates. We source talent across multiple platforms, review resumes, screen candidates, and place them for you. We have over ten years of experience in attracting the best talent in the healthcare, hospitality, retail, technology, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain sectors.
Call 813-586-1700 or email info@velocityresourcegroup.com to schedule a free demo.