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AI Services Within Career – UC Merced

AI Services Within Career – UC Merced 

Career Services is here to support you in navigating your career with AI-powered tools and guidance. We offer resources on integrating AI into your job search, resume building, and professional development. Attend our workshops, get personalized advice during office hours, or schedule an appointment to explore how AI can enhance your career journey. 
 

Limitations of AI 

  • Lack of Human Nuance: AI can’t fully understand your values, personality, or lived experiences—key parts of your career journey. 

  • Bias Risks: AI systems can inherit biases from the data they were trained on, leading to flawed recommendations. 

  • Out-dated Information: Some AI tools may reference old job market trends or educational requirements. Always double-check. 

  • Privacy Concerns: Uploading personal documents or information to AI tools can pose data security risks, use reputable sources. 

  • Over-Reliance: AI should support your process, not replace critical thinking, self-reflection, or conversations with career advisors. 

  • Generic Outputs: Without clear prompts, AI responses can be vague or cookie-cutter. Knowing how to prompt effectively is key. 

Boost your skills with AI 

  • Personalized Career Insights: Use AI tools to analyze your resume and suggest tailored career paths or roles based on your strengths and experience. 

  • Interview Prep: Practice with AI-powered mock interviews that simulate real employer questions and give feedback on tone, pace, and content. 

  • Resume & Cover Letter Optimization: Get AI-generated edits and recommendations to align your documents with specific job descriptions. 

  • Skill Gap Identification: Use AI to assess job listings and highlight in-demand skills you may need to develop. 

  • Learning Support: Find the best online courses or certifications using AI tools that match your career goals and current skill level. 

  • Professional Writing Assistance: Get help crafting LinkedIn bios, elevator pitches, emails, and more with natural-sounding AI suggestions. 

  • Networking Tips & Outreach Templates: Use AI to generate custom messages for informational interviews, mentor requests, or follow-ups. 

 

Using AI for Cover Letters 

How AI Can Help 

  • Generate a draft tailored to a specific job description. 
  • Provide strong opening and closing statements. 
  • Ensure the letter highlights relevant skills. 

Best Practices 

  • Never submit an AI-generated cover letter without personalizing it. 

  • Avoid generic AI phrases—use your voice. 

  • Check for accuracy in AI-generated experiences. 

Intentional AI Prompt Examples 

  • “Write a compelling opening paragraph for a cover letter applying to a nonprofit advocacy role.” 
  • “Draft a cover letter for a cybersecurity analyst job, emphasizing my experience in network security and risk assessment.” 
  • “Improve this closing paragraph: ‘I hope to hear back soon. Thanks for your time.’” 

Example Before & After AI Revision 

  • Before: “I am applying for this role because I am passionate about marketing and have some experience.” 
  • After (AI-optimized): “With a strong passion for digital marketing and hands-on experience managing social media campaigns, I am excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise in content strategy and data analytics to your team.” 

 

Using AI for Resumes 

How AI Can Help 

  • Format and structure your resume professionally. 
  • Optimize bullet points with strong action verbs. 
  • Tailor your resume to specific job descriptions. 
  • Suggest industry-specific skills and keywords. 

Best Practices 

  • Personalize AI suggestions to reflect real experiences. 
  • Check AI-generated skills against job descriptions. 
  • Avoid overuse of AI-generated buzzwords. 

Intentional AI Prompt Examples 

  • “Improve my resume bullet points for a marketing internship. Here is my current description: ‘Helped with social media.’” 
  • “Optimize my resume for a project management role using action-oriented language. My experience includes managing timelines and coordinating teams.” 
  • “Suggest five strong skills for a software engineering resume.” 

Example Before & After AI Revision 

  • Before: “Helped with social media.” 
  • After (AI-optimized): “Developed and executed content strategies, increasing engagement by 30% across multiple social media platforms.” 

 

Using AI for Job Searching 

How AI Can Help 

  • Identify job opportunities aligned with your skills. 
  • Suggest alternative career paths based on your experience. 
  • Provide salary insights and hiring trends. 
  • Generate networking messages for outreach. 

Best Practices 

  • Cross-check AI job suggestions with real job boards. 
  • Use AI to refine search terms for better results. 
  • Personalize networking messages before sending. 

Intentional AI Prompt Examples 

  • “List five job titles related to political science that require strong research skills.” 
  • “Generate a LinkedIn message to connect with a hiring manager for a research analyst role.” 
  • “What are the top companies hiring entry-level data analysts in 2025?” 

Example AI-Assisted Networking Message: 

  • Generic Message: “Hi, I’d love to connect with you.” 
  • AI-Enhanced Message: “Hi [Name], I admire your work at [Company]. As a recent graduate interested in [Field], I’d love to connect and learn more about your career path.” 

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