Asking ChatGPT the important questions. AI won't replace us, but it will make almost every aspect of certain jobs easier.

As an individual looking to land a job, I decided to ask the world's most user friendly and powerful AI tool, ChatGPT, for some tips and tricks.

The first question I had for ChatGPT was how long should a CV be. While it emphasised that there's no correct answer to this, 2 pages is the most common direct figure to pop up.

Now, as someone looking in part for writing jobs, and using job application channels that don't allow you to squeeze in everything relevant, my CV contains 6 pages, populated by portfolio pieces, references from previous employers and links to my social media. This takes up more space than a standard "job and education history" two-pager, but it's all highly relevant information, and my comprehensive 6 page CV saves me a lot of time when it comes to hitting a wall mentally during a job search, such as that moment many of us are all too familiar with, when the third or fourth job in a row requires basically the same cover letter or asks the same questions and we're wishing we'd copied our previous answers to the clipboard to save us from the fatigue that comes with repetition in questions.

Here's the main takeaway from what ChatGPT had to say though:

Tailor your CV to the job you're applying for, emphasizing the skills and experiences that align with the position's requirements. Employers often appreciate a clear and well-organized CV that is easy to skim, so make good use of headings, bullet points, and white space to improve readability.

Undoubtedly good advice.

I proceeded to ask the AI program what the most common interview questions that candidates face might be and after unloading a list of 10 questions, I further asked the program to pick it's best 3.

This is what it had to say (polite response at the beginning and all):

Certainly, here are the three most common interview questions from the list:

Tell me about yourself: This is often the first question in interviews and serves as an icebreaker. It allows you to provide a concise overview of your background, skills, and experience.

What are your strengths and weaknesses: This question aims to assess your self-awareness and your ability to recognize your strengths and areas for improvement. It also helps the interviewer understand how your strengths align with the job and how you handle challenges.

Why do you want to work for this company: Employers use this question to evaluate your motivation and determine whether you've researched the company and are genuinely interested in the role and organization.

These questions are frequently asked because they provide interviewers with valuable insights into your qualifications, personality, and alignment with the company's values and mission. Preparing thoughtful and well-structured answers to these questions is essential for a successful interview.

The second question that it posed is one that we all know from our past job interviews, and it seems like a trick-question no matter how prepared we are for it. One of the most common answers to "what is your biggest weakness" is "perfectionism". This feels almost tongue in cheek, or at least, it would if it didn't seem overpoweringly cliché from both the question and the answer's standpoint.

Let's see what AI says is important to keep in mind when it comes to highlighting and admitting your weaknesses. Employers look for humble yet confident responses, and judge them for honesty. You'll definitely want to pick an answer that's true rather than cliché... After all if AI finds you predictable, there's a good chance that you're going to come off a little too predictable come interview day.

It's essential to approach the weaknesses part of the question with caution. When discussing weaknesses, candidates should also mention how they are actively working to improve or mitigate these weaknesses. Interviewers appreciate honesty but also want to see a commitment to personal and professional growth. The key to a successful response is to provide balanced, self-aware answers that demonstrate how your strengths can benefit the company and how you are addressing your weaknesses.

So in other words, admit your weaknesses but work on them. This is something that is good advice for personal development as well as job searching. If "perfectionism" is really a solid answer, let's ask our all knowing all seeing AI algorithm how one can "work on" their tendency to be a perfectionist.

After asking ChatGPT how to work on not being a perfectionist, it once again gave me a long list, but simply asking the highly user-friendly program to pick it's most important or relevant point from the list, I politely got this in response:

Certainly, the most important single point for addressing perfectionism in the context of a job interview is to emphasize your commitment to setting realistic goals and priorities. This demonstrates that you recognize the need to balance your pursuit of excellence with efficiency and that you are actively working on managing your perfectionist tendencies.

Professional development was another key point of emphasis, and when asked to expand on how one can further their professional development, ChatGPT said the following:

When discussing this point in a job interview, you can mention that you are proactively seeking professional development opportunities to address your perfectionism. This demonstrates your commitment to personal growth and your willingness to invest time and effort into becoming a more effective and balanced professional. It also highlights your ability to recognize areas for improvement and take constructive steps to address them, which can be viewed as a valuable trait by potential employers.

This is good and valuable information.

When looking to land that dream job, the job interview is a pivotal moment. Your CV is a key tool for getting your foot in the door, allowing you to get heard by the employer holding the keys to the employment kingdom. It's the document that connects your qualifications and experience with the opportunity you've been pursuing and makes it visible in as concise a manner as possible. Throughout this article, we've explored essential aspects of preparing for a successful job interview, from crafting the ideal CV length to addressing common interview questions, and done this all with the help of AI, which is impressively getting more sophisticated every day.

Remember, your CV is your first impression, so tailor it to your advantage, showcasing your qualifications effectively while adhering to industry standards regarding its length, but remember that all career paths are different, and that's why human intuition still defeats AI in this department. Many HR departments review CVs with no automation process, and even the most powerful advice given by AI has it's limits when tailoring general advice into a context where specificity reigns supreme. As for those common interview questions, they serve as windows into your skills, personality, and motivation. By preparing thoughtful and genuine responses, you'll stand out as a candidate who is well-prepared, self-aware, and genuinely interested in the position.

But the journey doesn't end here. Your job interview is not just a test; it's an opportunity to showcase your unique mix of skills and experiences. Beyond these basics, remember to research the company thoroughly, anticipate situational questions, and always have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewer. Asking questions back shows that you are ready to get to work, and understand that in order to begin working the job, you shouldn't shy away from asking questions that will kickstart your performance.

Job interviews are not just about finding the right fit for a company; they're also about finding the right fit for you. Use these insights as a guide to navigate the interview process with confidence and poise. With careful preparation, a positive attitude, and a commitment to growth, you'll be well on your way to making that crucial connection that leads to the job you've been working toward.

Now write that CV, prepare for those questions, do your research on the company from A to Z and show proactivity by having questions of your own to ask. You'll be ready to start your dream job before you know it if you follow the collective wisdom that I've put together in article form with the help of AI.

Disclaimer: ChatGPT, an AI algorithm, was used to research and write some portions of this article. All of the fully AI generated content within the article is highlighted in block quotes, and where inspiration was drawn from an AI response without such attribution, additional content and rewording was included in order to maintain journalistic ethics.

Use AI and discover an invaluable tool for research, fun, and more. Get a sneak peek at what AI can do for you while you check out ChatGPT and take note of how far AI has come. We're a long way off from simply asking Siri for a pancake recipe in exchange for a link, as these days AI can do almost anything.

For an inspirational and thought provoking look at what AI can do, watch this YouTube video where a man simply asked the algorithm to make him as much money as possible by following specific instructions.