AI: your coach, not your replacement

Job hunting is tough, and I know that first-hand. Between reworking your CV, trying to stand out in a sea of applicants, and overthinking every interview answer, it can feel like a full-time job in itself.

That’s where AI comes in. Now that we’ve put the “AI is stealing all our jobs” panic to bed, let’s flip the script because AI can actually be your secret weapon in landing one.

I’m from the generation that shamelessly used ChatGPT to scrape through college assignments, but in the real world, you can’t get away with it. Recruiters can smell an AI-written CV a mile off and don’t even get me started on interviews. If you’re parroting AI’s cookie-cutter answers, you’re waving goodbye to round two before you’ve even stood up from the chair.

So, why am I writing this blog? Because I keep seeing content creators everywhere recommending shiny new AI tools to craft or “optimise” your CV, make it sound super ATS-friendly, and basically turn it into something a robot would hire. But, YOU’RE USING AI FOR THE WRONG JOB. Don’t let it write for you, use it to help you write. AI should be your behind-the-scenes coach, not the main act on stage.

Instead of asking AI to do the work, ask it to think with you. Use it to gain clarity, stress-test your ideas, and spot gaps you might miss. For example, drop your CV into ChatGPT and ask: “What are three reasons this CV will get rejected?”. It’ll suddenly give you a fresh perspective and a third-person opinion, way more useful than the usual “I agree with everything, you’re right” response.

Or, if you’ve just moved to a new country, like I did 2 years ago, you can use AI to help tweak your CV so it matches local terminology “resume” vs. “CV,” “GPA” vs. “grades,” even job title differences without letting the bot erase your personality.

Most of us prep for interviews by playing a guessing game trying to predict what the interviewer might ask and rehearsing answers in the mirror. AI can take that guesswork off your plate. Feed it the job description, the hiring manager’s LinkedIn profile, company details, even your own notes from previous interviews, and ask: “Be my prep coach for an interview with [insert company] and all the details you have” Now, you’ve got a tailored practice session where AI anticipates likely questions, points out weak spots in your answers, and even role-plays objections you’ll need to handle.

Going into a second-round? Attach your first-round notes so it can help you prepare for follow-ups. The point is: don’t guess, prep with intention. With AI as your coach, you’ll not only have sharper answers but also better questions to ask, a clearer sense of what the company actually cares about, and ultimately, a stronger position when it comes to getting (and negotiating) the offer.

At the end of the day, AI isn’t your replacement, it’s your sidekick. Think of it as the friend who helps you spot blind spots, practice tough questions, and fine-tune your CV, not the one who shows up and does the interview for you. Use it smartly and it’ll give you perspective, confidence, and a serious edge in the job hunt. Ignore the hype around “AI will do everything for you” shortcuts and instead treat it like the behind-the-scenes coach that helps you show up as the best version of yourself. Jobs aren’t handed out to robots, they’re given to real people. So let AI help you handle the prep work and let you land the job.

Now I'm no recruiter, but if you need any advice on your CV my fellow dots would be more than happy to help, just reach out!