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5 Ways AI Will Change Job Searching in 2024
When it comes to AI and jobs, a lot of the conversation focuses on the risk of AI displacing workers. Some studies forecast that up to 30% of current hours worked across the U.S. economy could be automated. But how will AI change the way people find jobs? Pretty dramatically. Here are our 2024 #predictions and themes to watch as AI disrupts the job search.
There are already rampant debates and challenges stemming from students’ use of AI in educational settings. We’re now seeing this debate creep into the job market - is using AI in your job search cheating? There are stories of employers “catching” applicants using AI in their job search. So what uses of AI are fair in the job search? Is it fair to use AI to help rewrite your resume? To submit job applications? We believe responsible use of AI in job search is not only ethical, but it also will help level the playing field for job seekers. Job seekers will have free access to tools and expertise that were previously only accessible to those who could afford them. Candidates will be evaluated based on their skills and qualifications, not their ability to format a resume. Beyond this, we’d assert that candidates who use AI in their search demonstrate resourcefulness, adaptability and ability to learn new technologies - all of which will be increasingly sought-after qualities as AI permeates the future of work. While the debate around using AI in job search will only get louder in 2024, we predict you’ll see employers spend more time evaluating candidates’ ability to use AI in the jobs they are hiring for.
In 2024, AI will make it easier than ever to submit job applications. Submitting a handful of job applications can often take upwards of an hour, but AI will help people submit applications in a fraction of the time. The result? Employers who are already struggling to keep up with application volume should expect to see an even bigger surge in the volumes of applications in 2024. This will create challenges for employers who will have a harder time sifting through larger stacks of applications and understanding which candidates are genuinely interested in their positions. In response to this surge of applications, employers will need to implement more technology earlier in the hiring process to help efficiently screen applicants to understand who is qualified and interested in their openings.
While job seekers are just now turning to AI for assistance in the job search, employers and recruiters are already well on their way to deploying AI in a number of ways on the hiring side. We predict that in 2024, recruiters will increasingly be using AI to find candidates and automate drafting and sending personalized messages to those prospective candidates. Some of this is good; these robot recruiters will free actual recruiters from tedious sourcing tasks and enable them to provide better candidate experiences. But, it also means that job seekers should expect more in their inboxes. For anyone already bothered by the level of outreach they get from recruiters, you’ll only see the volume and sophistication of these messages increase in 2024.
Is the resume dead? While some think so, we believe AI will not kill the resume, but rather enable the resume to evolve into something much more useful than it is today. Instead of resumes being static, one-size-fits-all documents, they’ll be dynamic profiles that highlight aspects of job seekers’ backgrounds that are relevant to specific roles that they are applying for. Imagine AI that knows all of your work history - your responsibilities, achievements, promotions, projects you’re most proud of, performance reviews, etc. Now imagine that AI trimming, tailoring, and positioning that experience into a precise pitch for a specific job. That’s what we believe the dynamic resume will look like, and we expect candidates will increasingly be using AI tools to help them easily customize their resume to specific opportunities.
We’ve painted a picture of a world in 2024 with candidates bombarded by robot recruiters and job seekers using AI to send out more applications - so where does that leave us? A world where the human touch stands out. Referrals, networking, creative outreach, thoughtful follow-ups, etc. will all help job seekers display their interest and showcase their candidacy for opportunities. In a sea of AI-generated content, savvy job seekers will use the time they save on drafting resumes and cover letters to find ways to connect and stand out.
AI is having and will continue to have a massive impact on job search. In 2024 and beyond, both job seekers and employers will need to adapt quickly, and those who can balance the efficiency of AI with the irreplaceable value of human interaction will have the advantage. At EarnBetter, we’re excited to be part of the innovations to come and continue to be guided by our focus on making AI accessible to any job seeker who wants it through our free AI job search assistant.
Tuck is the Founder and CEO EarnBetter, a technology company that uses AI to provide free support to job seekers. EarnBetter's 100% free service helps job seekers reformat and rewrite their resumes in minutes, find relevant job matches, tailor resumes and cover letters to specific job opportunities, prepare for interviews and more.