Job hunting with AI – CV, cover letter, interview practice and LinkedIn

What is AI good for in a job search?

Many people with long careers find they can't describe their skills on paper. "I just did my job" doesn't sound convincing in an application, even with twenty years of responsible work behind it. AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot are good at exactly this: turning an everyday description into clear, concrete sentences.

AI is especially helpful for:

• updating and clarifying your CV
• tailoring a cover letter to a specific job
• decoding a job advert: what is the employer really looking for?
• practising interview questions
• writing your LinkedIn profile
• thank-you notes, introductions and follow-ups

One rule is absolute: everything in your application must be true. AI can invent skills, qualifications or achievements you don't have. They will come out at the interview or on the job, if not sooner.

Your CV: tell the AI what you actually did

The best way to start is simply to tell the AI what you have done. It doesn't need to be polished. List the jobs, years, duties and what you learned. The AI organises and words it.

The end of that prompt matters. By banning additions and asking it to question you, the AI won't invent things; instead it will ask for more detail – such as how you improved things or what you are most proud of.

Cover letters: same base, different emphasis

A common mistake is sending the same application everywhere. AI makes it quick to tailor each one. Paste in the job advert and your CV (without contact details) and ask the AI to compare them.

Read the draft aloud. If a sentence doesn't sound like you, change it. Recruiters read a lot of applications, and generic AI phrases such as "passionate team player" or "dynamic professional" crop up more and more. A concrete example from your own work stands out far better.

If you are applying for jobs in Finland, AI can also help you write or check a Finnish-language version – but have a fluent speaker read it if you can, because small errors stand out to Finnish recruiters.

Practising for the interview

Almost everyone gets nervous before an interview. With AI you can rehearse without pressure as many times as you like. Ask it to play the interviewer and ask one question at a time. In your phone's voice mode you can answer out loud, which is closer to the real thing.

Practise the questions that worry you most. If you are over 50, your age is not something you need to justify, but it helps to think in advance about how to show you are keen to learn new things. AI can help you find the words.

Your LinkedIn profile

In many fields, recruiters look for candidates on LinkedIn. A good profile doesn't require bragging. AI can write your headline and "About" section from your CV. Ask for several options and pick the one that sounds most like you.

For example, the headline "Warehouse Supervisor | Logistics and Team Leadership | Turku" says more than just "Open to new opportunities". AI can also suggest which skills to list and how to write a short, friendly message to a former colleague.

Honesty and checking

AI is a tool, but the application has your name on it. Check every draft with these questions:

• Is it all true? Years, job titles, qualifications, licences and language skills.
• Could I give an example of each point at interview? If not, remove or change it.
• Does it sound like me? Overly polished text raises suspicion.
• Are the company name and job title correct? AI can mix them up if you have written several applications in the same chat.

Remember too that many employers use AI themselves to sort applications. Clear headings, a standard font and keywords from the advert (where they genuinely describe your skills) help your application get through. For writing letters more generally, see Emails and letters.

Beware of job scams

If you need personal help with your job search in Finland, your municipality's employment services and the Job Market Finland service are good places to start. AI is a useful extra alongside them, but it doesn't replace a person who knows the job market in your area.