Would You Let a Robot Apply for Jobs for You? What Students Really Think

Finishing up college soon? Getting that first career-building job or resume-boosting internship will likely involve navigating some emerging tech. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools now aid job searches – but also screen applicants. So how do students feel about AI impacting their prospects? Recent surveys shed light.

Many new AI-powered platforms promise to revolutionize hiring steps like crafting resumes and cover letters. Some even apply for open roles for you. Tools like Sonara and LazyApply use algorithms to complete applications faster than humanly possible. This helps candidates cast wider nets amid fierce competition.

However, most college students stay skeptical about deploying AI in their own job hunts. In one survey, just 4 in 10 students called it "acceptable" to use AI for creating application materials. Doubts persist about whether AI confers an unfair edge. Over half labeled AI aids as unfair advantages.

At the same time, some groups stood out in welcoming AI’s helping hand. Black students, men, millennials, and first-gens were all more AI-friendly than women, Gen Z'ers, or continuing-generation peers. These groups more often believed AI could even "level the playing field" for disadvantaged applicants lacking connections.

The bigger student worry? Employers themselves leveraging AI in hiring. Fewer than 4 in 10 students would trust companies to use AI aids to screen or select candidates. Past experiences with biased algorithms likely stirred up doubts. For instance, a former Amazon recruiting tool developed a glaring gender bias by docking applicants over completely unrelated things like women’s colleges.

So while AI instruments can streamline tedious tasks, students stay alert to risks. As you prep to score that coveted internship or first job, consider both sides of AI. Use aids judiciously to save time, but keep your human touch. And know that company tools may impact your path too, for fair or not.

Strategies to Own Your AI Job Search:

- Use AI drafts of resumes or emails as starting points only. Fact-check details and customize to highlight your real experiences.

- Ask AI interview prep tools for sample questions – don’t copy paste suggested answers. Prepare genuine talking points in your own voice.

- If AI seems helpful, use it. But avoid fully handing over essays or applications even if promised a time save. You need to understand and own the content.

- Bone up on common AI biases when job hunting, like judging gaps in work history more harshly. Be ready to address these compassionately if screened out unfairly.

College students rightly recognize pros and cons to injecting more AI in job searches on both sides. Prepare for prevalence – but stay savvy by owning your search, checking AI bias, and leading with authenticity.