How to Make Yourself More Marketable With AI

AI engineer and consultant are two of the roles on this year's U.S. list of Jobs on the Rise . Yet, LinkedIn Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough told me these roles may not be around for long. That's because generative AI is such a game changer that we will all soon be expected to wield the power of the technology in our roles.

All of us —?job seeker or not — need to get familiar with AI to ensure we can remain competitive in the world of work. What's important to remember is that the vast majority of us don't need to know how to build AI technology. Instead, we need to know how to use AI technology to enhance what we already do for work.

Many people have already taken the leap, according to a poll I recently ran on LinkedIn. More than two-thirds of respondents said they've started using AI in their work, with 35% saying they use it often and 33% saying they turn to it sometimes. Another 4% said they've tried it but it's not for them. Finally, 28% said they haven't tried it.

Today, I want to take a look at how some LinkedIn members are using generative AI to enhance their work. We'll also dive into a few simple ways you can start experimenting with the technology if you haven't tried it out yet.

How People Are Using AI in Their Work

People said they're using AI in a number of ways. Some people mentioned they used it to start blog posts or other pieces of writing. Others said they used the technology to workshop ideas when they're in doubt. Several people said it helps summarize longer pieces of text for them.

"I use it often as a 'second opinion' source, as well as summarizing information and text when I'm too tired to read," wrote Braden Mcanally , who is a student and works in the food service industry.

Cassandra Thompson , who is a career strategist and speaker, said she uses AI as a type of personal assistant. "Also, when I'm stuck for how to say something… asking AI to write it first is always easier than staring at the blinking cursor of death on a blank page."

A recurring issue people mentioned is that AI can only do so much, especially when it comes to its writing style. "It generates something that's clearly not from me," wrote Mark Durfor , who is an operations manager. "The amount of personalizing and editing it takes really makes it not worth the time and effort to use at this point."

Melanie Mitchell Wexler wrote that she makes sure to not just take whatever the AI produces as final. "It's crucial to curate and personalize the results to ensure they align with specific needs and preferences."

What's important to note about all of the above approaches is that these people don't use AI to replace their work. Instead, they use it to address pain points or improve upon what they're already doing.

How You Can Start Using AI

There are many ways for you to start experimenting with AI. If you're reading this newsletter, though, you are likely looking for or thinking about a new job. So, there are few better places to start using AI than in your job search.

AJ Eckstein ?? , who is a Gen Z career expert and founder of The Final Round, sat down with me late last year to explain how people can use AI to enhance their job search.?

"Think about AI, almost like performance-enhancement shoes to make you a faster, more effective runner," AJ told me. "It's not anything illegal; it's a technology."

If you don't know where to start with AI, there are a number of systems backed by large technology companies like Google and Microsoft, which is LinkedIn's parent company. Arguably, the most well-known is OpenAI's ChatGPT.

As for what to do once you're there, AJ suggests using it for:

• Preparation and Research: AI can assist in preparing for interviews, crafting memorable elevator pitches, and generating insightful questions for networking opportunities. This helps in making a lasting impression and standing out in competitive job markets.
• Tailoring Resumes and Cover Letters: AI tools can help customize resumes and cover letters to match job descriptions, ensuring they contain relevant keywords and highlights your qualifications to align with the role.
• Practicing and Perfecting Interview Responses: AI can simulate interview scenarios, provide potential questions, and help tailor your answers. Preparation can greatly improve performance during actual interviews.
• Negotiation Practice: AI can also act as a negotiation coach, helping explore negotiation scenarios and responses. This preparation can make real negotiations less intimidating.

If you'd prefer not to use AI as part of your job search, you can also just try having conversations with the technology to learn its strengths and weaknesses. You can also see how it can help you in other areas of your life. The key is to at least experiment with the technology so it's not completely new to you.

"I think the saying goes that AI will not take your job, but someone who knows how to use it will," says AJ.

Jobs are — at the end of the day — a business agreement between you and an employer. These agreements are based on laws, regulations and more. How do job seekers navigate the legal landscape? It's not easy, but employment lawyers can help. Employment and civil rights attorney Austin Kaplan , who is founder and managing attorney at the Kaplan Law Firm , joined me on my Get Hired podcast to answer common legal questions about looking for work.?

You can listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts by clicking here . A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here .

• How do you make a good first impression? (By Todd Dybas ) Part of making a quality first impression is the opening interaction. Talent acquisition specialist Rita Babalola recommends delivering a smile and leaving the stern face at home. She writes on LinkedIn that a quality handshake still matters. Babalola also thinks merging what you deliver with the right tone is important. She calls this talking about your "manifesto," or explanation of what you are bringing to the position. When laying out your achievements and talents, do so with energy and enthusiasm in your voice. That doesn't mean rambling. Instead, be focused, factual and upbeat. Click here to see what people are saying about the advice .
• What's the wrong thing to say? (By Todd Dybas ) Be careful what you share. That's the advice from recruiter Bonnie Dilber, who writes for Business Insider that sharing too much or the wrong thing can sink your job interview. Dilber says not to mention your struggle with finding a new job or being terminated, were that the case. Instead, focus forward. Say you are looking for the right role or the right manager. Also, good companies know they offer quality compensation packages. So, Dilber says to be clear about why you care about the work; don't only express excitement about the compensation when asked why you want to join an organization. Click here to see what people are saying about the advice .