Navigating Today’s Job Search with AI

At EM’s latest Lunch & Learn, we welcomed Garrett Rice, Co-Founder and CEO of Callings.ai, for an eye-opening session on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern job hunt. The stakes have never been higher: research shows that 70-85% of roles are filled through networking, and many are secured before they are ever posted publicly.

Garrett challenged attendees to stop thinking of a job hunt as a passive activity and start viewing it as a high-volume sales process where the candidate is the product.

The Harsh Reality of the Modern Job Hunt

The digital landscape has transformed job seeking into a volume game. Garrett shared several sobering statistics that marketers should know:

• Time to Hire: The average job search now takes five months or more.
• The Numbers Game: To land a role, candidates often need to submit 50 or more resumes.
• Competition: Every job posting attracts an average of 250 applicants.
• The “Black Hole:” Roughly 75% of applications are “ghosted” by automated tracking systems and never receive a response.

Key Takeaways for Job Seekers

A successful job search follows a 7-step “sales funnel:”

1. Know your brand: Clearly articulate who you are and the specific value you provide.
2. Find opportunities: Fill the top of your funnel with a wide variety of leads.
3. Research: Understand the company’s current challenges and news before applying.
4. Customize: Tailor your resume and cover letter for every specific role.
5. Apply: Get into the company’s system.
6. Network: This is the most critical step. It’s how you move from being a “piece of paper” to a real human being.
7. Interview Prep: Be ready to pitch your value proposition once you get in the room.

Leverage AI to Personalize at Scale

One of the biggest hurdles in a high-volume search is the time required to customize materials. Garrett demonstrated how Callings.ai uses AI to:

• Score Resumes: Identify weaknesses, such as a lack of quantifiable achievements.
• Generate Tailored Materials: Create role-specific resumes and cover letters in minutes – even translating them into different languages if you know your hiring manager’s background.
• Bridge the Meaning Gap: Use “semantic job matching” to find roles based on the meaning of your experience rather than just matching keywords or job titles, which often vary between companies.

How to Network Your Way into a Company

Networking shouldn’t just happen for active job postings. Garrett introduced the concept of “speculative roles.” By identifying companies you want to work for and using AI to map your skills to a potential title at that firm, you can reach out to managers to “boss shop.” This allows you to build mentorships and be top-of-mind before a role is even created.

Don’t overlook your peers. Garrett emphasized that other job seekers are one of your best resources. Each person in your network has worked at five to seven other companies. They can provide insider knowledge and introductions that a stranger on LinkedIn cannot.

Final Thought

While AI can supercharge your outreach and organization, Garrett left us with a vital reminder: “Humans hire humans, AI does not.” Use AI to handle the administrative heavy lifting so you have more time for the authentic, human connections that actually land jobs.

Watch clips from the EM Lunch & Learn below.