15 AI Prompts to Optimize Your Job Search

If you’re on the hunt for your next career move, chances are you’re not just competing with other candidates – you’re also navigating algorithms. Many companies are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their hiring processes, using it to scan resumes, evaluate qualifications, and recommend candidates for open roles.  

For veterans and transitioning service members, this can feel like uncharted territory. But here’s the good news: we’re here to help you not only keep up, but get ahead.  

Navigating the New Hiring Frontier
To clear up a common misconception: AI will not replace human recruiters – it simply enhances their decision-making. AI hiring platforms help companies analyze resumes, match skills to job descriptions, and streamline high-volume applicant pools.   

Here’s where it matters for you:  

• Resume Screening: Many companies use AI to pre-screen resumes and rank candidates based on keyword matches and skill alignment.  

• Skill Matching: AI tools translate job descriptions into skill sets, then compare them to yours. Sometimes these platforms don’t fully recognize the nuances of military roles, but recent advancements can help employers match soft and hard skills to their available roles.  

• Interview Scheduling & Assessments: AI may also be involved in initial video interviews or online assessments that inform the next steps.  

Bottom line: AI in hiring practices can be good news for veteran job seekers because it makes your experience more accessible and intuitive to those without a military background. 

To make this technology work in your favor, be strategic in how you present your experience. While AI can help employers surface your resume, you remain in the driver’s seat.   

Just as employers utilize AI to surface relevant candidates, you can take advantage of the technology to optimize your job search. Use these prompts in ChatGPT or other free AI platforms.  

Research & Plan
Knowing where to start is often half the battle in making a career move. AI can help reduce research time and effort when you’re exploring which paths may be right for you. If your future work interests are unrelated to your background, use AI tools to create a plan for gaining the knowledge and experience you’ll need.  

• “Suggest civilian job families that align with these skills: [list of top 5 skills from your military role]. Don’t focus on my former job title.” 
• “Give me a list of in-demand roles for someone with strong skills in troubleshooting, technical instruction, and equipment maintenance.” 
• “How can I build on my existing skill set to become more competitive in tech, operations, or project management?”  

Tailor Your Resume
At its simplest level, AI recognizes and advances patterns. When you do the legwork to fill your resume and professional profiles with job description keywords (or industry-specific language), you create a pattern for employers’ AI systems to recognize and learn.  

• “Insert relevant keywords from this job description into my resume for better ATS compatibility: [paste job description]”  
• What keywords should I include in my LinkedIn profile to get noticed by recruiters in [industry]?”  
• “Rewrite my resume bullet point: ‘Led a 10-person team on overseas deployments’ to highlight leadership and project management skills for a corporate setting.”  

Focus on Skills, Not Just Job Titles
AI systems often prioritize skills over traditional titles. List both hard skills (e.g., logistics planning, equipment maintenance) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving) that are relevant to the role you are seeking.  

• “Rewrite my resume summary to emphasize my skills rather than job titles. Focus on leadership, logistics, and team development.” 
• “How can I organize my resume using a skills-based or hybrid format instead of chronological?” 
• “Write a LinkedIn ‘About’ section that focuses on my strengths in adaptability, cross-functional leadership, and operational efficiency, rather than job history.” 

Translate Roles, Titles, and Experiences
AI increasingly helps employers contextualize the value of military experience in civilian roles, but the onus remains on you to effectively translate your background and skills. Your experience is unique, so don’t rely solely on technology to capture it. Instead, use AI to build a foundation you can tweak and improve.  

• “List the top transferable skills from my military role as a [rank and MOS/AFSC/NEC] and explain how they apply to [industry].”  
• “Based on this military experience [paste description], what core competencies and soft skills would be most relevant for civilian employers?”  
• “What are five ways to describe my leadership, problem-solving, and operational planning skills without using military jargon?”  

Interview Prep
Making a good interview impression begins with how you prepare. Use AI to hone your responses to common questions or plan insightful, well-researched questions of your own for the interviewer.  

• “What’s a good way to answer ‘Tell me about yourself’ by leading with skills instead of job titles?” 
• “Help me create a 3-sentence elevator pitch that spotlights my most transferable skills and how they solve business problems.” 
•  “Based on this job description and company [paste job description and company name], give me a list of smart, thoughtful questions I can ask at the end of an interview. Focus on questions that show I’ve done my research, reflect interest in the company’s values or challenges, and help me evaluate if the culture and expectations are a good fit.” 

The Human Element
While AI may be involved in the hiring process, a person will make the final call. Use the technology to your advantage, but don’t rely solely on AI to get hired. Be personable, share your story, your “why,” and the values that drive you.  Similarly, don’t blindly trust AI to get everything correct, so maintain vigilance. Always read, proof, and confirm the information you get from AI. It’s your reputation (and potentially employment) on the line if typos, bias, or inaccuracies end up in your material.

The RecruitMilitary Advantage
We know that navigating this new landscape can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. RecruitMilitary offers resume optimization tools, job search resources, and an AI-powered job board designed specifically for veterans and service members.  

We also host in-person and virtual job fairs where you can connect directly with recruiters – no algorithm required.  

Let RecruitMilitary help you stay ready, stay competitive, and stay ahead.