Hey there, Insider students and parents! Summer is rapidly approaching, and that doesn’t just mean you’re closer to beach season – it’s also time for many graduates to line up job prospects. If the thought of applying and interviewing terrifies you, Microsoft Copilot may be just the tool you need to calm those nerves, refine your application materials, and land a gig you’re stoked about. Let’s dive into how you can leverage our AI assistant when looking for jobs or internships.
Find openings perfect for your skill set and interests
Copilot can do much of the leg work of scouring the internet for opportunities based on the kind of job, company, and team you’d prefer to join, as well as any other factors like salary, location, benefits, and more.
Sample prompt
Search the web and job sites for 3-5 job openings right now at small to mid-sized companies that would be a good fit for a new grad with a BS in mathematics. The jobs should be fully remote or located within 50 miles of Houston, TX, and ideally have a salary range of $80,000 to $100,000 a year.
Copilot’s response
Tailor your resume and cover letter
Feed Copilot information like your background, past jobs, extracurriculars, and skills, and it can generate a resume or cover letter tailored to your dream role (just make sure to fact-check that the information is accurate to and sounds like you – companies want to hire humans, not robots, after all!).
Sample prompt
Copilot, write a 2-3 paragraph cover letter targeting an editorial internship at Outdoor Magazine that touches on:
- How I started rock climbing in middle school and spend every weekend at the bouldering gym.
- How I majored in creative writing and wrote a lot of personal essays and fictional stories about the outdoors.
- How I worked weekends in college at the writing center and weeknights as a local tour guide for nearby trails.
- How I hope to pair my love of writing and outdoor activities, and contribute my attention to detail, creative mindset, and technical expertise to Outdoor Magazine.
Copilot’s response
Practice tough interview questions
In preparation for an upcoming interview, you can have Copilot suggest responses to questions you may encounter or give feedback on your responses so you’re ready and confident for the big day.
Sample prompt
Copilot, pretend you’re interviewing me for an internship at a major bank. You’re the hiring manager and this is our first call.
Copilot’s response
You can start by asking Copilot to become the interviewer and simulate a job interview scenario.Then, ask Copilot to offer feedback on your answers to improve how you interview.Get general job search advice for any scenario or need
Job searching can get complicated, and your parents, friends, and teachers may not have all the answers. You can ask Copilot just about any question related to your job hunt, from how to approach unique situations to where to find specific roles.
Sample prompt
What are the best ways to apply for an internship if I’m a U.S. citizen who wants to work in Paris, France? Explain how the application process is different compared to U.S.-based companies, visas or other restrictions I need to know about, and overall salary and cost of living for an intern.
Copilot’s response
Tips and tricks
As you draft your own Copilot prompts for landing that dream job or internship, keep these tips in mind:
- Be specific: Instead of asking, “How do I ask an old coworker for a referral?” you could ask, “How can I ask someone I interned with for three months at an ecommerce company to refer me for a job opening on their current team?”
- Provide context: Copilot can tailor its responses to the type of writing or style you want to emulate: “Take my resume [insert link to your resume] and write a professional, keyword-driven cover letter for [insert link to job description].”
- Ask clear questions: Instead of a broad question like, “What jobs should I apply to as an English major?” try, “What are the best jobs for English majors who prefer reading over writing?”
- Break down complex requests: If you have a multi-part question, break it into smaller parts: “First, can you edit this cover letter to make it sound more fun? Then, can you suggest how I would talk about the points in this cover letter in a job interview?”
- Specify desired format: If you need a list, summary, or detailed explanation, mention that: “Can you provide a list of companies that have fewer than 100 employees, hire new grads, and are located outside Seattle, Washington?”
- Indicate your preferences: Let Copilot know if you have a preference for the type of information or tone: “Can you write an email that’s funny but respectful for a hiring manager I used to intern for, checking in on how they’re doing and asking for advice on landing a job in their industry?”
- Provide examples: If you’re looking for creative ideas, give an example of what you like: “I want my first job to involve animals, but not work at a zoo: What opportunities are available right now in this realm?”
- Ask follow-up questions: If Copilot’s initial response isn’t quite what you need, ask a follow-up question to narrow down the information: “Can you give more details about the job opening at [company]: [link to job opening page]?”
- Be patient and iterative: Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the perfect response. Feel free to refine your prompt based on the initial answers you receive.
Happy job and internship hunting!
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