Tim Pillard, assistant director of career services at MyComputerCareer, sat down with host Bill Young on CBS 17’s Job Alert to break down a term most job seekers haven’t heard yet, but are already navigating: the doom loop.
What Is the AI Doom Loop?
The concept is straightforward. Job seekers use ChatGPT or similar tools to build their resumes. Employers use AI-powered recruiting software to filter applications. Both sides lean on automation, and the human gets cut out entirely.
One-click apply buttons make it worse. Tim shared that a single remote, entry-level posting at a previous company where he worked pulled in over 800 applications in one weekend. Of those, maybe 30% were qualified. Recruiters can’t keep up, so AI filters do the sorting, and strong candidates slip through the cracks before a real person ever sees their resume.
Be Your Own Editor-in-Chief
Tim’s advice? Let AI do the first draft. Throw your experience into ChatGPT and let it build a framework. Then take it from there: add your metrics, your voice, and the details that make it yours.
“I think using something like that (AI) to do the heavy lifting makes sense,” Tim said. “But you have to add the things that make sense to your career, to your experience, and put an authentic voice behind it.”
The same principle applies to cover letters. Recruiters are catching on fast. A polished cover letter that doesn’t match the person on the other end of the phone raises red flags, not interest.
Use AI to Prepare for Interviews, Not to Script Them
Tim also recommended using AI for interview prep. Feed it your resume and the job description, ask it to generate likely questions, and use the output as a starting point, not a script.
“Never would I tell you to memorize those answers or say it word for word,” Tim said. “For me, it’s an idea generator.”
And when the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions?” That’s where preparation pays off. Tim encouraged candidates to dig into the company and industry beforehand so they can ask questions that prove they went beyond skimming the job posting.
Soft Skills Still Win
Tim and Bill spent as much time talking about people skills as they did about technology. Companies want to know you can explain complex concepts in plain language, work well on a team, and represent the organization in front of clients.
As AI handles more routine tasks, the ability to communicate and connect is what separates one candidate from the next. Or as Tim put it: “It is a lost art. But at the end of the day, I think what you’re going to see is a resurgence in durable skills.”
Where IT Jobs Are Headed
Tim is seeing more openings in hardware, networking, and security, even while the broader job market stays tight. Companies adopt new AI tools and software but need people who can install, maintain, and secure those systems. The shift is moving toward hands-on, in-the-field positions.
For anyone with a degree who’s still struggling to break in, stacking industry certifications on top gives employers one more reason to pick up the phone. MyComputerCareer offers accelerated programs as short as 12 weeks where you can earn CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and other credentials employers want.
Watch the full CBS 17 Job Alert segment with Tim below.
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