Is AI a Help or Hurdle for Engineers Looking to Get Hired?

Job-seeking mechanical engineers are likely to encounter artificial intelligence (AI) along the way. But how exactly is AI being used in the hiring process? 

The most common uses are at the front end of the process, according to Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford University professor, senior fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, and co-founder of Workhelix. However, AI is also being used throughout the hiring funnel. 

“Employers use it to write job descriptions, source candidates, scan resumes, match skills to job requirements, summarize portfolios or work samples, and sometimes to help structure interviews or evaluate responses,” Brynjolfsson said. “For mechanical engineers specifically, I would expect AI to be most useful where the job requirements can be described in terms of concrete skills: CAD, simulation, materials, manufacturing processes, robotics, controls, thermodynamics, or experience with particular software and design environments.”

The pros and cons of using AI

AI tools can help employers increase the efficiency of their hiring processes. They can review more candidates in less time, and they might even find people they would have otherwise missed.

In addition, AI can help identify transferable skills. “A candidate who has worked in automotive design, for example, may have capabilities that are highly relevant to robotics, aerospace, energy systems, or advanced manufacturing, even if the keywords do not line up perfectly,” Brynjolfsson said.