Imagine you’re at a networking event, trying to have a simple conversation.

You ask a question. The other person answers, but never really addresses it.

They ramble and miss your question.

They miss what you were actually asking.

They keep talking long after the topic drifts.

At some point, you realize you’re doing extra work just trying to figure out what they’re even trying to say.

Most of us instantly recognize that frustration. Whether at a networking event or elsewhere, we know when real communication is missing.

You can tell they’re not really listening. They’re just talking at you.

Stacy Moore, a professional communications instructor and certified career management coach, specializes in helping students and professionals understand human interaction and effective communication.

She consistently applies communication theory to both personal conversations and emerging technologies like AI, offering expertise and practical guidance in the field.

Building on these ideas, Stacy emphasizes that strategies for improving human conversation often translate well to interactions with AI. She highlights that the underlying communication principles are similar, drawing on her experience as an instructor and coach.​

How I Met Stacy Moore

I first met Stacy in December 2025, at the Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster, while we were both speaking at the Mid Atlantic Career Counselors’ Association (MACCA) Conference. I appreciated her insights and resources. She has since spoken at the Great Careers Network and contributed significantly to this article.

Why This Matters in the Job Search

People are using AI more every day in some of the most important parts of their job search.

People are using it to write resumes, draft cover letters, prepare for interviews, update LinkedIn profiles, send networking messages, and decide if a job is worth pursuing.

When AI interactions work, they save time and lower mental effort.

But when they fail, they feel uncannily familiar: polished yet impersonal replies, misconstrued answers, generic suggestions, or confident but irrelevant directions—all echoing the communication breakdowns we know from conversations.

Stacy’s point: it’s not just about better prompts, but a better approach. Mindset matters most for effective AI interaction, just as in human conversations.

A Few Tips for Using AI More Effectively in Your Job Search

Without getting too deep into communication theory, Stacy thinks it helps to approach AI a little like you would a human interaction. If the exchange is off, it usually means something in the communication needs attention.

Be clear about the actual task.

If you ask a vague question, expect a vague response. The same goes for AI. ‘Make this better’ is too broad. Be clear – resume, natural tone, or role targeting? Clarity leads to better responses.

Give enough context, but not everything.

Context shapes interpretation. Who is it for? What role? What tone? Too much irrelevant info muddies the message, like a rambling answer.

Pay attention to what the response is telling you.
If someone at a networking event responds in a generic, stiff, overconfident, or disconnected way, you quickly know the conversation isn’t landing. AI gives similar feedback: if the output feels off, something in your request, context, or direction likely needs adjusting.

Treat the first response as a draft, not a final answer.
Most real conversations aren’t perfect on the first try. We clarify and rephrase; AI is the same. If the result misses, it may just need another round, not a different tool.

Keep your judgment in the loop.

This is crucial in the job search. AI can help you draft, but your judgment on tone, truth, and fit matters most. Polished output isn’t always the best for the moment. Human oversight matters.

Use AI as a Co-worker, but Don’t Be Part of AI Slop

If AI writes your whole resume, you blend in with hundreds of others.

AI-written LinkedIn profiles are often easy to spot and hard to read, with full dense paragraphs that are neither skimmable nor scannable, and have no personality.

How does using AI to write everything differentiate you from the others, especially if you truly are an excellent candidate for a role or tell your story as an entrepreneur or employed professional?

It doesn’t!

What is AI Slop? According to ChatGPT, “AI slop is a critical term used to describe low-quality, mass-produced content generated by AI—often created quickly, with minimal human oversight, and little regard for accuracy, originality, or value.”

Make Networking a Habit

People hire people, not bots, so make networking a habit in person and online.

Be your authentic self. People hire people they know, like, and trust, and your personality is revealed in conversations, not just through written text.

>>> Don’t be part of the sea of sameness.

Final Thought

Stacy observes that disappointing AI output is usually rooted in familiar communication breakdowns, reminding us that clear communication is always essential.​

And in a job search, where the stakes are personal and professional, that distinction matters.

In job searching, a polished response isn’t the only goal. Aim for answers that are accurate, useful, and true to your intentions, as you must be able to explain your resume in an interview.

Pay attention to what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “The best of life is conversation, and the greatest success is confidence, or perfect understanding between sincere people.”

Did you read last week’s article? LinkedIn is a Strategic Advantage for Entrepreneurs

NEXT STEPS FOR STACY MOORE

Stacy L. Moore is a communications instructor and certified career management coach who regularly speaks and trains on communication, AI, and the job search. Through her work, she helps professionals use communication tools and AI more thoughtfully and effectively, sharing insights from both communication theory and practical experience.

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Learn about her Approach to Human-AI Interaction
• Register for her Upcoming Speaking Engagements: MACCA Monthlies – AI in Career Services (4/6/26); PennACE Annual Conference (5/20/26)

NEXT STEPS FOR GREAT CAREERS NETWORK

• Subscribe to Lynne’s newsletter on LinkedIn™ for career-boosting insights.
• Subscribe to the Great Careers Network Substack
• Ready for a career move or want to build your personal brand? Book a call today for expert help on your resume or LinkedIn™ profile!
• Need corporate LinkedIn or career training? Want to volunteer, or join our Board? Book a call or email.
• Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership
• Sponsor the 501(c)3 nonprofit on the website or for specific events, or match donations through Benevity.
• Make a tax-deductible contribution on Givebutter or through PayPal Giving Fund to support job seekers who have been downsized.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join the Great Careers Network for monthly events listed on the Events Quick List Page.

• Sat Apr 4 | 8:30-10:30 AM | Optimize LinkedIn for Career Success with CIT (register by 4/3 5 PM)
• Tue Apr 7 | 9-11:30 AM | Wake Up Winning: Early Millionaires Breakfast in Montco
• Tue Apr 7 | 5:30-7 PM | Interview like a Pro
• Wed Apr 8 | 12:30-2 PM | The Lonely Job Search: Empower Your Work Search Council For Greater Support
• Thu Apr 9 | 6:30-7:30 PM | Virtual Jobseeker Support Group
• Sat Apr 11 | 10-11:30 AM | Employee to Entrepreneur through Franchising
• Mon Apr 13 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
• Tue Apr 14 | 12-1:30 PM | Inside the Recruiter’s AI Playbook: How to Get Found, Screened & Hired in 2026
• Wed Apr 15 | 7:30-9 PM | Get Found, Get Referred, Get Hired: Unlock the Hidden Job Market
• Thu Apr 16 | 12:30-1:30 | Recruiter on Call with Jobs
• Thu Apr 16 | 4-5 PM | From Idea to Impact: 2 Videos in 20 Minutes at TLB
• Sat Apr 18 | 2-4 PM | How to Create Snazzy Graphics for Social Media Step-by-Step
• Mon Apr 20 | 6-8 PM | LinkedIn: Tips for Career Professionals
• Tue Apr 21 | 11 AM – 2 PM | Conestoga High School Job Fair (in person Berwyn, PA)
• Tue Apr 21 | 6-7 PM | Business Executives Networking Group & ChemPharma LV
• Wed Apr 22 | 12-1 | Resume First; LinkedIn Next: The Smart Strategy for Job Seekers
• Thu Apr 23 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking (Hybrid Paoli, PA)
• Sat Apr 25 | 9 AM-4 PM | Jump Start Your Job Search (in-person Wayne, PA)
• Mon Apr 27 | 6-7:30 PM | Build You to Build It
• Tue Apr 28 | 10:30-12 | Understanding Networking
• Tue Apr 28 | 2-3 PM | How to Develop a Career Portfolio: Your Proof of Work in a Competitive Market
• Tue Apr 28 | 6:30-8 PM | Harnessing AI for Smarter Job Searches
• Tues Apr 28 | 6:30-7:30 PM | Business Executives Networking Group & ChemPharma
• Wed Apr 29 | 12-1 +Q&A after | Shifting Industries: Where Work Will Be in the Future
• Wed Apr 29 | 2:30-3:30 PM | How to Analyze Your Headlines for LinkedIn, Emails, & Blogs
• Wed Apr 29 | 7-8:30 PM | How to Develop Successful Job Search Strategies
• Thu Apr 30 | 10-11:30 AM | How to Ace Your Next Interview
• Thu Apr 30 | 6-7 PM | Primp My Profile – LinkedIn Profile Reviews

CO-AUTHOR BIO

Stacy L. Moore, CCMC, is a professional communications instructor and certified career management coach. She specializes in helping people communicate more clearly, think more strategically, and use AI effectively in career development and job search. Through Practical Communication, she provides tools and ideas grounded in communication theory. As co-founder of & Emerge, she also guides individuals through change with clarity, confidence, and momentum.