Level Up Your Career: Using Copilot for Interview Prep & Self-Assessment

Intro:

In today’s fast-evolving job market, it’s not enough to simply update your resume when you’re actively job hunting. I’ve found it invaluable to periodically “benchmark” myself—preparing for interviews every 18–20 months, even if I’m not planning a move. This habit helps me reflect on how I’ve upskilled, stay attuned to current market trends, and ensure I’m aligned with the latest in company culture and compensation benchmarks.

Regular interview prep isn’t just about readiness for new opportunities; it’s about understanding where you stand, what the market values, and how your growth matches up with industry expectations. It’s a proactive way to identify skill gaps, discover new in-demand tools or frameworks, and make sure your career trajectory remains competitive and fulfilling.

With the advent of tools like M365 Copilot, this process has become more structured and insightful. Copilot can help you analyze job descriptions, tailor your resume and cover letter, and even simulate interview scenarios—making your periodic self-assessment both efficient and actionable.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how to use Copilot to prepare for a job interview, starting with tailoring your resume and cover letter. I’ll also share practical prompts you can use as part of your own prep routine.

The Copilot-Powered Interview Prep Workflow:

Preparing for a job interview is a multi-step journey, and leveraging Copilot can make each stage more focused and effective. The process begins with researching the role and company to understand what employers are seeking. Next, you tailor your resume to highlight the most relevant skills and experiences. After that, you craft a compelling cover letter that connects your story to the organization’s mission. Finally, you prepare for interview questions, ensuring you’re ready to showcase your strengths and fit. Here’s a visual overview of this workflow:

Tailoring Resume:
Tailoring your resume is about more than just keyword-matching—it’s about presenting your experience in a way that resonates with recruiters and aligns with the specific needs of the role. This prompt leverages Copilot’s ability to analyze, compare, and provide actionable feedback, making your resume refinement process both data-driven and recruiter-focused.

I want you to act as a recruiter for a [nnnnnnnnn] position at [ABC PLC].  I am considering applying for this job and am trying to determine if I am a good fit for the position and how my resume might be improved. 

Step 1: Please review the job description [<u>Link to job description or Word document</u>] 

Step 2: Review my resume [<u>Link to resume Word document</u>] 

Step 3: Compare the two documents to each other and provide the following information: 

Determine whether I am a good candidate for this role and provide the percentage estimate the resume matches the job description.  This percentage should be determined by whether I have demonstrated expertise for each of the qualifications listed in the job description.   I expect this percentage to be provided to me as a number, even if this is your best estimate without a specific assessment tool. 
Rate my strengths for the role 
Help me identify where I am weak for this role 
Specify how I can improve this resume to be more compelling to recruiters

What this prompt guides you with

• Quantitative Feedback: Requesting a percentage match provides a tangible metric for how well your resume aligns with the job requirements.

• Strengths & Weaknesses Analysis: The prompt asks for both positive feedback and constructive criticism, helping you understand where you stand out and where you need improvement.

• Actionable Recommendations: By seeking specific suggestions for improvement, you get clear, practical steps to make your resume more compelling to recruiters.

Reassess post Resume Updates:
Resume tailoring is rarely a one-and-done task. By reassessing after each round of edits, you ensure your resume is as compelling and relevant as possible for the specific role. Copilot’s structured feedback helps you focus on what matters most to recruiters, making your application sharper and more competitive with each iteration.

Please reassess my resume [<u>Link to resume Word document</u>]  compared to the job description [<u>Link to job description or Word document</u>]  , as I’ve made some changes based on your previous feedback.

Provide updated feedback and a new percentage estimate of how well I fit this role.
Is there anything else I can do to make myself appear stronger, given the information I’ve presented?
Help me prioritize and consolidate my experience and skills based on what is most relevant to the job description.

This step would help you to assess how the modification has improved the chances

Targeted Enhancement: Asks for specific, actionable advice on further strengthening your resume.
Prioritization & Consolidation: Focuses on making your resume concise and relevant, ensuring the most important qualifications stand out.

Cover Letter :
Not every job application requires a cover letter, but reaching out for an informational meeting can be a powerful way to learn more about the role and make a positive impression. If you spot an opportunity to connect with the hiring manager, consider using Copilot to help you draft a concise, warm, and purposeful email.

I plan to reach out to the hiring manager to request an informational meeting regarding the role. Please help me draft an email based on the following information:

Objective: Request a 25-minute informational meeting
Email length: Brief
Tone: Warm, Personal, Friendly
Points to include:

Introduction
Why I’m interested in this role
What I’m hoping to learn during the meeting (1-2 topics)



Remember, this is a request for an informational meeting so I can learn more about the role/team. It is not a request to shortcut the formal interview process.

This approach helps you build rapport, gain insider insights, and demonstrate initiative—often making you a more memorable candidate, even before the formal interview process begins.

Prepare for Interview Questions:
Interview preparation isn’t just about rehearsing answers—it’s about understanding who you’re speaking with, what they value, and how you can connect your story to the role and team. Copilot acts as a strategic partner, helping you prepare with empathy, insight, and precision.

I am going to be meeting with [<u>Individual’s Name</u>] about their [<u>Role Name</u>] position. You can find their LinkedIn Profile here: [<u>Insert Link</u>].

What can you tell me about them?
What are some questions I could ask to get to know them better (e.g., leadership style, team culture)?
What are the top 5 behavioral interview questions for this role?
Help me draft concise, impactful answers using my background.

This prompt enables Copilot acts as a strategic partner, helping you prepare with empathy, insight, and precision.

• Insightful Question Suggestions: Helps you ask meaningful questions that show curiosity and cultural alignment.

• Behavioral Question Forecasting: Anticipates common interview questions based on the role, helping you prepare with confidence.

• Answer Crafting: Uses your resume and experience to generate responses that are concise, relevant, and memorable.

Closing Thoughts:

M365 Copilot isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a collaborative assistant that helps you structure your thinking, refine your materials, and prepare with confidence. But remember: while Copilot can guide and support you, your unique voice, experiences, and perspective are what truly make your application stand out.

Whether you're actively job hunting or simply benchmarking yourself against the market, these prompts offer a structured way to reflect, improve, and grow. I encourage you to try them out, adapt them to your own style, and see how Copilot can elevate your interview prep journey.Share your experience or favorite prompt in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re using AI to level up your career.