Jill Panté

Students set to graduate this May are entering a job market where the rules of engagement are being rewritten in real-time. AI is both friend and foe, and ghosting has become the norm. University of Delaware career expert Jill Panté shares how college students can navigate these challenges in a rapidly shifting economy. Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center at UD, can apply her expertise to the following: The AI recruitment gap How to prevent resumes from falling into the "digital black hole" of automated tracking systems. Current recruitment in 2026 is heavily filtered by AI. If resumes don't mirror the language of the job description, a human might never even see it. In 2026, AI is the gatekeeper. Students who aren’t using AI for assistance are working twice as hard for half the results. However, the goal is to use it as a co-pilot, not an autopilot. Beat the bots (tailor your content) Use tools like Resume Worded or Generative AI like Microsoft Co-Pilot or Gemini to see how resumes stack up against specific job postings. It is better to send five highly tailored, thoughtful applications than 50 generic ones that get auto-rejected by an algorithm. Use AI to run a mock interview based on the job description and company. The "hidden” job market If a "job search" consists solely of clicking "Easy Apply" on LinkedIn for six hours a day, it’s not searching; it’s just doom-scrolling with a resume. Roughly 80% of your time should be spent talking to humans. The other 20% should be spent on applications and research. Find the recruiter or a department head on LinkedIn. Send a brief (2-3 sentence) note reiterating your interest. Leverage alumni networks through LinkedIn. Narrative branding Especially for Gen Z: Hiring managers don't just want to know what you did; they want to know the impact you made. Instead of saying "Responsible for social media,” say "Increased engagement by 40% over 3 months by implementing a new video strategy." Always lead with results (LinkedIn, resume, Interviews) to showcase the value you bring. Workforce anxiety Managing the mental toll of the modern, high-speed job search and the professional "ghosting" epidemic. Establish a personal "Board of Directors" to provide a balance of support, accountability and feedback. Maintain momentum by volunteering, attending local networking events and learning new skills on platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera. To reach Jill Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the “contact” button.

Poor written communication from leaders can create the kind of confusion it intended to avoid. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté suggests using AI to sharpen emails, clarify expectations and reduce unnecessary calls. Getting through to employees with strong messaging can boost productivity by saving time and reducing unwanted meetings, she says. Panté, director of UD's Lerner Career Services Center, says that good leadership writing should be direct and outcome-driven, with no fluff, and offered the following advice for improvement. ✅ Don’t bury the lead. Start with what decision needs to be made, what action is required, and the deadline. If your writing doesn’t reduce ambiguity, it’s going to add to it. Vague communication can create interpretation gaps which, in turn, can create more meetings. When ownership isn’t defined, decisions aren’t documented, or outcomes aren’t clear, teams default to “Let’s hop on a call.” Meetings then become the fallback for unclear thinking. ✅ Generative AI can be a powerful clarity tool if it’s used intentionally. When used well, it can sharpen your ask and structure communication for action. The key is prompting it to refine your message, not just polish it. Leaders can use prompts like: “Rewrite this message so the action, owner, deadline, and success metrics are explicitly stated" “What assumptions or ambiguities exist in this message?” ✅ Good writing can replace unnecessary meetings. If communication is not direct, outcome-driven, and structured for action, it will cost you time somewhere else. Here are some practical actions that leaders can make in their writing: Start with the Ask Be explicit about what decision or action is needed. Don’t make people search for it. Define Outcomes Clarify deliverables, timelines, budgets and state what success looks like. Clarify Ownership Identify who is responsible for the request. Document Decisions Write down what has been decided and reiterate next steps, owners, and deadlines. To connect with Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested media can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

AI-conducted interviews are becoming a standard step in the hiring process, but many job seekers still aren’t sure how to handle them. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté says candidates should treat these algorithm-driven interviews with the same seriousness as traditional ones and details how this can be done. Panté, director of UD’s Lerner College Career Services Center, can discuss what today’s AI interview platforms really measure – from confidence and tone to eye contact and facial expressions –  and how job seekers can stand out. She can also explain what recruiters are looking for in the AI-generated summaries that often determine who moves to the next round. Panté’s expert tips include: Check equipment to make sure everything is working and the software is updated; turn off all notifications to avoid distractions and set up the space with good lighting, a neutral background. Smile and maintain your energy, as some AI software will assess your tone and engagement. Prepare as you would for any other interview review the job description, research the organization, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when providing examples. Be sure to look at the camera and not the screen. It might feel awkward but that’s technically where the "eye contact" will be. Some platforms will allow you to review your recording before submitting. Use this opportunity to take notes about your body language, pacing and clarity. To contact Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the connect button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.