lunchtime pondering- Has anyone considered the potential impact of text generating AI systems on registration applications? I have a feeling that a simple copy and past of the requirements into something like ChatGPT could provide an applicant with a sufficient response to them. I know interviews could be the downfall of such an applicant, but it’s a tool that could be used to generate answers for this as well.
Here we go, I finally got onto it:
I am writing to apply for the Chartered Engineer status with [Name of Professional Engineering Institution]. I have always had a passion for engineering, and I have gained extensive experience in this field through my education and professional career.
I have earned a [Degree/Master's/Doctorate] in [Field of Engineering] from [Name of University], where I learned the fundamental principles of engineering and acquired the skills necessary to become a proficient engineer. Since then, I have worked for [Number of Years] as a [Current Position] at [Name of Company], where I have been involved in several challenging engineering projects.
I have been actively engaged in the engineering community and have participated in several seminars and workshops related to my field of expertise. I believe that my experience and knowledge make me a strong candidate for the Chartered Engineer status, and I am excited about the opportunity to join [Name of Professional Engineering Institution] as a chartered member.
As a Chartered Engineer, I will adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, and I am committed to promoting the engineering profession and contributing to the advancement of the industry. I am confident that being a part of [Name of Professional Engineering Institution] will provide me with the support, resources, and opportunities to continue developing my skills and making a positive impact on society through my work as an engineer.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Now, as a PRA I have seen applications with wording like this in them over the years (even without AI) - this is exactly the sort of waffle we tell candidates to take out of their application! But then it got more interesting when I tried a different approach:
Me:
Please describe what work I did leading the engineering development team for the SSL9000J series mixing console
As the team leader, you would have been responsible for overseeing the entire engineering development process, from the initial design and prototyping stages to the final testing and manufacturing of the SSL9000J series mixing console. This would have involved managing a team of engineers and designers, coordinating with other departments within the company, and liaising with external suppliers and partners.
Your specific responsibilities would have included:
Design and development: You would have led the design and development of the SSL9000J series mixing console, working closely with other members of the engineering team to ensure that the console met the highest standards of quality and functionality. This would have involved conducting research, analyzing user needs, and developing detailed technical specifications and schematics.
Testing and validation: You would have been responsible for overseeing the testing and validation of the SSL9000J series mixing console to ensure that it met the rigorous quality and performance standards set by the company. This would have involved conducting extensive testing and analysis of the console's components, software, and user interface.
Manufacturing and production: You would have worked closely with the manufacturing and production teams to ensure that the SSL9000J series mixing console was manufactured to the highest standards of quality and efficiency. This would have involved coordinating with suppliers, managing the production process, and ensuring that the console was delivered on schedule.
Team management: As the leader of the engineering development team, you would have been responsible for managing and mentoring team members, providing guidance and support, and ensuring that the team was working effectively and efficiently. This would have involved setting goals and objectives, delegating tasks, and providing regular feedback and performance evaluations.
Overall, your role as the leader of the engineering development team for the SSL9000J series mixing console would have been critical to the success of the project. Through your leadership, technical expertise, and attention to detail, you would have helped to create a world-class audio mixing console that is still highly regarded in the music industry today.
Now this is getting much closer. And again very similar to many draft applications we see. But again it fails - precisely because it is generic. If we see an application where we think "well of course, given that job description, that is what you'd do" then we'll give the response "But what did YOU actually DO?"
I then went into a bit more detail:
Me:
how did I design the equaliser of the SL9000J series console?
ChatGPT:
As the designer of the equalizer for the SSL9000J series mixing console, your role would have been to develop a circuit that could adjust the amplitude of different frequency ranges in a way that was precise, transparent, and easy to use.
The equalizer on the SSL9000J series mixing console was a four-band parametric equalizer, which means that it had four separate bands of frequency adjustment that could be adjusted by the user. Each band had three controls: frequency, bandwidth, and gain.
The process of designing this equalizer circuit would have involved several steps:
Research and analysis: You would have conducted research to identify the requirements for the equalizer, such as the desired frequency range, the number of bands, and the accuracy and transparency of the circuit. You would also have analyzed the performance of existing equalizer circuits to identify areas for improvement.
Design and simulation: Based on your research and analysis, you would have designed a circuit schematic that could meet the requirements of the equalizer. You would have used circuit simulation software to model the performance of the circuit and to refine the design until it met your desired specifications.
Prototyping and testing: Once the design was finalized, you would have built a prototype of the equalizer circuit and tested it in a controlled environment. You would have adjusted the circuit and made any necessary modifications until it met the desired performance specifications.
Integration with the mixing console: Once the equalizer circuit was finalized, you would have integrated it into the overall design of the SSL9000J series mixing console. You would have worked with other members of the engineering team to ensure that the equalizer was properly connected to the other components of the console and that it functioned seamlessly with the other features of the console.
Overall, the design of the equalizer for the SSL9000J series mixing console would have required a deep understanding of circuit design, audio engineering, and user experience. Your role as the designer would have been to balance these factors and to create an equalizer circuit that met the highest standards of quality and functionality.
OK, now I'm getting irritated, this is the point in reviewing applications where I start jumping up and down and saying "stop telling the assessors things they already know". But kudos for having a good (but inaccurate) go at describing the 9000 equaliser. Irrelevant to an application but quite clever.
So my conclusion is that ChatGPT is pretty much as good as producing generic blandness as an engineer can! I'd turn it around and say that if a candidate realises they've written an application that looks like any of the above they really need to go back and think again...
But I'm glad it agrees that the SL9000J is still highly regarded today 
