AlignAI

AlignAI: Project Story

About the Project

AlignAI was born from a simple idea: students deserve a clearer path from education to opportunity. Many of us experienced the overwhelming feeling of searching for internships, jobs, and skill-building resources without personalized guidance. We wanted to create a platform that leverages AI to bridge this gap, making career-building more accessible and tailored to each student’s journey.

Inspiration

Our team was inspired by the challenges we faced personally — navigating career development often felt like a guessing game. We believed that AI could be used not just for automation, but to empower students by giving them intelligent tools to craft better resumes, discover opportunities, and grow their skills in ways that aligned with their passions and goals.

What We Learned • How to build scalable web apps using Next.js for a seamless user experience. • How to integrate external APIs like OpenAI and Adzuna to power smart services. • Best practices for using Firebase as a flexible and efficient database solution. • How crucial personalization is for keeping users engaged and supported.

How We Built It • Frontend: Built with Next.js, giving us server-side rendering and dynamic routing. • Backend Services: Integrated OpenAI API to handle resume optimization and personalized job matching. • Job Search: Pulled real-time listings through the Adzuna API, connecting students with current opportunities. • Database: Used Firebase to store user profiles, resumes, and saved job opportunities. • Deployment: Deployed the website on Vercel.

Challenges We Faced • Data Matching Complexity: Designing a smart but lightweight system that matches students to real-world jobs without overwhelming them with irrelevant options. • AI Optimization: Making sure the resume feedback from OpenAI felt actionable and encouraging, not generic. • API Integration: Connecting multiple APIs (OpenAI and Adzuna) smoothly into one streamlined experience. • Balancing Features and Simplicity: We wanted to offer powerful tools but keep the interface clean and beginner-friendly. • Time Management: Staying focused on core features while balancing development deadlines.

Despite these challenges, AlignAI has evolved into a platform we’re proud of — one that helps students step confidently into their futures, powered by AI.