How to effectively use AI when applying for jobs

There is no doubt that AI is a great tool to support your job search, from helping you tailor and build your CV and cover letter to helping you prepare for interviews. However, becoming overly reliant on AI can mean you lose your authenticity, and your applications may start to sound generic and similar to those of other candidates.

In this blog, we will explore how you can use AI effectively throughout your job search while still allowing your personality and experiences to shine through. Used correctly, AI can enhance your applications and preparation, but it should support your writing and thinking rather than replace them.

Using AI in Your Job Search

How can AI support your job search?

There are lots of ways that AI can help you throughout the application process:

Job searching

AI can be a great tool to help you explore industries, roles, or companies that you may not have considered before. For example, you could use prompts such as:

“I am a BSc Marketing student. Provide a list of roles that I could consider and a list of 100 graduate employers relating to this field in London.”

While you will need to cross reference the information and check individual company websites directly, it can provide a useful starting point and help generate ideas for roles and organisations that may be relevant to your interests and skills.

Building your applications

When writing your CV, personal statements, and cover letters, AI can be effective in various ways. For example, you may use it to identify the key skills and requirements within a job description, allowing you to incorporate these into your applications and tailor them more effectively.

AI can also help improve sentence structure, check grammar and spelling, condense text, and suggest alternative wording for certain points. However, it is recommended that you draft your applications yourself. You can then use AI tools to help edit, refine, condense, or strengthen what you have written. This helps to ensure that the content remains authentic and reflects your own experiences and motivations.

When you become overly reliant on AI to build your applications, they can lose your personal voice. AI can also generate information that is inaccurate or make assumptions about your experience and achievements, so always review any content carefully before using it.

Interviews

AI can be a great tool for preparing for interviews. Tools such as Google’s Interview Warmup and LinkedIn Interview Prep AI allow you to practise answering interview questions and receive feedback on areas such as communication, clarity, and the topics you discuss.

Another way AI can support interview preparation is by helping you identify potential questions based on a job description. You can also ask AI to review your answers and suggest ways to improve their structure, ensuring that you clearly demonstrate your skills and experiences.

Remember, AI should be used as a practice tool rather than a substitute for preparation. Employers want to hear about your own experiences, achievements, and motivations, so it is important that your answers remain genuine and reflect who you are.

When shouldn’t I use AI?

• Inflate or invent your achievements, skills, or experiences: If AI exaggerates or makes up information, you could lose credibility during the recruitment process. Employers may ask you about these examples during an interview, so make sure everything included in your application is accurate and reflects your own experience.
• Create generic responses and copy them directly into your application: Employers want to see what makes you different from other candidates. AI does not know your personal experiences and achievements, so generic responses can make your application sound like everyone else’s and keep you from standing out.
• Complete personality assessments or aptitude tests: These assessments are designed to measure your skills, behaviours, and suitability for a role. If AI completes them for you, the results will not be a true reflection of who you are.
• Write your entire application for you: AI can help improve your writing, but it should not replace your own thoughts and experiences. Employers want to hear your reasons for applying and understand what you can bring to the role. Use AI to support your application, not to write it from scratch.

Can employers tell when I have used AI?

When writing your CV, cover letter, or application, employers can often tell when AI has been used too heavily. AI-generated text can sound generic and often uses similar phrases and language, which can make applications feel less personal.

Employers want to get to know you, your experiences, and what makes you stand out from other candidates. If your application sounds like everyone else’s, it can be much harder to make a positive impression.

A good test is to ask yourself: Would I naturally use this language? Would I feel confident talking about these points in an interview? If the answer is no, it may be a sign that you have relied too heavily on AI and need to make the content more personal.

What AI platforms can I use?

AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot can help you identify relevant keywords from job descriptions, explore career options, and support your writing when creating CVs, cover letters, and applications.

Google’s Interview Warmup, Interviews by AI, and LinkedIn’s AI interview tools can help you prepare for interviews by generating practice questions and providing feedback on your answers.

Tools such as Grammarly can also help you check spelling, grammar, and the overall clarity of your writing.

Making AI Work for You

Job searching and applying for roles take time and effort. The recruitment landscape has changed significantly with the rise of AI, making it easier for job seekers to apply for jobs. As a result, employers are often seeing a much higher number of applications for each role.

In many ways, AI has made the job application process more accessible and efficient. However, with increased competition, it is more important than ever to ensure your applications reflect your own experiences, achievements, and personality. Your authenticity and voice are what help you communicate your value and stand out from other candidates.

AI is a brilliant tool that is becoming embedded in many aspects of our professional and personal lives. Just remember to let AI support you rather than replace your voice when applying for jobs.