How to Use AI in Your Job Search

Job seekers are increasingly leveraging AI in their quest for employment, a trend now embraced by social platforms and startups alike.

The complex state of today’s job market has driven many to seek assistance from technology. According to the Layoffs.fyi report, a website tracking IT job cuts, around 220,000 tech sector workers were laid off in 2023. The job search has become a daunting task, requiring applicants to sift through numerous listings, decipher employer requirements, and tailor their resumes accordingly. The Josh Bersin Company, the human capital advisory firm, reports that the average American employer now spends 43 days to fill a position. This prolonged process threatens to induce emotional burnout not just in job seekers but also in HR specialists. 

Fortunately, AI significantly streamlines the job search process, making it far more efficient. So, what improvements does AI bring to the table? 

1. Efficiency: AI tools quickly sift through vast amounts of job data to match candidates with suitable positions.
2. Mentorship: AI algorithms offer personalized advice on resume writing, optimizing social media profiles, and interview techniques.
3. Analytics: AI provides insights into labor market trends, industry requirements, and hiring practices.
4. Automation of Routine Tasks: This includes submitting applications, scheduling interviews, and drafting tailored cover letters.

Job seekers can seek AI assistance individually or through the functionalities offered by specialized platforms. For instance, in February, LinkedIn rolled out AI features for its premium users, employing ChatGPT technology to:

а) evaluate if a user, considering their experience and qualifications, should apply for a specific job on the platform; 

b) suggest how to modify the profile to stand out among other applicants;

c) answer user queries in a dialogue mode, based on employer profile data and other LinkedIn information.

Without this AI tool, LinkedIn points out, job seekers and employers faced a formidable barrier that obscured mutual understanding and expectations.

You’re really hoping that you can reach out to the other side of the wall and figure out: What are my chances here? What is it like to work there?

asks Rohan Rajiv, a director of product management at LinkedIn.

The trend of leveraging AI for job searches isn't just being followed by leading job market platforms but also by startups. Among them is Simplify, launched with backing from the American tech startup accelerator Y Combinator Management (active since Spring 2005). The new project, which has already attracted $3 million in funding, aims to realize the concept of an AI tool capable of filling out forms and applications, aggregating and processing job vacancy information from various sources, and assisting with responses to employer queries. 

People are spending dozens of hours scrolling through job boards, finding opportunities, and often submitting hundreds of repetitive applications. So what are we doing? At Simplify we’re building what we like to call ‘an always on AI career agent,

Simplify CEO and co-founder Michael Yan explains.

We've previously discussed how the advancement of artificial intelligence might first impact IT professionals, while professions requiring direct human interaction are expected to become more in demand.