How to Use AI to Search & Apply for Jobs

Securing yourself a role in a competitive industry has never been harder. With the application rate per job now up by 286%, candidates must do more than ever before to attract the attention of their desired employers.

In order to meet growing demands from recruiters, today’s job searchers are leveraging technology to improve their chances in a crowded hiring pool and apply for jobs automatically to increase their success rate. One technology in particular that is transforming the job-hunting process in 2025 is artificial intelligence.

With the ability to help candidates remain competitive in a tech-driven hiring landscape, artificial intelligence is now redefining traditional job hunting, enhancing the application process and even prepping candidates for their interviews.

The question is, how can you use AI in your next job application? Stick with us as we walk you through the basics of an AI job search and teach you how to construct a winning application using AI.

How is AI Transforming the Recruitment Landscape?

Before we delve deeper into the ins and outs of using AI in the job search process, let’s first take a look at why candidates are having to turn to technology in a modern-day hiring landscape.

The recruitment sector is constantly evolving. In a remote-first working world, the hiring pool has continued to expand, resulting in more than double the number of applications per job role.

To adapt, recruitment teams are increasingly utilising technology to streamline the hiring process. From AI-powered CV screening to automated interview processes, recruiters are leveraging AI in 2025 to enhance hiring decisions and reduce the time it takes to whittle down a powerful talent pool.

In fact, 40% of businesses report that AI automation enhances productivity across all departments, including recruitment, HR, and marketing.

As a result, candidates are stepping up their game. Using AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT and Interview Warmup by Google, job seekers are creating AI-screener-friendly CVs and interview responses that score points with a machine rather than a recruiter.

There are also benefits for candidates. AI makes it twice as easy to apply for a role at speed. Instead of manually applying for role after role, job seekers are using AI to identify the best opportunities available and automatically apply.

In 2025, one in four (26 per cent) used AI to mass apply for jobs, and 22 per cent stated that the top benefit of AI was the ability to apply for more jobs.

Examples of AI Job Search Tools

So, what AI job search tools are currently dominating the market? When it comes to using AI as a job seeker, there are numerous ways this technology can enhance your job application process.

From AI-powered job recommendations to natural language processing tools for powerful CV rewrites, there are plenty of tools to pick from. Here are just a few AI job search tools we’d recommend:

LinkedIn AI Job Recommendations

LinkedIn’s AI-powered job recommendations tool is the perfect place to start as a Job seeker. With the ability to provide candidates with a personalized feed of job openings based on their profile, interests, and activity, this tool takes the stress out of the searching process.

(Image Source: LinkedIn)

Instead, LinkedIn learns from your connections, skills, and even surface-level interactions, using this information to pair you with the most suitable opportunities for your application.

ZipRecruiter

Another brilliant tool currently dominating the market is ZipRecruiter. Using AI to connect job seekers with employers, this smart matching technology works similarly to LinkedIn, suggesting roles based on your profile and inviting you to apply directly through the platform.

(Image Source: ZipRecruiter)

ChatGPT

Most of us will be familiar with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, did you know it has become one of the most popular aids for job seekers?

(Image Source: Team-GPT)

With the ability to create and improve your CV and cover letter in just a click of a button, ChatGPT simply requires you to input your skills, experience and the job description you're hoping to target before generating a personalised application that aligns with employer expectations.

Interview Warmup by Google

Once you have secured that all-important interview, you can use Google’s Interview Warmup tool to simulate the interview process. This tool not only generates questions based on your job description but also provides instant feedback on your language, talking points, and delivery.

(Image Source: 9to5Google)

7 Ways to Use AI in Your Next Job Search

Now that we’ve revealed some of our favourite AI job search tools on the market let’s take a closer look at how to use them in your next job application.

Here are seven ways to use AI in your next job search session:

Use Job Aggregator Platforms with AI Capabilities

Traditional job boards once required candidates to sift through open roles for hours, searching for the best match for their skill set.

Today’s job boards are evolving into innovative platforms that help you actively discover your next opportunity.

Consider using AI-powered job boards like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and LinkedIn when starting your job search. Using artificial intelligence, these platforms refine your role search by learning more about the industry, businesses and employers you interact with, recommending better-suited positions for a quick application.

The key here is to add as much detail as possible to your profile. This makes it easier for AI to calculate a perfect match based on your experience, skill set, and even your location.

Use AI to Analyse Job Market Trends

If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of leaving your current role, our advice is to start a tentative job search by first analysing job market trends in your industry.

Using AI tools such as Lightcast, you can track real-time labour market data with ease and even identify emerging skill sets, in-demand roles, and current salary benchmarks.

If you discover that your unique skill set is in demand within your industry, it could mean that it’s time to jump ship and start applying for positions that are prepared to offer you more for your expertise.

Automate Your CV & Cover Letter Creation

Once you’ve discovered your dream role, it’s time to start crafting your application. However, creating a standout CV and cover letter can be tricky when competing against a talented pool of applicants.

Generative AI tools that offer natural language processing, such as ChatGPT and Kickresume, are perfect partners to utilise when preparing your application. In fact, generative AI is now the most widely used AI technology globally.

With the ability to help job seekers quickly tailor application documents to specific job descriptions, these tools build polished CVs and resumes based on real examples from top companies.

In a tech-powered recruitment landscape, it’s also important to craft a CV that is compatible with an applicant tracking system. An ATS automates the sorting of candidate applications, especially when there are many people applying for one role. This means that your CV undergoes an AI-powered checking process that screens your documents for relevant skills, experiences, and keywords that make you a match for the position.

CV and cover letter automation tools such as Kickresume and Rezi AI offer ATS-friendly formatting, which is perfect for tidying up your wording and showcasing your achievements for AI to recognise and record during the screening process.

Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile with AI

Another area to consider in your application is your LinkedIn profile. While it is not necessarily submitted to the employer in the same way as a CV or cover letter, it is often viewed by the business during the hiring process, especially if you’re a stand-out candidate.

In order to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up to scratch, you can use AI tools like Teal or ResumAI to audit your correct profile and suggest improvements based on industry skill demands and employer preferences.

From refining your summary and skills section to increasing your visibility in a LinkedIn search, these types of tools help your LinkedIn page show up first for outreaching recruiters offering new opportunities.

Use AI to Prepare for Your Interview

We’ve already touched on the basics of Google’s Interview Warm-up tool, so now let’s take a closer look at everything AI-powered interview prep can reward you with as a candidate.

AI-powered interview tools such as Google’s Interview Warmup use machine learning to simulate a real-life interview. These types of interviews aim to make your practice sessions more realistic, offering feedback based on your language, tone, and phrasing.

With this in mind, Google’s Interview Warmup can identify weak responses, filler words and poor answer structuring before offering quick and easy fixes for the real deal.

By conducting mock interviews with AI, you become more comfortable thinking about and answering questions on the spot. This helps you refine your responses and can even ease your anxiety on the big day.

Create an Online Portfolio with AI Tools

For many digital-first roles, attaching a personal website or online portfolio to your application can help set you apart from other candidates.

AI-powered portfolio tools can generate bios, relevant graphics, and even portfolio template designs tailored to your target industry. With the website structure in place, you have the space to express your unique voice and showcase your best work to secure the job role of your dreams.

Better still, many AI portfolio builders offer easy editing access. If you’re applying for roles in different fields, why not create multiple versions of your portfolio that showcase the most relevant case studies for the employer’s viewing?

Combine AI Tools with Human Insight

While using AI to enhance your job application is smart, relying on it to complete the application for you is not.

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT lack the emotional intelligence, contextual understanding, and real-world experience that you possess, meaning that fully automated CVs can feel very surface-level and are easily spotted by recruiters.

When applying for a job, you must prioritise nuances specific to a company’s culture and tone. There’s no doubt that you should allow AI to refine your application draft, but ensure that you use artificial intelligence as a guide, not an output.

Instead, allow your peers, mentors and current colleagues to review your final application. Seeking feedback from a human is the key to identifying generic language and over-automation.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that AI is transforming the recruitment landscape. For both employers and candidates, artificial intelligence can be used to streamline all areas of the job application process.

As you approach your own job-seeking journey, it’s time to start experimenting with some of the best AI tools the industry has to offer.

The key to success lies in striking the perfect balance between application automation and the power of human insight. Think of AI and a job-seeking co-pilot, not the star of the show.