How to Use AI to Apply for Jobs in 2025

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Table of contents

AI Tools and Best Practices
How to Use AI for Your Job Search (With Sample Prompts)
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the biggest technology breakthrough in recent years. With new AI technology constantly being developed, learning how to use AI to your advantage is a useful skill that can put you ahead of the curve.

One great use of AI is to help you apply for jobs. From finding job matches to creating application documents and practicing for an interview, AI can assist you every step of the way. Let's learn how to use AI to apply for jobs and boost your chances!

Our guide will discuss:

AI tools and how to use them responsibly for your job search.
Ways in which you can put AI to work for your job search.
Sample AI prompts to help get you started.

Ready to start applying for jobs? Then you need a resume that showcases your strengths. If your resume could use an update, our AI Resume Builder can help. This tool creates a unique, ready-to-submit resume based on your input. With stylish resume templates, you'll get a completed resume that's polished and ready to go in just minutes.

AI Tools and Best Practices

There are various types of AI tools that can support you on your job hunt, from AI resume builders to job boards that automatically apply for jobs that match your profile. Before we dig into how you can use AI to apply for jobs, let's discuss its limitations and what it means to use AI responsibly.

Generative AI works by analyzing massive datasets and identifying patterns to predict what it should say or do next. Think of it as a tool that learns from existing data to assist you — but it's not magic.

AI can't read your mind or create anything that's a big leap from the patterns it recognizes. Over-relying on AI could result in generic or even inaccurate content, which won't help you stand out to employers.

That's why it's essential to use AI responsibly. Always review and personalize the content it generates to ensure accuracy and authenticity. AI should enhance your work, not replace your unique voice or perspective.

In the next section, we'll look at specific strategies to effectively use AI to boost your job search success.

How to Use AI for Your Job Search (With Sample Prompts)

Searching for a new job is a big task with a lot of smaller steps that AI can help you streamline and improve. Let's go through them together.

Use AI for your resume

AI can't write your resume for you, at least not without your input, but it can make the process faster and easier. There are a few really great strategies that you can put to work for an AI-assisted resume that tells your story.

Try an AI resume builder:

Unlike using an AI like ChatGPT, resume builders allow you to skip the prompt writing and honing usually required to achieve a usable result. Resume builders are made for creating resumes, so you get a complete, professional document that's ready to send in minutes.

Simply input some of your career details and the tool will generate suggestions to help you describe your experience, skills, and education. The best resume builders even organize your information into tidy sections you can easily move around on your favorite resume template.

Use ChatGPT to help write your resume:

Tools like ChatGPT or other text-generating AI can be really helpful for overcoming writer's block, generating ideas, and providing feedback.

It's crucial that you don't rely on AI to write your resume completely. Instead, let AI act as your assistant and help you hone your existing resume to perfection. To do this well, you'll need the right prompt.

Sample prompt:

"Review my resume as if you were a hiring manager for the role of senior AI software developer. Make a list of my resume's strengths and weaknesses and indicate any keywords or skills that my resume is missing."

Pro tip

If you need a CV rather than a resume, AI can help with that too. There are AI CV builders available for both European and American-style CVs. Or, you can always use ChatGPT and adapt your prompts to create a CV with AI assistance.

Use AI for your cover letter

Just like with your resume, AI tools can help you create a persuasive cover letter. Cut down on the time you spend writing individual letters for each role by allowing AI to help you write and customize your letters quickly. Just make sure that your voice still shines through!

Try an AI cover letter builder:

Not only are there AI resume builders to help streamline your job search, but you can also try an AI cover letter builder. In fact, many AI resume builders have cover letter builders associated with them so that you can create a matching application package.

The best AI cover letter builders walk you through the writing process and offer opportunities for you to customize your letter and inject a bit of personality. They should also provide stylish templates and formatting help.

Use generative AI to help you write or customize your cover letter:

Once again, ChatGPT can help you write your cover letter, but you'll need to add some of your own input, too. Ask ChatGPT to give you feedback on your cover letter draft, or give it the job description and ask it to customize your cover letter to match it.

Sample prompt:

"Examine the following job description and cover letter. How well does the cover letter suit the role? What could be changed to make this cover letter better aligned with the role? What keywords from the job description would you add to this cover letter?"

Use AI for industry research:

Finding the right job means understanding your industry and knowing where to look. AI can help with that! Use ChatGPT or a similar AI tool to help you research recent trends in your industry and identify opportunities.

Sample prompt:

"Generate a list of the top 20 companies to work for as a marketing specialist. For each organization, include a brief description of their recent achievements, notable activities, and general reputation as a workplace."

Use AI to find your next job

AI tools can do a lot more than help you prepare your documents to apply for jobs! You can actually use AI to help you find open roles and apply to job postings automatically.

Try an AI application tool:

Believe it or not, AI tools like Sonara.ai automate the application process by finding roles where you might be a good fit and automatically applying to them.

For a quantity-focused approach, an AI job application tool can save you lots of time! However, if your dream position opens up, consider applying for it the old-fashioned way to ensure your resume and cover letter are perfectly targeted to the role.

Use AI to finalize your application

Whether it's a resume, cover letter, CV, or letter of interest, the last thing you want is for the document you worked so hard on to get filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS). Use an AI ATS checker to scan your job application before you apply and ensure that your documents end up in human hands.

Use AI to prepare for the interview

If you find the interview process intimidating, try using AI to prepare for your interview. Here are two strategies you can use to prepare to impress the interviewer.

Ask ChatGPT to conduct a mock interview:

ChatGPT might not know exactly what questions the interviewer will ask you, but it can make an educated guess! Use ChatGPT to get a sense of the kinds of questions that the interviewer is likely to ask and practice answering them.

This kind of practice will help you feel prepared and build confidence for the real interview. Plus, once you answer the questions that ChatGPT comes up with, you can have the AI give you feedback to help improve your answers.

Sample prompt:

"Pretend that you're interviewing me for the role of office administrator. Use the provided job listing for inspiration and ask me twelve interview questions."

Ask ChatGPT to help you come up with questions for the interview:

An interview is your chance to get to know the employer as well. It's important to ask the interviewer questions for two main reasons:

It demonstrates your interest in the role.
The interviewer's responses can help you decide if the role is right for you.

Coming up with questions can be tough, but AI can help. Generate a list of questions to ask the interviewer, select your favorites, and edit them as needed so you can come to the interview prepared.

Sample prompt:

"Use the following job listing for inspiration. Generate a list of 10 questions that a candidate should ask the interviewer while interviewing for this role."

Key Takeaways

Try an AI resume builder or cover letter builder:

If creating the perfect prompt for ChatGPT is giving you grief, try an AI builder that walks you through the writing process for your resume and cover letter. AI builders can save you even more time by automatically formatting your content in a professional template of your choice.
Use AI for industry research:

AI can help you put your finger on the pulse of your industry. Ask ChatGPT for a list of potential workplaces or existing roles that you can explore and verify.
Use AI to apply for jobs:

AI can help you find jobs and apply to them. Give AI job application tools a try to automate your job search.
Finalize your application with AI:

An ATS checker can help you finish your application with the confidence that it will pass through ATS screening.
Prepare to ace your interview:

AI does more than generate text for you to copy and paste. Use AI to conduct mock interviews, build your confidence, and improve your interview skills.

Resources to Help With Your Job Search

Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.