In fact, almost half (46%) of candidates revealed they use AI to help them with job applications, according to a recent survey of over 2000 candidates by the job board CharityJob. Among those surveyed, AI was most commonly used to write cover letters, followed by interview preparation, resume support, and pre-assessments. Of those who said they didn’t currently use AI, around a quarter (26%) said they were likely to use it for future job applications.
BusinessBecause spoke to career experts to find out how to use AI to your advantage when applying for a new role.
The rewards: How to use AI in job applications
When using AI in your job search, it’s best to stick to using the technology for editing purposes—rather than relying on AI to write your application or resume from scratch.
For example, AI can be helpful for structuring your thoughts, summarizing text in a more concise way, checking spelling and grammar, and improving clarity.
AI can also be useful when preparing for job interviews, suggesting questions recruiters may ask, and prompting candidates to form responses based on their own profile and experiences. Candidates can also utilize AI to extract information from job descriptions, and tailor their applications to specific jobs.
“AI has been found to increase our productivity and the number of tasks we can achieve in the same amount of time,” said Thomas Roulet, a professor of organizational sociology and leadership at Cambridge Judge Business School.
“So inevitably people are using it extensively in the application process. It enables people to apply to more jobs, quicker,” he added.
The risks of using AI in job applications
Although AI can be helpful as a guide or to generate ideas, it’s important to be wary of using it to write your resume or cover letter. You should also avoid using generic answers provided by AI in the interview process, as these responses may be generic and won’t help you stand out from other candidates.
“People do have to sift through a lot of suggestions from AI to get the one that will really hit the right spot with interviewers,” says Thomas from Cambridge Judge.
“A lot of AI users stop at the first generated answer without using their own critical insight to assess what can work the best.”
There is also a risk that using AI will create a standardized job application that isn’t tailored to you or the job you're applying for, and doesn’t accurately reflect your skills and experience, instead providing false or misleading information.
“AI won’t be able to pierce through that layer and might actually stretch the competencies of the applicant to a point that makes the incongruity of an application even more visible,” he adds.
Recruiters can often identify when candidates have used AI in their job applications, and this can mean you’re less likely to be successful.
“Recruitment is fundamentally relationship-driven,” says Patricia Keener, associate director of career management at London Business School. “Candidates must demonstrate cultural fit, relevant soft skills, and genuine interest in the role—elements that AI may not fully convey.”
Although AI can be useful when applying for MBA jobs, it’s important to use it in the right way.
AI can be used to refine and edit your application and help you prepare for interviews, but make sure that your personality, skills, and experience still shine through. This will help you to avoid handing in a generic job application, making you stand out in a highly competitive pool of applicants.
