Candidates have embraced a range of AI tools to give perfect answers during job interviews or to bypass screening tools. A look at some available technology, such as Final Round, LazyApply and Ramped.
‘Why wouldn’t applicants use them?’
Employers are increasingly using AI to streamline their recruitment processes. “So why wouldn’t job seekers do the same?” asks a recent article in The Guardian. The article highlights the resourceful actions of Fanta-Marie Touré, a 24-year-old American working in cybersecurity. She uses AI tools to tailor her CV, write cover letters, and even apply for jobs automatically.
“Many people charge $150 per hour for CV reviews. That’s a lot, so why not use a tool that costs me maybe $30 per month?”
“It’s very expensive to hire someone to help with your CV,” Touré told the British newspaper. “Many people charge $150 per hour for reviewing CVs. That’s a lot, so why wouldn’t you use a tool that costs me maybe $30 a month?”
Automatically applying with AI
Software developer Julian Joseph sent his CV and cover letter to around 300 companies. The response? About twenty showed interest and invited Joseph for an interview. The result? No job. Joseph was fed up. He was yet another victim of the wave of layoffs in the tech sector. After his second layoff in two years, he reluctantly spent months filling out and submitting repetitive job applications, which seemed to disappear into a digital black hole.
With two computers diligently scouring job listings, he went to bed. By the next morning, the robot had applied for nearly 1,000 jobs.
The tech-savvy Joseph specialises in automating user interfaces. After some online research, he came across LazyApply, a company behind an AI-powered service called JobGPT. The tool promises to apply for thousands of jobs with just one click. All Joseph had to do was enter some basic information about his skills, experience, and desired position. With two computers diligently scouring job listings, he went to bed. By the next morning, the robot had applied for nearly 1,000 jobs.
Beating the bots: the 10 AI tools candidates are using
For years, we’ve covered the numerous tools recruiters use to find the perfect match with a candidate. But as you’ve seen in the first three articles in this series, candidates aren’t just sitting still either. With the rise of AI, job seekers now have a multitude of options to optimally present themselves, both in the screening phase and the actual job interview. Here’s a quick overview of the tools candidates are using today.
1. TheProfessional.Me
TheProfessional.Me allows job seekers to compare their CVs directly with the requirements listed in a job vacancy. The company aims to help identify a ‘resume gap.’
“HR professionals use robots to keep your CV out of the hiring managers’ sight,” the company states, in a slightly dystopian tone. “Every day, qualified candidates are rejected for interviews due to a mismatch between their CV and the job vacancy. We have analysed ATS systems, thousands of CVs, and hundreds of thousands of job postings to develop an algorithm that helps candidates outsmart HR robots.”
2. Final Round
Final Round provides real-time feedback during mock interviews, highlighting a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. The ‘Interview Copilot’ feature offers practical tips on communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and overall interview performance. It also provides personalised recommendations based on answers and behaviour.
3. Yoodli
Yoodli acts as a mirror, recording candidates’ answers to real-time mock interview questions and instantly delivering analysis on word choice, pace, and presentation, including eye contact, pauses, and how candidates smile.
4. Ramped
A recently launched, personalised career service that uses OpenAI to improve candidates’ CVs and cover letters. Ramped’s mission is to simplify and make the job search more inclusive. According to Ben Grant, Head of Growth, this means helping job seekers learn best practices to compete in today’s job market.
With Ramped, job seekers can even apply for jobs automatically. “Candidates in our Automatic Applier program have had up to 10 interviews within 30 days and have been hired within 45 days or less”, the US company promises.
5. Huru
Huru is a chatbot that helps candidates prepare for job interviews. The tool can generate over 20 types of mock interviews with corresponding interview questions. The platform is available as a web app or for iOS and Android devices. Additionally, Huru provides feedback on your answers and personalised improvement tips.
6. RightJoin
RightJoin offers personalised coaching sessions, mock interviews with professionals from specific industries, and analytical data to track your progress. The platform’s AI algorithms analyse your responses and behaviour, identifying areas for improvement with specific recommendations.
7. Google’s Interview Warmup
Yes, even Google has its own interview prep tool. Google’s free platform is designed to help candidates prepare with mock interviews, behavioural assessments, and personalised coaching sessions. Interview Warmup can analyse answers, body language, and tone of voice to provide feedback. It also offers curated interview questions tailored to specific roles and industries.
8. Pramp
Pramp is a platform for tech professionals. It allows IT candidates to prepare for technical interviews with a wide range of questions at various difficulty levels in fields such as data science, system design, and product management. Pramp also encourages collaboration and learning through peer feedback, giving job seekers additional insights and perspectives from others in the community.
9. LazyApply
LazyApply is a Chrome extension that uses AI to automate the job application process on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. The extension saves job seekers hours by automatically filling out applications based on their CV and profile data. Once they find a suitable job, candidates can apply with a single click.
LazyApply then fills out the application using the stored data, with an AI bot called JobGPT adjusting the text for each position. After that, with just one more click, LazyApply can apply to hundreds of vacancies simultaneously.
10. Sonara
Sonara promises a fully automated job search. The platform now has 5,000 users, according to founder Victor Schwartz, who spoke to Wired. Schwartz is currently working on a feature with Sonara that will automatically tailor CVs to individual vacancies before they are sent.
