A new survey shows that candidates are submitting more job applications than ever, and using AI to do it.
By Gillian Manning
Job searching has always been a numbers game, but AI has exacerbated that aspect of the hunt for candidates and employers alike. A survey of 590 job seekers conducted by Clutch found that 80% of respondents now use AI tools during their job search, with 86% reporting that AI has enabled them to increase the number of applications they submit in a given week. High volume is increasing, as 68% apply to more than 10 jobs before accepting an offer and 31% spend more than three months looking for a position.
The application bloat driven by AI appears to yield results, even as many suspect automated systems have rejected their files. Specifically, 61% of surveyed job seekers say AI has made it easier to find a job than it was three years ago, and 67% say they were invited to interview for a role after using AI to improve their application materials.
Most applicants report using AI to edit their resumes (84%) and write their cover letters (66%). While this simplifies submitting a large number of applications, 93% worry that AI-generated resumes and cover letters make it harder for qualified applicants to stand out.
In Clutch’s report, Kickresume CEO Peter Duris says, “AI made it trivial to apply to 10 jobs in an afternoon, and it can genuinely make each one more polished. But polish was never the real bottleneck. Recruiters can spot a copy-pasted, AI-smoothed resume or cover letter from a mile away.”
The survey also found:
- 80% of job seekers altered their writing style specifically to navigate AI screening tools;
- 80% support companies using AI to screen candidates;
- 92% worry that AI will reduce job availability in their field over the next 5 years; and
- junior workers currently land roles the fastest (38% within a month), whereas the most experienced workers face the longest searches (23% take 6 months or more).
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