Your guide to applying with AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in job hunting both by applicants and those hiring. For example, students are increasingly using it to provide them with ideas for phrasing, or researching organisations and some employers may use AI in the process of hiring, for example in developing job adverts.

It is important to note that each employer will develop their own way of using, or not using, AI in their recruitment process. Similarly, some employers encourage the use of AI when you are planning an application, whilst others seek to detect it or ask you to disclose its use. More information on this topic, including the use of ATS, is in the articles in the Further Resources section of this page.

This guide will help you to explore ways to use AI more effectively in your own job applications, explore how employers are using it in their recruitment practices and highlight the things for you to be aware of.

If you are new to using AI or are thinking about using it at other stages in your career thinking (career exploration, job-search, interviews), check out our AI and You: Careers, Jobs and Applications page for a broader understanding of effective AI use and our Considerations when using AI page for information about university guidance and how to mitigate challenges presented by using AI in your career thinking.

What AI can/cannot do for you

Using AI will:

  • Provide a starting point.
  • Offer broad templates and structure.

Using AI won’t:

  • Add the human aspect – it doesn't know you.
  • Tailor your experience precisely to the role and organization.
  • Write in a style which suits your level of experience or the sector you are applying to.

While AI can get closer to your style with effective prompting, it's unlikely to deliver the final product. To ensure you are using AI effectively, follow our 3 P’s below.

Our 3P’s to using AI effectively

If you haven’t heard of our ‘3 P’s’ (Prepare, Prompt, Proofread), there is more information on our AI and You: Careers, Jobs and Applications page. If using AI to draft job applications, you might use the 3 P’s like this:

Prepare

First, gather essential information:

  • Find out everything you can about the opportunity; requirements, responsibilities, logistics of the application etc.
  • Think about your motivation for the role and employer in relation to the opportunity.
  • What else do you need to know?

Without this information, AI may generate generic, untailored content which is easily identifiable and does not match what the employer is looking for.

It is essential to do this for every application, your application documents should be tailored to each opportunity.

Prompt

While AI tools can assist in drafting applications, they require clear and structured prompts. Use the RTF model (developed by Durham University):

  • Role – Who should the AI act as? Be specific about the perspective you want the AI to take.
    • Example: Instead of a general request for help, try “You are an experienced career coach and CV optimisation expert.”
  • Task – What exactly do you want it to do? Clearly define the activity and include relevant context.
    • Example: Instead of a broad request, try “I have uploaded my anonymised CV. Based on the provided job description and guidance provided about CVs on the University of Manchester Careers Service webpage, suggest improvements to tailor it for this specific role and highlight how my skills and experience make me a good fit"
  • Format – How should the output be delivered? Guide how you want the response structured.
    • Example: Instead of leaving the format open, try “Provide bullet-pointed recommendations, including suggested phrasing and keywords I should emphasise, and highlight any formatting or structure changes.”

This model ensures your prompts are specific, practical, and aligned with your application goals. Always refine the AI’s output to reflect your own authentic experience, achievements, and motivation.

Proofread

AI pulls information from various sources and may not always filter it correctly. Always check:

  • Does it sound like you?
  • Is this information correct? Both about you, the company and the role? The information AI generates may be out of date or from an inaccurate source – it is worth checking.
  • Is it in the required format for the application? Check the organisation’s requirements and that it fits with the standard formatting of the country you are applying to (use GoinGlobal for information on countries’ requirements).

AI lacks genuine reflections on your experiences, so ensure your final edit includes the CAR framework (Context, Actions, Results). Find out more about using the CAR model.

It’s also often not a shortcut to performing well during the selection process either, as employers may now put more emphasis on assessing your written or communication skills more fully at the next stage. We are here to support you at each stage of your application, check out our resources for applications and interviews.

Practice your skills

Want to practice the 3Ps? 'Prompt’ our AI resources but don’t forget to Prepare and Proofread too.

The Careers Service has a subscription to the AI tool, Shortlist.me. This is an AI powered interview simulation tool which can provide practice questions and generate feedback on your answers.

Remember this tool will not provide tailored feedback to your sector, you as a professional or your opportunity of interest. To enhance your answers head to our ‘Proofread’ step.

AI is evolving

  • Different AI tools have different data privacy policies. Make sure you are anonymizing your data when using AI to avoid it being used elsewhere.
  • New software updates are continuously rolled out. This guide serves as a starting point but ensure that you are staying up to date on the software that you use.
  • Regulation on how AI can and should be used is being developed, check if your sector/organisation of interest has an agreed approach. For example, you can read the university's guidelines for using or developing AI linked on this page.

How are employers using AI?

Employers are adapting to AI in their recruitment. Research from the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) showed that as of November 2023, 28% of employers were using it in their recruitment, increasing from 9% in 2022. Read more examples of how employers are using AI in recruitment in 2025.

Employers’ attitudes vary with regard to the use of AI by job applicants. Some employers endorse its use, such as the Teacher Training programme, whereas others seek to detect or ask you to disclose its use. The Civil Service have put together a guide outlining acceptable and unacceptable use of AI when applying to their opportunities.

Check out the guidance from Pfizer and the NHS around using AI in the recruitment processes.

Always check an employer’s guidelines for applicants before applying and remember if you are using AI to support your application, it is not the finished product. You must add your own reflection, experience and tone.

Considerations when using AI:

When considering using AI to support your career-planning, it’s important to understand further considerations. For example, data privacy - submitting confidential or sensitive information to an AI system may result in that information being unintentionally revealed to other users. For more information including examples of how you might manage challenges when using AI in your career thinking and the university’s wider policy, go to Considerations when using AI.

Further Resources

Keep checking this page for any updates; there are also useful resources below: