Beating the Bots: How AI is Changing Recruitment - and How You Can Adapt
- Chris Howell
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 5
Recruitment isn’t what it used to be.
In today’s job market, your CV isn’t always read by a human. It might be scanned, scored, and sorted by artificial intelligence long before a hiring manager even sees your name. For jobseekers, that’s both a challenge—and an opportunity.
AI is Already in the Hiring Process
Many companies now use AI at different stages of recruitment. Some of the most common uses include:
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): These scan your CV for keywords and structure. If your formatting is off or your skills aren’t clearly listed, you may be rejected before a human even looks at your application.
AI-Powered Chatbots: Used for early-stage screening, asking standard questions and assessing your suitability.
Predictive Hiring Tools: Some systems analyse past hiring data to identify patterns and suggest which candidates are most likely to succeed.
That means the old advice of “just be yourself” needs an upgrade. You now need to be readable—to humans and machines.
Why Recruiters Are Using AI
The short answer? Time and cost.
Recruiters often receive hundreds of applications for a single role. Manually reviewing each one takes hours they don’t have. AI speeds up that process by filtering candidates automatically, prioritising those who meet the key requirements.
It’s not just about volume, though. Many companies also use AI to:
Reduce unconscious bias (at least in theory) by anonymising CVs or scoring applications purely on data.
Standardise decisions, so hiring is less subjective and more aligned with predefined criteria.
Predict performance by matching candidate profiles with successful hires from the past.
For large organisations, these systems aren’t just helpful—they’re now essential. And even smaller businesses are starting to adopt similar tools.
Why This Matters
If you’ve been applying for jobs and hearing nothing back, it might not be you—it might be your CV. Or your cover letter. Or the way you’re phrasing your experience. These systems are fast, but they’re not perfect. They can miss great candidates simply because the content didn’t match the format they expected.
It’s no longer enough to have the skills—you need to know how to show them to AI.
How You Can Adapt
Here’s what you can do to stay ahead:
Tailor Your CV to the Role: Use keywords from the job description. Don’t guess—AI tools are often trained to scan for exact matches.
Stick to Clean Formatting: Tables, columns, graphics and PDFs can trip up older ATS systems. A simple Word document is often safest.
Optimise for AI and Humans: Write clearly and concisely. Use consistent job titles and include metrics where possible (“increased sales by 30%”).
Use AI to Your Advantage: Tools like ChatGPT can help you draft better applications, improve your interview prep, and even summarise job descriptions so you can focus your efforts.
Free AI Chatbots That Can Help You Find a Job
If you're just starting out with AI, chatbots are a great place to begin. They’re simple to use and can help guide your job search without any cost. Here are a few worth trying:
ChatGPT (Free Tier): Use it to rewrite CV bullet points, generate interview questions, tailor cover letters, or get feedback on your personal summary.
Google Gemini (Basic Access): Offers search-boosted answers and summaries. You can use it to compare job ads, prep for common interview questions, or practise elevator pitches.
You.com (Free Plan): A privacy-focused AI assistant that can help with task lists, research, and even suggesting job leads.
Perplexity.ai: It can find company info, summarise news about industries you're applying to, or break down complex job specs.
Each of these tools has its own personality—but they all do one thing well: give you an edge. They won’t land the job for you, but they can help you approach the hunt with clarity and confidence.
The Bottom Line
AI is already changing how people get hired. But you don’t have to be a data scientist to take advantage of it.
At Mercia AI, we help jobseekers understand and use these tools the right way—so you’re not just another CV in the system. You’re a standout.
Free Webinar This Saturday: AI for Jobhunters
Want a deeper dive into how AI can help you land your next job?
Learn how to write AI-friendly CVs. Discover free tools to supercharge your job search. Join us live on Zoom this Saturday at 1:30 PM BST for our FREE Jobhunter Webinar. Includes time for Q&A! Use Promo Code JOBHUNTER20 .
