Let’s keep it real: the entry-level job market is currently giving major 'hunger games' vibes. With graduate roles seeing an average of 141 applications each, it’s lowkey tempting to let AI do the heavy lifting. But before you automate your entire career hunt, you need to know where the line is between working smarter and getting ghosted.
The 'Spray and Pray' Reality
Graduates are increasingly leaning on tools like ChatGPT to churn out cover letters and CVs—a strategy the industry calls 'spray and pray.' Tom, a 22-year-old recent grad, told the BBC he applied for over 200 jobs before landing a role. He admits he used AI to nail those essential keywords that automated screening bots hunt for. Real talk: if companies use AI to filter you out in seconds, is it really cheating for you to use it to get your foot in the door?
The Red Line
While companies like EDF are becoming more chill about AI for CVs, they are highkey cracking down on 'misconduct' in the later stages. According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), 92% of top graduate employers have flagged or suspected AI use during video interviews or online assessments.
Hollie Moody, head of early careers at EDF, noted that their firm saw a 10% jump in applications this year, hitting 12,000. She’s noticed candidates pausing during video interviews to wait for an AI prompt or giving identical, robotic answers. The vibe is off, and it makes you look like you're reading a script rather than showing your personality.
Why it matters
If you lean too hard into AI, you’re not just risking a 'L' in the hiring process—you’re contributing to an arms race that makes the market even more competitive. Employers are now designing 'AI-proof' assessments, and as more companies adopt AI-screening tech, the human element—your unique personality and 'diversity of thought'—is more valuable than ever. Use AI to research or polish your docs, but if you’re trying to fake your way through an interview, you might just be setting yourself up to be screened out permanently.
