Things have changed a great deal in job hunting. If you’ve tried applying for jobs right before or after graduation, you most likely know the process: tabs on tabs, resumes being fired left and right, tweaking your cover letter for the 37th time, and slamming “Submit” down like your actual life depended on it (because… it kinda does?)
But here’s the real question: What if you didn’t have to do all that manually? What if AI could simply… take care of it?
Some automated tools claim to apply to jobs for you, freeing up your time and expanding your reach. But does it actually work?
We tested it. We had AI apply to 100 technical jobs in the U.S., all remote or hybrid; on behalf of a real candidate profile. Two weeks later, we got the results. Spoiler: it sort of worked pretty well. Here’s a full look at what we learned.
Why People Are Turning to AI for Job Hunting
Two major reasons: time and burnout.
Most job seekers aren’t only applying to one or two roles: they’re applying to dozens, if not hundreds. It’s tiring to tailor each resume, write individual cover letters, and fill out those agonizingly repetitive application forms (we all know the ones).
AI tools present an appealing fix: Automate the repetitive parts, customize applications at scale, and keep applying while you sleep, work, or simply take a well-deserved break. It’s like cloning yourself, but the entrepreneurial, my-jobs-sought-should-not-humble-you part on LinkedIn at midnight.
How We Did It
We created a candidate profile akin to most students or new grads in tech, and handed over the majority of the work to AI.
Candidate Profile
- Name: Alex R.
- Status: Final semester CS student at a US university (graduating in May)
- Technologies: Python, JavaScript, React, SQL, Git, and basic AWS
- Experience: 2 intern positions (1 startup, 1 university research lab)
- Seeking: Software Engineer / Web Developer / QA Engineer
- Location: U.S.-based (Austin), remote candidates considered, hybrid roles in U.S.
- Work Authorization: American citizen
Tools Used
Here’s what did all the heavy lifting in the workflow:
Bloom
The core engine. It sucked jobs directly from platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed and others. It didn’t simply search, it pored over the world’s remote-working offerings (including those buried on niche sites), personalized applications, automatic follow-ups. It was essentially an AI job scout that worked 24/7.
ChatGPT
Helped in reviewing and fine-tuning autogenerated cover letters, used especially for roles that required something different.
Notion
A tool I used to track application progress and manually organize replies, interviews and next steps where needed.
There was no need to sift around job boards: Bloom was already sourcing high-end platforms and even remote roles from companies we would never have considered.
Bloom Settings
Jobs: Junior Developer, Entry-level Software Engineer, QA Engineer, Web Developer
Location: Remote (only U.S.-based roles), or hybrid roles in major tech hubs (SF, NYC, Austin, Seattle)
Seniority: Only beginners
Resume upload: Yes
Cover letter: Autosigned for jobs that required one (auto-generated via Bloom + ChatGPT)
Timeline
We ran this over 2 weeks, aiming for ~7 applications per day, totaling 100 applications.
What We Expected to Happen
We made a few guesses going in:
- At least 10% would respond
- We wanted 10–15 replies, and a couple of interview calls.
- Startups would be more agile than big tech
- They tend to act more quickly and care less about resume style.
- Tons of the AI-written cover letters, at best, would be mid-tier.
- Not bad, not great. Just enough to get through early filters.
- Remote-first companies may react higher.
- We imagined that remote-first orgs would be more inclusive, especially since Alex was flexible on remote roles only.
What Actually Happened
Here’s how it played out:
- Applications Sent: 100
- Responses Received: 27
- 10 auto-responses / “thanks for applying”
- 8 direct rejections
- 6 requests to follow-up (more info, portfolio, samples)
- 3 interview invitations (all remote jobs)
Some Interesting Observations:
Best Response Rates:
QA Engineer and Web Developer had the highest engagement. They’re more willing to hire candidates with just internship experience.
Wellfound and LinkedIn were both helpful, but Bloom was the bridge.
Bloom sifted through roles on both platforms (and others), so we wouldn’t need to flip between tabs or lose out on listings hidden in lists. This cast the net more widely — in a way that felt effortless.
The Follow-ups Were Automatic.
Bloom did something that is one of the most useful parts: It sent out timely, professional follow-ups on Alex’s behalf. That extra push probably gave a leg up on some apps, particularly at startups and smaller teams.
Key Takeaways
What AI Did Well:
- Saved Serious Time
It did take less than an hour to set up the profile. After that, Bloom did all the work: application personalized, submitted, and followed up.
- Expanded Reach
It dredged up remote opportunities from around the world, including positions buried on job boards and lesser-known websites. From start-ups to tech giants, Alex’s profile showed up on desks we’d never have reached manually.
- Handled the Full Cycle
Applying for a position isn’t the whole battle of the job search: there’s also following up. Bloom did that too. The auto follow-ups were courteous, set well, and brought visibility without being spammy.
Should You Allow AI to Apply for You?
If you’re a student or recent grad in search of remote tech work in the U.S., yes, use AI to give your search an extra boost.
Here’s the winning combo:
- Let AI such as Bloom handle scale, reach, and time-consuming applications.
- Do it yourself for the important moments like tailoring portfolios or practicing for interviews.
- It’s a little like having your own digital recruiter on duty 24/7, without skipping a beat.
Conclusion: Bloom was our MVP
Bloom didn’t just save time — it multiplied what one person could do by themselves. It found jobs all over the internet, applied to them intelligently, and followed up like a champ. If the job hunt feels even a little daunting to you, give it a try.
You focus on your skills. Bloom will perform the search.
