Is it common to use AI in job applications?

Yes. AI usage for resumes and cover letters more than doubled between 2024 and 2025. By September 2024, 45% of Gen Z and Millennial job seekers reported using AI tools in their applications. Users who adopted AI completed 41% more applications on average, according to a Capterra study of nearly 3,000 job seekers.

How common is it to use AI to write a resume or cover letters?

According to a ResumeTemplates survey of 1,258 U.S. workers in October 2024, 36.4% planned to use AI to help write their resumes and 28.4% for cover letters. Earlier surveys showed lower but rapidly growing adoption - a JobLeads study from September 2024 found 31% of U.S. job seekers had already used AI for application materials.

Does AI improve my job search?

Data suggests it does. A June 2024 Capterra study of 2,997 global job seekers found that applicants who used AI completed 41% more applications on average. AI is most commonly used for writing resumes and cover letters, but also for interview preparation, skills test completion, and researching companies before applying.

What age group uses AI the most in job search?

Gen Z and Millennials lead AI adoption in job searching, both at 45% as of September 2024. Gen X follows at 28%, while only 10% of Baby Boomers report using AI. Between February and September 2024, Gen Z usage grew from 36% to 45% and Millennial usage jumped from 28% to 45%, showing rapid acceleration across younger demographics.

Do men use more AI in job applications than women?

Yes. A September 2024 JobLeads survey of 1,028 U.S. job seekers found 37.5% of men used AI in their job search compared to 25.3% of women. This 12-point gender gap has persisted across multiple surveys, with men consistently adopting AI tools for resumes, cover letters, and interview preparation at higher rates.

Is it okay to use AI for interview preparation?

Yes, and it is growing fast. AI usage for interview preparation rose from 12.4% in February 2024 to 27% by October 2024, more than doubling in eight months. Job seekers use AI to practice answers, research companies, and prepare for behavioral questions. Global adoption varies - a Capterra study found 18% usage worldwide in June 2024.

Job Seeker AI Usage Statistics: 2025 Trends & Insights

Our findings state that the use of AI in job search has steadily increased in all age groups over the past year.

AI Usage for Resumes and Cover Letters (2024 - 2025)

U.S. Global

The share of applicants who used AI to write their cover letters or resumes more than doubled from February 2024 to January 2025.

Sources:
ResumeBuilder (Feb 2024, n=1,000)
CharityJob UK Report (May 2024, n=2,309)
ResumeTemplates Gen Z Study (May 2024, n=2,921)
Capterra Global Study (Jun 2024, n=2,997)
ResumeTemplates U.S. Workplace Study (Oct 2024, n=1,258)
MyPerfectResume Cover Letter Trends Report (Jan 2025, n=1,000)

View data

Date	Resumes	Cover Letters
Feb 2024	13.1%	11.2%
May 2024	18.2%	13.9%
Oct 2024	36.5%	28.4%
Jan 2025	36.5%	32%

Methodology & Sources

This report is based on survey data collected between February 2024 and January 2025. CoverSentry has collected credible studies across the hiring field to gather AI-related behavior statistics in job seeking.

Many surveys in this space are funded by companies offering paid job search tools. Some showed methodological or narrative bias and were therefore excluded. We prioritized studies that, to the best of our judgment, demonstrated neutrality and credible sampling and design.

For media inquiries or other questions: email us at info@coversentry.com

Sources (links open in new tabs):

Which Generation Uses AI Most for Job Applications?

How Has AI Usage in Job Search Changed by Generation?

What Percentage of Each Generation Uses AI for Job Applications?

Younger generations show significantly higher AI adoption rates.

Sources:
ResumeBuilder (Feb 2024, n=1,000)
JobLeads U.S. Research (Sep 2024, n=1,028)

How age groups were mapped to generations

For surveys conducted in 2024, we used the following logic to map the age brackets:

Age group to generation mapping for 2024 surveys
Age Group	Mapped Generation(s)	Rule
18–24	100% Gen Z	Fully within 1997–2012 (ages 12–27)
25–34	30% Gen Z, 70% Millennials	25–27 are Gen Z (3 yrs), 28–34 are Millennials (7 yrs)
35–44	100% Millennials	Fully within 1980–1996
45–54	100% Gen X	Fully within 1965–1979
55+	Mostly Boomers	Even though Gen X goes to age 59, the 55+ class is simplified as boomers since no split data is given

This mapping helps with consistency when comparing generational trends in AI usage across age-based survey results.

View data

Generation	Feb 2024	Sep 2024
Gen Z	23%	49%
Millennials	23%	45%
Gen X	9%	28%
Baby Boomers	3%	10%

How Many Job Seekers Use AI for Skills Tests?

Percentage of job seekers using AI for tests or assignments.

Sources:
ResumeBuilder (Feb 2024, n=1,000)
CharityJob UK Report (May 2024, n=2,309)
Capterra Global Study (Jun 2024, n=2,997)

View data

Survey	AI Usage for Skills Tests
U.S. (Feb 2024)	9.2%
UK (May 2024)	5%
Global (Jun 2024)	16.8%

How Do Job Seekers Use AI in Their Job Search?

The data shows the distribution of what percentage of all job seekers used AI for a specific task in their job search.

Source:
Capterra Global Study (Jun 2024, n=2,997)

View data

Task	Job Seekers Using AI
Resumes	23.2%
Cover letters	19%
Interview preparation	18%
Test assignments	16.8%

Do Men or Women Use AI More for Job Applications?

Share of applicants using AI in job search

AI usage by gender (Sep 2024)

Female usage of AI in job searches grew significantly faster than male usage.

Sources:
ResumeBuilder (Feb 2024, n=1,000)
JobLeads U.S. Research (Sep 2024, n=1,028)

View data

Gender	Feb 2024	Sep 2024
Male	25%	37.5%
Female	10%	25.3%

How Many Job Seekers Use AI to Prepare for Interviews?

Using AI to prepare for interviews is gaining popularity among job seekers.

Sources:
ResumeBuilder (Feb 2024, n=1,000)
CharityJob UK Report (May 2024, n=2,309)
Capterra Global Study (Jun 2024, n=2,997)
ResumeTemplates U.S. Workplace Study (Oct 2024, n=1,258)

View data

Survey	AI for Interview Prep
U.S. (Feb 2024)	12.4%
UK (May 2024)	11.5%
Global (Jun 2024)	18%
U.S. (Oct 2024)	27%

Key Findings

📝

23%

of Gen Z job seekers don't edit AI-generated cover letters.

Source:
ResumeTemplates Gen Z Study (May 2024, n=2,921)

📊

1.41x

Job seekers using AI complete 41% more applications.

Source:
Capterra Global Study (Jun 2024, n=2,997)

Methodology & Sources

For media inquiries or other questions: email us at info@coversentry.com

Sources (links open in new tabs):

Comprehensive AI Usage Data

All data on this page is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You may share and adapt with attribution to CoverSentry.

Source	Date	Location	Sample	Resume	Cover Letter	Interview Prep	Skills & Assignments	Male	Female	Gen Z	Millennials	Gen X	Boomers
ResumeBuilder	Feb 2024	U.S.	1,000	13.1%	11.2%	12.4%	9.2%	25.0%	10.0%	23.3%	23.4%	9.0%	3.0%
CharityJob	May 2024	UK	2,309	10.1%	18.9%	11.5%	5.0%	-	-	-	-	-	-
ResumeTemplates	May 2024	U.S.	2,921	18.2%	13.9%	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Capterra	Jun 2024	Global	2,997	23.2%	19.0%	18.0%	16.8%	-	-	-	-	-	-
JobLeads	Sep 2024	U.S.	1,028	-	-	-	-	37.5%	25.3%	48.7%	44.5%	28.3%	9.9%
ResumeTemplates	Oct 2024	U.S.	1,258	36.5%	28.4%	27.0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
MyPerfectResume	Jan 2025	U.S.	1,000	-	32.0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Note: "-" indicates data not available from the corresponding study.

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