An Indian-origin engineer in the United States credited artificial intelligence for helping him secure a six-figure position at a time when the job market was intensely competitive. Speaking to Business Insider, Malhar Shah explained how he used AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini not to fabricate content, but to sharpen his applications and increase his chances of making it past resume-screening software.
Shah, who had been seeking senior-level positions in engineering during a period when vacancies were limited, recognised that applicant tracking systems (ATS) were filtering out most applications long before they reached recruiters. To give himself a competitive edge, he turned to the latest generation of AI assistants.
Rather than submitting a single resume across different roles, Shah pursued a more structured approach. He prepared four separate versions of his resume, each tailored to a specific type of position: technical lead, staff engineer, engineering manager, and principal engineer.
Each version was repeatedly revised, with ChatGPT and Gemini reviewing the drafts and providing guidance. Shah noted that the responses were not always consistent. “One time ChatGPT rated a résumé nine out of ten, while Gemini gave the same draft a seven,” he said, adding that even the same tool could produce varying feedback depending on how a question was phrased.
For him, these ratings were less about definitive scores and more about checkpoints in an ongoing process of improvement.
Shah stressed that he did not allow AI to generate fabricated experiences or skills. “I never used AI to create material that wasn’t true. The tools acted more like reviewers—helping me with phrasing, structure and emphasis,” he explained.
The feedback prompted him to highlight leadership experience more effectively, refine the narrative of his career, and add keywords that would prevent his applications from being filtered out by ATS systems. The platforms also suggested adjustments to formatting and layout, improving clarity without altering the substance of his background.
His aim, he said, was not to chase a flawless resume but to ensure his existing achievements were presented with maximum precision and impact.
Although AI played a significant role in his process, Shah acknowledged that personal advice from colleagues was equally important. A former coworker cautioned him against letting the job hunt consume his entire routine. Following that suggestion, he restricted his applications to two hours a day, leaving space for family and continued learning.
That balance, Shah explained, prevented burnout and allowed him to maintain momentum across what turned into an extended search.
Shah’s use of AI went beyond CV editing. He employed ChatGPT and Gemini to help him craft more persuasive cover letters and to run practice interview sessions. The systems simulated both behavioural and technical interviews, enabling him to rehearse his responses and anticipate possible questions.
“The speed of the feedback and the number of practice cycles I could run gave me an advantage,” he told Business Insider. Traditional preparation methods, he said, rarely offer that kind of rapid iteration.
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