Business Insider published an as-told-to essay from Rathesh Prabakar, 26, a senior software engineer in Bengaluru, describing how he used ChatGPT throughout a compressed job search in late 2025. Per the article, Prabakar handed in his notice at a billing company in October 2025 after working there since 2021, then accepted a new role at a product-based company in under a month. His notice period was unexpectedly shortened to approximately 15 days, compressing his search timeline. He enlisted ChatGPT to assist with resume tailoring, outreach drafting, and interview preparation.
What happened
Business Insider published an as-told-to essay from Rathesh Prabakar, 26, a senior software engineer in Bengaluru, describing his job-search experience using AI tools, per the article.
Per Business Insider, Prabakar joined a billing company in 2021, advanced to senior software engineer, and handed in his notice in October 2025. His notice period was unexpectedly shortened to approximately 15 days, compressing his available search time. He accepted a new role at a product-based company in under a month of active searching.
How he used AI
Prabakar enlisted ChatGPT to assist with practical hiring workflow tasks including resume tailoring, cover letter and outreach drafting, and mock interview preparation, per the article.
Context and limitations
The account is a single-person first-person essay, not a study or survey. It illustrates that conversational AI can reduce friction in language-heavy job-search tasks, but the outcome cannot be generalized to broader hiring market patterns. Business Insider does not disclose the new employer. Prabakar previously wrote about AI-assisted job searching in a December 2025 Medium post.
What to watch
Monitor whether applicant-tracking systems and professional networking platforms introduce native AI features that shift outreach norms, and watch for employer policies on AI-generated application materials.
Scoring Rationale #
A single first-person essay illustrating AI-assisted job search at the individual level. Relevant to practitioners curious about ChatGPT in hiring workflows, but offers no new research, data, or industry-wide finding - minor illustrative content appropriate to the 3.5-4.9 range.
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