A software engineer in Bengaluru, India, used AI tools like ChatGPT to accelerate his job search after quitting his position without another lined up. He secured a new role in less than a month, crediting AI for efficient preparation and interview practice.
This story highlights how individuals can strategically use AI tools to enhance their job search efficiency and effectiveness, particularly when facing tight timelines or career transitions. It demonstrates a practical application of AI in personal career development.
Rathesh Prabakar, a 26-year-old software engineer based in Bengaluru, India, has shared his experience of quitting his job without a new one lined up and successfully landing a new role within a month, largely attributing his swift success to the strategic use of AI tools.
After more than four years in a senior software engineer position at a billing company, Prabakar felt bored and sought to explore different industries. He resigned in October 2025, expecting a 90-day notice period, but was surprised to learn it would be closer to 15 days. This compressed timeline, coupled with concerns about AI potentially impacting hiring, initially caused anxiety.
Prabakar dedicated his time to updating his LinkedIn profile and résumé, spending two hours daily on job applications before work and preparing for interviews until midnight. He leveraged AI, specifically ChatGPT, by prompting it to act as an experienced résumé creator and to help him prepare for interviews. He fed the AI details about his skills and the job descriptions, which generated relevant potential interview questions. Prabakar also cross-checked AI-generated answers with Google to ensure accuracy.
Human connection also played a role in his job search. Prabakar actively posts on LinkedIn about frontend and software engineering, which led to a referral from a contact when he saw a relevant job posting. This referral resulted in an interview.
By early November, less than a month after resigning, Prabakar accepted a job offer at a product-based company. He expressed that the experience boosted his confidence and highlighted the importance of believing in oneself and using time effectively, especially by leveraging AI as a tool for rapid progress.