In one of the toughest job markets in recent years, two tech-savvy candidates decided to fight fire with fire: they built their own AI chatbots to interact with recruiters on their behalf.
Joshua Curry and Vishal Patil have created personalized AI assistants that live on their personal portfolio websites. Powered by their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters, and professional experiences, these chatbots answer recruiters’ questions in real time — 24/7 — helping the candidates stand out in a sea of applications.
Curry, a web developer based in San Francisco, and Patil, a master’s student in software engineering at the University of Maryland, are using the tools of the AI era to level the playing field.
A Response to a Brutal Job Market
The numbers tell a sobering story. U.S. employers added just 116,000 jobs last year, down dramatically from 1.46 million in 2024. On LinkedIn, roughly 8,200 applications are submitted every minute, and many job seekers report applying to more roles than ever — only to hear back less frequently.
For international students like Patil, who is on an F-1 visa, the pressure is even higher. Between mid-August 2025 and March 2026, he submitted over 700 applications and landed just 30 screening calls or interviews.
“I realized that even a small delay in responding could cost me an opportunity,” Patil says. “Recruiters are flooded with applications. If they don’t get the information they need immediately, they move on.”
Built for Speed, Skill, and Differentiation
Patil created **VAi** primarily to solve the problem of slow response times. The chatbot draws from his resume, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio to instantly provide information about his background, skills, and experience.
Curry, on the other hand, built **ChatJC** partly as a demonstration of his own abilities. After seeing multiple job postings looking for candidates who could build similar AI tools, he decided to show recruiters exactly what he could do — by releasing his chatbot as an open-source project.
“I like the idea of something working for me while I’m sleeping,” Curry says with a smile.
Both projects took roughly two weeks to design and launch. They included important guardrails: preventing the chatbots from sharing sensitive personal information, refusing to answer inappropriate questions, and minimizing hallucinations by instructing them to stick strictly to the provided materials.
Unexpected Benefits Beyond Job Applications
The results have been promising.
Since launching in January, VAi has received over 3,300 views. In one recent 30-day period alone, it logged 328 unique visitors and answered 492 questions. More importantly, Patil says the visibility from building and sharing VAi significantly boosted his LinkedIn engagement. Several recruiters — including some he had applied to — reached out with positive feedback, leading to interviews and technical assessments.
“I never had these kinds of discussions with recruiters or peers before,” Patil says. “It was all grinding alone. The chatbot has opened up a lot of opportunities for me.”
He has already secured a summer internship, at least partly because a colleague saw VAi and was impressed by the initiative.
Curry’s ChatJC has attracted around 80 unique visitors since launching in March. While he can’t see who is asking questions, he monitors what they ask — ranging from serious (“What is his tech stack?”) to skeptical (“What’s Joshua’s main weak point?”). He views the project as both a technical showcase and a philosophical response to the growing use of AI by employers.
“I don’t see it as gaming the system,” Curry says. “I see it as matching it. We’re using the same tools to put ourselves on equal footing.”
A Creative Push for Visibility
Both job seekers acknowledge the broader frustration many candidates feel: sending applications into what often feels like a void.
“You’re just another résumé in the shuffle,” Curry says. “Nothing shines back.”
Their AI chatbots represent one of many creative tactics emerging in this low-hire environment — alongside strategies like sending physical mail or hiring reverse recruiters. For Curry and Patil, the chatbots aren’t just tools; they’re statements about adaptability, initiative, and embracing technology in a rapidly changing job market.
While Curry is still actively searching, he remains hopeful.
“I hope this damn thing gets me a job,” he says.
For now, both candidates have proven one thing clearly: in today’s competitive landscape, standing out sometimes means building your own recruiter-facing AI.