I just watched someone use an agentic browser to auto-apply to 50 jobs in an hour.

Spoiler alert: it was a complete waste of time.

I’ve been testing agentic browsers (e.g. AI-enabled browsers that can take actions for you like ChatGPT’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet) for job search strategies that actually work.

In this issue, I’m diving into:

• Why using AI to auto-apply for jobs backfires (and what to do instead)

• 3 specific ways to use agentic browsers for targeted job search research

• Real prompts and workflows that helped my clients land interviews faster

…and more!

But first, let’s look at some open roles I’m excited about.

🤖 What Are Agentic Browsers (And Why You Shouldn’t Use Them To Apply For Jobs)

An agentic browser isn’t just another AI chatbot. It’s a browser experience that can take actions for you.

You’re probably thinking: “Sweet! I’ll make it apply to jobs for me!” Here’s a prompt you might be tempted to try:

Apply for jobs from the left pane of the filtered jobs. Select jobs with the “Easy Apply” button and click on it. If there’s no “Easy Apply” button, ignore it. If there is an “Easy Apply” button, apply for the job by clicking on it and following through until the last step, filling out all the necessary information…

That sounds amazing on paper.

In practice, it can backfire hard if you use it to spray applications everywhere.

3 reasons why this is a terrible idea:

Hiring managers aren’t idiots. They spot AI-generated applications in seconds. Not minutes. Seconds.

Spray and pray = more rejection. Mass applying without targeting just gets you more automated rejections.

You’re making the problem worse. Generic AI applications clog up hiring systems for everyone.

So how should you use agentic browers in your job search?

👤 Research People Before Reaching Out For Informational Interviews

Goal: Dig up what makes someone tick before you reach out. Nobody wants another generic “I’d love to pick your brain” email.

✍️ Use this prompt:

Give me a professional summary of [Full Name], currently at [Company], including their career path, notable achievements, and recent public content or social media posts (LinkedIn, podcasts, blogs, etc). Focus on insights that would help me write a personalized cold email for an informational interview.

👉 Do this next:

For LinkedIn power users:

Summarize the main themes in [Name]’s recent LinkedIn posts. What topics do they frequently comment on or share?

For podcast guests:

What are the key takeaways from [Name]’s appearance on [Podcast Name]?

🏢 Research The Company Before Applying

Goal: Skip the fluffy “About Us” page. Find the real dirt on strategy, culture, and pain points.

✍️ Use this prompt:

Summarize the most relevant and recent information about [Company Name]. Include: 1. recent funding, acquisitions, or layoffs, 2. company mission and values, 3. current challenges or strategic priorities, and 4. what makes this company stand out in its industry.

👉 Pro move:

Don’t forget this follow-up:

What are employees on Glassdoor or Blind saying about the work culture and leadership at [Company Name]?

🎤 Research CEO Interviews Before Your Interview

Goal: Learn how the big boss talks. CEOs repeat the same phrases over and over. Use their language.

✍️ Use this prompt:

Find and summarize any recent interviews, YouTube videos, or podcast appearances by [CEO Name], CEO of [Company]. Include quotes or insights related to company strategy, hiring, and culture that I can use to prep for an interview.

👉 When you hit gold:

If your agentic browser finds a video:

Can you give me a transcript or summary of this YouTube video: [insert URL]?

CEOs are predictable. They have pet phrases. One client noticed a CEO who kept saying “operating leverage” and “scrappy builders” in every interview. So they started dropping those exact terms in their final round.

🎯 Pro tip: Customize Research Prompts For Your Industry

Generic prompts get generic answers. Be specific.

🗑️ Trash: “What are this company’s challenges?”

🥇Gold: “What recent regulatory changes affect healthcare data management at [Company]?” or “What’s driving innovation in fintech product management in 2024?”

The more specific your question, the more useful the answer. Tailor prompts to your exact field and target role.

💫 The Bottom Line

Agentic browsers aren’t for applying to jobs. They’re for researching your way into interviews.

So pick one strategy this week:

• Research people before informational interviews

• Research companies before applying

• Research CEO interviews before your interview

Give it a try. Let me know how it goes.