Amar Saurabh, a product manager currently at PayPal, recently shared how he leveraged technology to supercharge his job search. After five years at Meta and TikTok, Saurabh wanted a more stable role in the US and began applying to other companies in April. Within two months, he had landed just a few interviews and realized traditional methods were slowing him down.

Saurabh holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer and Information Sciences from B.M.S. College of Engineering. He later completed his Master of Science in Product Management from Carnegie Mellon University, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Why ChatGPT Wasn’t Enough

Saurabh initially relied on ChatGPT to draft outreach messages to recruiters. However, the generic responses and frequent mistakes made the AI less useful. “ChatGPT kept mixing up my job search with other topics I asked it about, like recipes and travel,” he told Business Insider. Frustrated by repeated requests to reupload his résumé or provide more details, he decided to build a custom GPT tailored exclusively for his career goals.

Building a Custom GPT for Job Applications

Using ChatGPT’s paid tier, Saurabh created his “PM Job Search Advisor” in less than two hours. He uploaded his résumé, LinkedIn profile, and project details while specifying that he was seeking senior-level product management roles. The AI now drafts personalized messages to recruiters, refines his résumé for specific jobs, identifies the right contacts, and even prepares him for interviews.

While the custom GPT occasionally forgot details, Saurabh compared it to a human assistant. “It would apologize and adjust when I reminded it about my information,” he said. The tool drastically improved the number of responses he received. Over two months, Saurabh secured at least seven interviews with companies including Reddit, Intuit, and PayPal.

From Job Offer to Salary Negotiation

Saurabh credits his AI assistant for streamlining every step of the process. It helped him craft a personalized email to the PayPal recruiter, guided him through each interview round, and even assisted in negotiating his salary. Today, he has officially joined PayPal in San Mateo, California, and plans to enhance his GPT further with agentic capabilities that could autonomously submit applications.

Saurabh’s experience highlights the growing role of AI in personal productivity. By building a specialized GPT for his job search, he not only saved time but also maximized opportunities. As AI tools continue to evolve, custom solutions like his may become an essential strategy for job seekers across industries.