Mission Pointers

Free AI tools for job seekers in the UK: a practical guide

How to use free AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot to write your CV, cover letters and interview answers honestly, plus free UK job support.

Mission Pointers · 4 October 2026 · 11 min read

In short

  • Free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot can help you tailor your CV, draft cover letters and practise for interviews.
  • Only include what's true. AI can make things up, and the Civil Service says it may reject applications where AI is used inappropriately.
  • Keep personal details such as your National Insurance number, date of birth and address out of AI tools.
  • Free help is available from careers services in all four nations, Jobcentre Plus and the government's free AI Skills Boost courses.
On this page
  1. Which free AI tools can you use?
  2. Five ways AI can help your job search
  3. The honest risks
  4. Free official support
  5. How to spot a job scam
  6. For advisers and community groups
  7. Sources

Looking for work takes time and energy. Free AI chat tools can take some of the hard work out of it, by helping you tailor your CV, start a cover letter or practise answering interview questions.

This guide is for anyone in the UK who is looking for a job, changing career or returning to work. It's also for the advisers, volunteers and community groups who support them. You'll find example prompts you can copy, the honest risks to watch out for, and where to get free official help.

Which free AI tools can you use?

The three best-known AI chat tools all have free versions:

  • ChatGPT, made by OpenAI. OpenAI says the free version "is available to everyone". Paid plans offer more features.
  • Gemini, made by Google. It's free of charge with a Google account.
  • Microsoft Copilot. Microsoft says you can chat with Copilot for free, subject to available capacity and limits.

There's also a free government option. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched the Work Hub in summer 2026, and is still developing it. It includes an AI Work Assistant, a CV builder and the "Find a job" service. DWP says the CV builder can be used by everyone, whether or not you're a DWP customer. You can reach it through GOV.UK's Get help applying for jobs page.

In each prompt below, replace the text in [square brackets] with your own details. Before you paste in your CV or a job advert, take out your personal details. There's more on this in the privacy section below.

1. Understand a job description

Job adverts can be full of jargon. AI can explain what an employer is really asking for, and help you decide whether to apply.

Understand a job advert

Here is a job advert: [paste the job advert]

Please explain in plain English:

  1. What the job involves day to day.
  2. Which skills and experience are essential, and which are just nice to have.
  3. Any words or phrases I might not understand.
  4. Questions I could ask the employer about the role.

2. Tailor your CV to a job advert

AI can help you spot which of your skills to bring forward for each job.

Tailor your CV

I'm applying for this job: [paste the job advert]

Here is my CV, with my personal details removed: [paste your CV]

Suggest how I could reorder or reword my CV to show how I match this job. Only use experience and skills that are already in my CV. Don't add anything new. If the advert asks for something I don't seem to have, list it separately so I can decide what to do.

3. Draft a cover letter

AI can give you a first draft to work from. Always rewrite it in your own words, so it sounds like you.

Draft a cover letter

Help me write a short cover letter for this job: [paste the job advert]

Here are three things I want the employer to know about me:

  1. [An achievement, with a real example]
  2. [A relevant skill, and where you used it]
  3. [Why you want this job or to work for this employer]

Use only the information I've given you. Keep it under 300 words, in plain, friendly language. Don't use clichés.

4. Practise interview questions

AI can play the interviewer and give you feedback, as many times as you like.

Practise for an interview

I have an interview for this job: [paste the job advert or job title]

Act as the interviewer. Ask me one question at a time, including some about my experience and some about how I'd handle situations at work. Wait for my answer each time. After each answer, tell me one thing I did well and one thing I could improve. You can suggest using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result).

AI can help you break your search into small, manageable steps.

Plan your job search

I'm looking for work as [type of job] and I can work [hours, such as part-time]. My main skills are [your skills].

Help me make a simple four-week job search plan. Include:

  • types of job I could apply for, including some I might not have thought of
  • what to do each week, in small steps
  • how to keep track of my applications

The honest risks

AI can make things up

AI tools can produce information that sounds convincing but is wrong. OpenAI's own help pages say ChatGPT "might sound confident—even when it's wrong" and recommend using it as a first draft, not a final source.

On a CV, that could mean a qualification you don't have or skills you've never used.

Employers may have rules about AI

Some employers publish guidance on how candidates can use AI. The Civil Service is a clear example. Its candidate's guide to AI in recruitment says AI tools "must not be used to provide misleading or false information at any stage of the application journey".

According to that guidance, you can use AI to:

  • refine and clarify your ideas
  • research the organisation you're applying to
  • check your spelling and grammar
  • prepare for interviews, including mock questions

You must not use AI to:

  • inflate or invent your skills and experience
  • create generic responses and copy them into your application
  • complete assessments that evaluate personality and abilities, such as situational judgement and numerical tests
  • create answers during a live or pre-recorded interview

The Civil Service asks candidates to confirm that the information they provide is true and accurate. It also says it may reject applications where AI is used inappropriately at any stage. The Scottish Government publishes similar guidance for its own jobs.

These rules cover Civil Service jobs. Other employers may have different rules, so check the job advert and application form, and ask if you're not sure.

AI-written applications can sound generic

AI tends to produce the same polished phrases for everyone. The Civil Service wants applications that represent your skills and experience "accurately and authentically". Use AI to help structure your ideas, then add real examples that only you could give.

Protect your personal information

What you type into an AI tool may be stored, and in some cases reviewed by people or used to improve the tool. Google's Gemini privacy page says: "Please don't enter confidential information that you wouldn't want a reviewer to see or Google to use to improve our services".

You can also change your privacy settings:

  • ChatGPT. On the free plan, your content is used to train OpenAI's models unless you opt out. Go to Settings, then Data controls, and turn off Improve the model for everyone.
  • Gemini. Turn off your Keep activity setting to stop future chats being reviewed to improve Google's services.
  • Copilot. Microsoft explains your options in its privacy controls guide.

Free official support

You don't have to job hunt on your own. These services are free.

England

On 1 October 2026, the National Careers Service changed as the government brings it together with Jobcentre Plus in a new Jobs and Careers Service. Careers advice for adults in England now comes from careers advisers in the DWP Careers Service.

  • If you're 18 or over and live in England, you can speak to a DWP careers adviser on 0800 072 0288, 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles.
  • The National Careers Service website has been renamed Get careers information and advice. You can still use it to explore careers, discover your skills and find a course. It no longer offers webchat or email.

Scotland

My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland, has advice on CVs, applications and interviews. If you're 16 or over and live in Scotland, you can book a free phone appointment with a careers adviser by signing in to My World of Work. You can also call the helpline on 0800 917 8000, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, or contact your local centre for a face-to-face appointment.

Wales

Working Wales, delivered by Careers Wales, offers free and impartial careers advice if you're 16 or over. It can help with CV writing and interview techniques, and you can get support face to face, by phone or online. Call 0800 028 4844, or use webchat or British Sign Language.

Northern Ireland

The Careers Service on nidirect gives advice to people of all ages, including help with CVs, applications and interviews. Call 0300 200 7820, or use webchat from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. You can search for jobs in Northern Ireland on JobApplyNI.

Jobcentre Plus

GOV.UK says you're entitled to free help from a Jobcentre Plus adviser if you're unemployed and looking for work. They can help you:

  1. look for vacancies that suit your skills
  2. write a CV and covering letter
  3. fill in application forms
  4. prepare for interviews

You can use a computer for free at your local Jobcentre Plus office or your local library. You may also be able to get help with the cost of travelling to an interview, so ask your adviser. In Northern Ireland, Jobs and Benefits offices handle Jobseeker's Allowance rather than Jobcentre Plus.

Free AI skills training

AI Skills Boost is a free training programme backed by the government and industry partners, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM. In January 2026, the government said every adult in the UK is eligible to take its free courses in practical AI skills for work.

The courses are on the AI Skills Hub and take from 20 minutes to a day. Selected courses that meet Skills England's benchmark earn you a virtual AI foundations badge. The hub says it's currently focusing on small and medium-sized businesses, but there's something for everyone.

Free digital skills learning

Learn My Way, from Good Things Foundation, has free online lessons in digital skills. Its Employment and work topics include searching for jobs online, applying for jobs online and checking your skills for work. You can try some topics straight away and register for free to unlock the rest.

How to spot a job scam

Scammers target people who are looking for work. The National Cyber Security Centre says AI can be used to create convincing messages without the spelling and grammar mistakes that often give scams away. So a well-written message isn't proof that a job is real.

Warning signs from Report Fraud, JobsAware and GOV.UK include:

  • You're asked to pay. For example, for training, equipment, security checks or visa fees. JobsAware says a professional employer or agency won't ask you for money to work for them.
  • A job offer you didn't apply for, especially one promising high pay for part-time hours.
  • A personal email address, such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail, instead of a company address.
  • Requests for personal details too early. GOV.UK advises never giving out your bank details, National Insurance number, date of birth or similar until you have a job offer.
  • Being asked to receive money and pass it on. This could make you a "money mule", which is a crime.

Before you share anything, check the employer is real. Report Fraud suggests looking them up on Companies House and contacting them through their officially listed contact details.

For more on scams that use AI, read our guide to AI voice-cloning scams.

For advisers and community groups

If you support people into work, try the prompts together in your sessions and help people set up their privacy settings. Mission Pointers offers an AI for Work & Employability programme delivered with community partners. You can see our community programmes.

Sources

Next step

Running employability support? Our AI for Work & Employability programme is delivered with community partners.

See our community programmes

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