Stellenbosch University PhD candidate launches innovative job-hunting app

A Stellenbosch University PhD candidate, Thabo Maibi, has developed a job-hunting app. 

Mr Maibi, a PhD candidate in industrial engineering with a focus on applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cancer research, said the Career Agent is an innovative tool designed to simplify and streamline the job-hunting process for unemployed individuals.

He said that while many users have already subscribed, the app will begin assisting them for the first time at the end of this month. 

“The AI job hunter runs every month-end, not every day, because job posts take at least a month before they close. Running the AI every day would end up applying to one job multiple times,” he said.

He said the app will search for jobs, match them to users’ CVs, and even apply on their behalf, whether they are skilled or unskilled.

“I have seen people who are great with their hands and hardworking, but they get left out of the job market simply because they do not have a certificate (matric or higher education). Career Agent is built to make it easy for them to find jobs that are dedicated to them as well,” he said.

If the app does not find an email address in the job description, it will alert you that it could not apply automatically, and a manual application will be required.

The app also features an applicant tracking system (ATS) score checker to improve CVs before applications are sent.

Career Agent allows users to build a CV using voice commands, a function Mr Maibi said was added for convenience and to assist those who may not be able to type or see.

Users pay R400 for three months of automated job applications, but Mr Maibi hopes to secure investors to make the app free for all. 

“It would be beneficial if this app were free. You just submit your CV and it keeps applying for you,” he said.

For now, the app focuses on South African job listings but also pulls in opportunities from Botswana, Swaziland, and global remote jobs - though it does not automatically apply for those. 

Mr Maibi was hopeful to expand at a later stage to include more countries and offer scholarships.

Stellenbosch University's spokesperson, Martin Viljoen, confirmed that Mr Maibi is their student.