A developer created an automated bot to handle job applications on the HeadHunter (hh.ru) platform, aiming to bypass the paid hh PRO subscription. The tool automates resume updates, sends cover letters, answers employer questionnaires, and analyzes rejection reasons.
The bot operates by searching for vacancies via the official API and the website's search results. It uses Selenium with a persistent Chrome profile to submit applications, with a daily limit of 200 submissions. The system stores history in a local SQLite database and can manage multiple accounts via Docker containers.
The developer highlighted significant initial errors in the bot's logic, such as false-positive logs, incorrect button interactions, and faulty AI responses. For instance, the bot previously misidentified rejection reasons by using hardcoded constants and incorrectly parsed chat logs, leading to inaccurate statistics.
To improve reliability, the developer implemented a verification step after every action: the bot now re-reads the page to confirm changes rather than assuming success. The system also now normalizes resume skills to avoid exceeding the 30-skill limit and filters out ambiguous AI responses to prevent sending inappropriate answers to employers.
The bot prioritizes free AI models like Gemini and Groq for generating content, falling back to templates if limits are reached. It does not replicate premium features like competitor statistics or resume highlighting, which remain exclusive to the official platform subscription.
