He was knocked back after applying for hundreds of jobs
Theo dal Pozzo blamed AI for job rejection (Image: Theo dal Pozzo / SWNS)
An Exeter University graduate who blamed the rise of AI after being rejected for hundreds of jobs has finally found a role – working with AI.
Theo dal Pozzo, 24, submitted 500 formal applications from May 2025 to May 2026 but was knocked back for all of them.
He graduated with a first-class postgraduate degree in computer science, specialising in machine learning, from the University of Exeter in 2024.
Following media coverage of his plight, he received more than 75 messages and connection requests on LinkedIn, which led to him getting a job offer.
And, after previously blaming the recent boom in the use of AI for the difficulties he encountered getting a job, Theo is now working as an AI analyst at professional services company BDO.
Aware of the irony, Theo said: “It’s something that can be dangerous to the job-market, but there’s a flip side to it, it’s a double-edged sword.
“It can be used for good as well.
“It is funny to be on the other side of it, I’m looking at it more from the angle of actually bettering people’s lives, making things more efficient.”
Theo dal Pozzo blamed AI for job rejection (Image: Theo dal Pozzo / SWNS)
After a short stint working in his family’s hotel in Brazil, Theo started applying for jobs in May 2025.
He applied to more than 500 roles – and was rejected from all of them.
Theo, who moved to London from Brazil aged two and has British citizenship, even made it to a final stage interview with one big tech firm but was unsuccessful.
Now, his jobless plight is over.
Theo said: “Relief is definitely the word that I would use.
“I didn’t expect to be relieved, I expected to be celebrating, but on the day I actually got the offer I just gave my housemate a hug. We sat down in the kitchen, and I just took a massive breath and said ‘wow, finally’.
“It was something I didn’t expect to take that long – a year was unfortunate. The issue with it is that it’s not a one-off, my situation is one that so many people are facing.
Theo dal Pozzo blamed AI for job rejection (Image: Theo dal Pozzo / SWNS)
“I think it’s fair to say that I got quite lucky to an extent. It’s not feasible for everybody to get the sort of visibility that I did, it’s something that has to change systematically.”
Now he’s off Universal Credit, Theo said he can finally afford to have a social life again.
Asked what he does now that he can afford to, he said: “Get a pint, honestly. London is a really expensive city, and it’s very difficult to be in London on Universal Credit.
“I feel like I can regain my social life and actually go out with friends, now that I actually have an income. One of the massive things about that whole year, was more the isolation of job searching.
“It’s not talked about that much. The whole day I’d be at home applying and reaching out on my laptop. You don’t really see many people, especially because you don’t have money – you can’t really go out.
“The isolation hits hard.”
He added: “The main thing is just to keep your head up, and trust in yourself, believe in yourself. It sounds cringey, but it’s about focusing and taking the opportunities that come to you.”