Candidates who have used AI on CVs is often obvious to spot, and rings alarm bells for most hiring managers. As an executive search firm, we see thousands of CVs from candidates across the UK, some of which are clearly copied and pasted from Generative AI tools. This is often easy to spot as there is an over-use of 'buzzwords', words such as "dynamic landscape", "fostering" and other AI favourites. Additionally, where AI has been used without human intervention many claims or statements are not backed up with tangible evidence. If we spot obvious unedited AI use in a CV or cover letter but still wish to consider the candidate, we will ask them if they have had any help with their CV and whether they have used AI - the response to this question alone will uncover whether this is a genuine risk, or someone who has used AI responsibly.
To your first question, I will say I don’t necessarily frown upon candidates making use of AI when crafting their cover letter or CV. My issue is when I can tell that AI was used to create them, which leads into the point of how I can tell when someone has used AI for this purpose. AI-written applications tend to be rather vague and have an impersonal feel. They may list the right skills for the role, but without citing specifics of the candidate’s past performance that demonstrates their capabilities. They will also frequently have a “cut and paste” feel to them, and may even be inconsistent or contradictory in the way they convey the candidate’s experience and qualifications. This leads me to question the validity and veracity of the content. It’s difficult to tell whether these are true statements that simply ring false because an AI wrote them, or whether the candidate had a program generate a CV or cover letter that does not align with their lived experience and actual skill sets. Finally, they rarely answer the question of “why are you the right fit for this specific role and company?” This is a big issue from a hiring standpoint because most employers aren’t simply looking for a warm body to fill the role—they want someone who will be a fit for their unique culture, who will align with their values and mission as a company, and who will be a positive addition to their team dynamic, in addition to having the right skills for the role. The cover letter is the best opportunity an applicant has to show their personality and why they will fit well with the current team. When you rely on AI to write it, you lose that opportunity to convey what makes you uniquely suited for the position. When I receive an application that was obviously AI-generated, the action I’ll typically take is to eliminate that candidate from consideration. I will say as well that, very often, the use of AI is not the only issue with the application. The majority of obviously AI-written cover letters are attached to applications that were obviously sent using a “shotgun” approach—there’s the sense that the applicant is simply applying to every job they may qualify for, rather than selecting positions that will truly be an ideal fit from both sides. This demonstrates a lack of commitment to the process of job applications that does not inspire confidence in that candidate’s potential performance within the workplace if they are hired.
VP, Strategy and Growth at Coached (previously, Resume Worded)
Answered 2 years ago
AI-written CVs and cover letters can sound generic and lack details showing why you're a perfect fit. Hiring managers want to see how your skills apply to the job. While I might not automatically reject them, it could make me wonder if you're truly interested in the position. It's not always easy to tell if someone used AI, but sometimes the writing sounds too formal or fancy. It might also lack details about the company or job itself. Real applications tend to focus on relevant skills. Inconsistent sections, where some parts have way too much detail and others are vague, can also be suspicious. Genuine applications strike a balance between providing information and keeping things clear. Finally, a rambling cover letter might suggest the candidate didn't write it themselves. Real applications are typically well-organized and get straight to the point. As for AI misuse, I've seen cases where companies rely solely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) with AI filters. These might miss out on great candidates who have the skills needed for the job, even if their resume doesn't use the exact words. I believe that the best hiring involves real people making decisions.
The increased reliance on artificial intelligence for CVs and cover letters has introduced a dissonance between the written application and the actual person and their lived experiences. Hiring managers are looking for authenticity, and those forged in the AI system must be more specific and smoother. Sometimes, it’s easy to pick up from a lack of examples that are too explicitly set out, an illogical consistency in style or generic language/phrases. If we are sure that an application has been created with AI, sometimes we’ll raise it with the candidate and ask them to write it again. One notable example was a candidate whose cover letter was immaculate. Still, her answers in the interview suggested a heavy reliance on an AI tool and that they hadn’t transferred what they knew or experienced.
Due to AI technology raising the bar, using AI on CVs and cover letters is often frowned upon because it can mask a candidate’s true capabilities and personality. Authenticity is key in hiring, and AI-generated content can lack the personal touch that reflects a candidate's genuine experiences and motivations. We detect AI usage by looking for consistency in tone and style or overly polished language that seems generic. For instance, we once received a cover letter that was perfectly formatted but lacked any specific references to our company or role. Upon further review, it became clear it was AI-generated. When this happens, we reach out to the candidate for a more personal interaction, such as an interview or a written test, to better gauge their true skills and fit for our team. This ensures that we maintain a fair and effective hiring process.
Hi I'm David, Co-Founder and Hiring Manager at Sticker It (a sticker printing company based in Bristol). I'd say that when a job applicant uses AI for their cover letter or CV, their wording is usually off-putting, and it's as if I'm reading a book. For example, an AI-generated cover letter might use overly formal or complex language that feels out of place for a typical job application. Instead of a candidate simply stating, "I'm excited about this opportunity because I have hands-on experience in digital marketing," an AI-generated letter might elaborate with, "I am thoroughly exhilarated by the prospect of this professional endeavor due to my extensive and comprehensive expertise in the realm of digital marketing strategies." I feel it's AI-generated when it's too wordy and uses words I wouldn't usually use, even in business settings. These types of phrasing make it clear to me that the text wasn't crafted by the job applicant themselves, which leads me to question their authenticity and whether they really have actual skills without AI's intervention.