Using a specialized resume builder or chatbot like ChatGPT can streamline the process, but relying solely on AI-generated content can cause hiring managers to reject you.
“Never copy and paste directly from AI to create your resume,” warned Paula Mathias-Fryer, senior director at SLO Partners and author.
Not only can it make your resume look like everyone else’s, but it also raises concerns about authenticity and the effort you’re willing to invest in your work.
In fact, one survey of hiring managers showed that nearly half (49 percent) of AI-generated resumes are automatically dismissed.
Here’s how AI-generated resumes can hurt your job search—and how to incorporate AI’s strengths into your writing process without sacrificing authenticity.
How AI Is Hurting Your Chances
The proliferation of AI tools is creating an applicant tsunami. To keep pace, recruiters often use AI detection software to flag resumes that rely too heavily on AI. Eliminating these applications helps recruiters focus on candidates who demonstrate initiative, align with the role and company culture, and truly stand out.
AI-generated resumes often contain too many buzzwords, lack context for accomplishments, and fail to convey your unique impact. “The buzzwords it generates may or may not make sense,” Fryer said. “And it absolutely cannot nail soft skills or attributes that demonstrate alignment with the company’s mission and culture.”
Sometimes resumes created from the same source or prompt share similar language patterns, odd formatting, or even plagiarized content. They can also include incorrect or irrelevant information.
Many hiring managers find that AI-generated resumes lack the human touch, nuance, and strategic thinking that showcase what’s special about you. For example, AI might say you have a “team mindset,” but it can’t craft a compelling story about how you developed that skill and used it to achieve results, explained Nicole Gable, president of LHH North America and head of LHH Recruitment Solutions US. Stories make your experience engaging, memorable, and human.
While resumes can seem formulaic, there are ways to inject your voice and unique qualities into the document while ensuring it is original and human-written.
Use AI as an Assistant
AI can be a valuable tool, but only if you use it wisely.
“Begin with yourself,” Gable advised. Start with your own outline or draft—something original. Then use AI prompts to refine content and identify keywords to include.
Think of AI as an assistant or intern. Use it to research competitors, understand what a strong candidate looks like on paper, and summarize information about a prospective employer.
Then go above and beyond by emphasizing complementary skills and addressing the specific needs of the company or industry—insights you’ll gain through personal research and networking.
AI can’t convey creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, or the subtle cultural and emotional context behind problem-solving. But you can.
For example, positioning yourself as a change agent or catalyst for improving systems and processes through technology and collaboration could be the “it” factor a hiring manager needs. Support your claim with project descriptions and personal details to ensure authenticity and highlight your soft skills.
Distinguish your resume as human-written by placing a headline or summary at the top that highlights the value you offer. Even if AI helps with wording, recruiters appreciate a concise paragraph and a few bullet points that quickly convey your qualifications, Fryer noted.
Because recruiters often check online profiles—especially LinkedIn and GitHub—make sure your profiles align with your brand’s message, visual identity, and value proposition. Consistent value alignment across your entire professional presence is something only you can achieve.
Finally, use AI for proofreading. Let it catch typos, grammatical errors, and overly common phrasing, but then tweak word choice and formatting so your resume looks distinct from formulaic, generic AI-generated documents.
Creating a resume with AI may be quick and easy, but if it costs you opportunities, it’s not worth it.