The world is changing. AI is becoming more common in the workplace and especially in the recruitment industry. Although AI gets a bad reputation in the media, it can have some benefits if used correctly. But, businesses and employees need to consider the consequences of relying heavily on this new tool.
We’re now at the point where spotting an AI-generated CV is a regular occurrence. The problem isn’t that candidates use AI, it’s when they hide behind it. We’ve seen applications so polished they feel manufactured, only to fall apart in an interview when the person can’t back up what is written. AI can be a useful tool, but if a CV reads like it was written by ChatGPT and the candidate can’t bring it to life with real examples, it’s a red flag. Hiring is about people, not prompts and no bot can replace genuine skill, experience and personality.
AI is Here, But Humans Decide How to Use It
AI is moving fast, becoming a part of everyday life, but humans still shape the track. The pace of AI development is real, and business leaders have a critical role in steering how it’s adopted – effectively, responsibly, and with people at the centre.
Although AI is something we are all starting to integrate into our lives in the modern age, it can sometimes hinder those who are applying and recruiting for jobs.
An AI written CV can embellish some qualifications or experience which can land you in hot water when starting work on your new job if you can’t back the skills up that you have promised.
How to Spot an AI Written CV
There are some key ways you can spot the use of AI in a candidate’s CV. Hiring managers need to keep an eye out for some key traits that could reveal that a candidate has relied heavily on the tool.
- Overuse of adjectives and ‘filler’ words: You will notice some unusually placed adjectives stuffed in throughout the person’s CV. If it appears like there is too much ‘fluff, it is likely that it could be written by AI.
- Embellished qualifications: One thing to spot during the interview process is if the candidate can back up their qualifications in the interview. You may be impressed by some of the skills, but if they can’t back them up during an interview, it has likely been generated by AI, and not proofed by a human.
- Repetitive language: It is common for AI written CVs to contain an overuse of some language making it sound unnatural or frankly, robotic.
- Formatting: Random spacing and inconsistent font sizing is a huge red flag and a sign that the CV has been written by AI.
Inconsistencies throughout: Take a closer look at timelines and job titles. If they appear to overlap or not make much sense when it comes to progressing through a natural career path, it may have been put together using an AI tool.
Use AI to Your Advantage
In the recruitment sector, we are starting to see a turn in perceptions of AI when it comes to using it to edit your CV.
Luckily, as long as AI is used correctly, it can actually be beneficial when job seekers are creating their CV. My one piece of important advice to job seekers is that you add a human touch to the AI written content.
Read through and edit any words that don’t sound like you. If you use certain language or jargon on your CV, but then in an interview sound completely different, this is a huge red flag to the employer.
Ensure you edit any embellished qualifications. It is essential that you can back up your experience and skills in an interview to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment and potentially losing out on the job opportunity.
