More and more candidates are using AI to break through the tough job market. This not only increases the variety of applications employers have to review, but also forces hiring managers to pay close attention to the type of resumes and cover letters.
Tuesday Financial Times report found that, based on interviews with employers and recruiters the website spoke with, around half of current job candidates use AI tools reminiscent of ChatGPT or Google Gemini to add keywords to their CVs, write polished cover letters and complete assessments.
AI-generated applications have also resulted in twice as many applications per job posting as there are candidates.
However, employers say that it is becoming easier to tell; sometimes a glance is enough.
“Without proper editing, the language will come across as clunky and generic, and hiring managers can spot this,” Victoria McLean, chief executive of consultancy CityCV, told the Financial Times.
According to McLean, AI “simply can’t” enrich applications with a candidate’s history and unique style.
A Stanford University study suggests that somebody may benefit from AI-assisted writing, namely: “realm,” “quicate,” “showcaseing,” and “pivotal.”
Another AI keyword which may make recruiters suspicious of AI use is the word delve. Paul Graham, co-founder of startup accelerator Y Combinator, noticed in April that he had received a cold email with a proposal for a latest project. When he saw the word “delve” in the email, he concluded that ChatGPT had played a role in writing it.
Many large corporations are tolerant of candidates using AI. A Resume Genius survey from April found that AI-generated resumes were biggest red flag for 625 American hiring managers.
However, this does not mean that corporations are opposed to its use in making hiring decisions — over 97% Fortune 500 corporations use AI software to filter candidates.
CVS a class motion lawsuit has been resolved last month over allegations that the company used AI facial-tracking software during job interviews without candidates’ knowledge. The technology captured facial expressions and gave each candidate a “hiring score” based on the AI evaluation, according to the grievance.
Workday, the AI-powered screening software they use 10,000 corporations including Adobe and Salesforce, is also facing a lawsuit because it recommends some candidates and rejects others, which could potentially impact who is invited to an interview.