"We're seeing a significant increase in employers pushing back on applicants who submit CVs generated with AI"

We're seeing a significant increase in employers pushing back on applicants who submit CVs generated with AI. The same applies to cover letters. Regardless of the candidate’s suitability for the role, using AI raises serious concerns about their commitment to their job search. Candidates should be extremely wary of relying on AI to write a CV. Using AI to refine a job application is one thing, but outsourcing it entirely is a huge mistake. We don’t use AI detection software, but recruiters or hiring managers can spot an AI-written CV a mile away. Always use AI sensibly if you're job hunting.

Why would companies hire someone who can't be bothered to write their own CV or cover letter? It's lazy and shows a lack of commitment from the start. Experienced employers can easily spot AI written content. It's not genuine or personal and will often use phrases that aren't naturally used. I think most people now use AI to some degree when writing or planning, we certainly do. It can be useful to generate ideas and to come up with basic plans or outlines. But that's where it should stop. Take the AI ideas and suggestions and then make them your own. If not, your CV is likely to end up in the bin.

As a company that invests in and uses generative AI, receiving a CV created with the help of an AI tool isn't necessarily going to rule them out. If the quality of their CV demonstrates a good understanding of this transformative technology, it could even be advantageous depending on the role they're applying for. The real test will be the interview, where we have always asked candidates competency-based questions. If they can prove their knowledge or experience through the answers they give when face to face, and backed up by the references they provide, then how they created their CV will become irrelevant.

Employers are understandably concerned by this, but AI text detectors are not completely reliable, and using them without due diligence risks dismissing strong candidates unfairly. If in doubt, consulting a recruiter, writer or AI expert could help. Candidates should consider their use of AI very carefully – not only because they risk being rejected, but also because they are giving employers a false representation of their skills, which could come back to bite them later on. People who are too reliant upon this tech to communicate could find themselves exposed if it is unavailable to them at an important moment. But writing can be hard work and AI chatbots can save time in other ways. I would encourage candidates to instead use AI to help with things like planning and improving your writing; not do all the writing for you.