More candidates are using AI to hit a tough job market, and this not only increases the number of applications employers must review, but also requires hiring managers to pay attention to the wording of resumes and cover letters.
A Tuesday Financial Times report found that, based on employers and recruiters the outlet spoke to, about half of current job applicants use AI tools such as ChatGPT OR Google Gemini to add keywords to their resumes, write polished cover letters, and fill out evaluations.
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AI-generated applications have also led to about twice as many applications for each job posting as candidates.
But employers say it's getting easier to tell, sometimes with just a glance.
“Without proper editing, the language will be clumsy and generic, and hiring managers can detect that,” Victoria McLean, chief executive of careers consultancy CityCV, told the Financial Times.
AI “simply cannot” infuse applications with the candidate's story and unique voice, according to McLean.
According to Stanford University researchfour words are a gift that one might have used AI to write help: kingdom, complicated, expository, and main.
Another AI keyword that can make recruiters suspicious of using AI is word i dig. Paul Graham, co-founder of startup accelerator Y Combinator, noted in April that he received a cold email proposing a new project. When he saw the word “dig” in the email, it turned out that ChatGPT played a role in his writing.
Many large companies do not tolerate the use of AI by candidates. An April study by Resume Genius found that AI-generated resumes were the biggest red flag for 625 US hiring managers.
But that doesn't mean companies oppose using it to make hiring decisions – over 97% of Fortune 500 companies use AI software to filter candidates.
CVS settled a class action last month over allegations that the company used AI facial tracking software in interviews without candidates knowing about it. The technology picked out facial expressions and gave each candidate an “employability score” based on its AI analysis, according to the complaint.
Workday, an AI control software used by 10,000 companies including Adobe and Salesforce, also faces a court process because of how it recommends some candidates and rejects others, potentially influencing who progresses in a personal interview.