A recruitment specialist cautions against the allure of using AI to enhance your resume, suggesting it could actually reduce your chances of securing a new position.
In today’s world, where artificial intelligence can solve equations, suggest recipes, and organize your daily agenda, it’s understandable why some job seekers might lean on this technology to boost their employment prospects.
AI can refine your grammar and transform mundane past job tasks into appealing skills for prospective employers. However, Frances Li, Founder and Director of Biscuit Recruitment, has articulated why AI-generated resumes may not be attractive to employers.
Li acknowledged that AI has contributed to the trend of receiving ‘immaculate’ CVs, but highlighted that the overly polished and structured nature of these resumes often results in them feeling ‘completely lifeless’.
“When every applicant sounds the same, hiring managers struggle to see the person behind the paper,” she explained. “Your individuality — not your formatting — is what gets you shortlisted.”
Li further explained: “AI tools can be brilliant for structure and grammar, but if you copy and paste the output without editing, you’re stripping away what makes you memorable. Recruiters don’t want robotic professionalism — they want authenticity and clarity.”
Having reviewed numerous AI-generated resumes, Li identified some telltale errors that reveal their origins.
While you definitely want to avoid spelling mistakes in a proofreading job application, excessive editing can cleanse your resume of its personality.
Li commented: “Candidates are polishing away all personality. The result? A CV that looks clean but feels cold. Employers can tell.”
“Share what motivates you, not just what you’ve done. Personality builds connection,” she added.
Even if it’s been years since your last job search, it’s important to keep your resume current with new skills instead of relying solely on tools like ChatGPT.
“People wait until they’re desperate for a new job to update their CV — then panic. A great CV is always in progress, not a last-minute task,” Li advised. “Block 30 minutes every quarter to update your achievements and results. Future-you will thank you when opportunity knocks.”
Using words you don’t fully understand just because AI suggests them isn’t necessary.
Li explained: “AI tools tend to overuse buzzwords like ‘dynamic’ or ‘results-driven’, but what recruiters actually want is evidence. Replace adjectives with outcomes.”
“Start with your own words. Then use AI to refine, not replace,” Li continued, emphasizing, “It’s about collaboration, not delegation.”
Sending the same resume to numerous companies might seem efficient, but Li warned against this practice.
“The top candidates tailor, even slightly, every time,” she noted.