Is AI Creating Perfect Resumes

It can take hours to write a resume from scratch. But now, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, job seekers can input basic information about their skills and experience, and in seconds, they can have a resume that matches the position they’re applying for.

This is a clear advantage for candidates trying to create the “perfect” resume with the best chance of being noticed by employers. However, this poses a challenge for hiring managers because regardless of how well-crafted AI-generated resumes are, they might not accurately represent the candidate’s experience and skills.

Here are things employers should consider when reviewing resumes in the era of AI.

Why Employers Should be Concerned

There are some red flags to watch out for to determine whether a resume has been overly influenced by AI.

• Unauthentic Descriptions: AI can be generic. Its content lacks the crucial human touch needed for information to resonate. If the candidate only uses the descriptions that AI generates, they’re putting themselves at a clear disadvantage, even with professional documents like resumes.
   
• Overstated Skills: AI can only use the information about the position and match common skills associated with that role. If all the candidate did was take the skill list that the AI presented without discernment, it can be detrimental to the employer to discover that the skills didn’t align with the candidate's actual skills. 
   
• Lack of Real-Scenarios: AI grabs information from a collection of general circumstances. That may present a problem when you need details about how a candidate handled a specific situation in the workplace.

What Employers Should Look for 

Let’s say you’re reading over an applicant’s resume. You’re impressed with what you see and thinking about inviting the candidate for an interview. But wait. Although it looks promising, could the resume be AI-generated? Does it accurately represent the candidate’s abilities? 

Here are some things to consider before contacting the candidate for an interview.

• Look for Specific Projects and Accomplishments: If a candidate has enough experience in the workforce, they should be able to describe their contributions to specific projects and explain the results of those efforts in detail. For example, if the candidate won an award or received a promotion, they are likely to include that in their experience, that’s something AI can’t replicate effectively if it’s unique to the candidate.
   
• Check for Soft Skills: A well-written resume will have a candidate’s use of soft skills ingrained in their work experience descriptions. For example, teamwork and critical thinking are considered two of the most in-demand soft skills in the job market, look for examples that show how the candidate used these skills to complement their team. Ensure that they are describing specific circumstances that have concrete results. That’s how you’ll know they have real experience and not relying on generic examples written from AI.

What’s Next for Resume Writing in a World of AI?

To an employer, the “perfect” resume accurately describes a candidate's abilities and experience in a professional, descriptive, authentic way. It’s properly formatted and easy to read.

AI can help to create a resume that will please employers. However, candidates should use this technology in moderation, considering that it’s a tool to complement their skills. It shouldn’t do the work for them. And in most cases, when AI is overused, the results are subpar.

Employers must adapt to these advancements and take precautions to ensure that they are moving forward with candidates that are utilizing AI responsibly.