If you’re hiring, it’s likely that an artificial intelligence (AI) tool helped create many of the resumes you receive. AI uses machine learning technology to pull content from online sources and “write” new content.
ChatGPT, the fastest-growing internet application of all time, is one of the most popular tools job seekers use today for resume writing. According to a 2023 ResumeBuilder.com survey of current and recent job seekers, 46% of applicants have used ChatGPT to create their resumes or cover letter content. Impressively, 70% who have used ChatGPT report a higher response rate from employers.
This means that hiring managers must be aware that up to half or more of Job applicants will have used AI to help prepare their application materials. Here are some things to be aware of in today’s age of AI-generated resumes.
The Role of AI in Resume Generation
In addition to ChatGPT, there are many other AI-powered resume generators that job seekers can choose from.
These tools generally:
- Process information the user inputs, such as the job they’re seeking, details that reflect their past work history, their skills, etc.
- Create a resume template that displays their information and fills in additional information in an organized way.
For example, in ChatGPT you can enter a prompt that says, “Write a resume for a software engineer,” and within seconds, the tool will list:
- Personal information fields you should fill out at the top
- Sample objective
- Professional experience examples and tasks for various positions
- Typical education
- Specific software engineer skills that are in demand
- Examples of software engineering projects
- Sample certifications and professional memberships
Other resume generators, such as Resume.com, will provide a resume template based on the job in question and suggest text to include on the document.
Job seekers know that AI can be very helpful with generating a strong, professional-looking resume. For example, college graduates fresh out of school know that an AI tool can give them a great idea of what information employers want to see for different job titles. For career changers, AI tools can provide helpful ideas for the types of skills, certifications, and work experience required for the job they’re seeking.
Challenges in Reviewing AI-Generated Resumes
Because AI tools keep getting smarter, it’s becoming harder for hiring managers to spot an AI-generated resume and know if it accurately reflects a candidate’s experience.
Some of the common challenges hiring managers face include:
- AI-generated resumes may be more likely to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). AI draws upon the most popular content on the web to serve up search engine-optimized copy. It’s likely to present the most common keywords associated with a job application. This means if you’ve programmed your ATS to filter for specific keywords, AI-generated resumes may make it through.
- AI-generated copy sounds professional. One reason AI-generated text is controversial is that its professional and serious tone may be impressive but not accurate. As a result, AI can help a novice polish their resume to appear more like a tenured professional’s, which can be potentially deceptive and something hiring managers should keep in mind.
- AI-generated resumes are comprehensive. When generating a resume, AI tools such as ChatGPT provide the job seeker with comprehensive information. Some applicants may find that AI tools actually provide more skills and relevant credentials than they had previously thought about. This means that AI can help fill out a lean resume with impressive-sounding experience that may not accurately depict the candidate’s background.
Because it’s becoming harder to tell the difference between human-written and AI-generated resumes, you should develop a structured review process to carefully examine each resume you’re considering. This way your team will be better equipped to spot fake resumes or ones that include false experiences provided by AI.
Best Practices for Reviewing AI-Generated Resumes
To effectively assess AI-generated resumes, it’s important to provide ongoing training so hiring managers can be on the lookout for red flags. Following are some actions your team can take to evaluate resumes and decide on the next steps for how to manage candidates in the pipeline.
1. Check for Plagiarism
One way to see if a resume came from an AI generator is to run the resume content through a plagiarism checker such as Copyscape. Simply copy and paste the content in question into the tool, and it will instantly search websites and flag duplicate content. This is an easy way to see if the resume content came from another site, which can help you eliminate a candidate who copied their resume content.
2. Compare Resume Content with the Job Description
Anyone who’s looking at resumes should also be highly familiar with the job description’s content. If the resume is extremely similar to the language in the job description, the candidate may have pasted the job description content into an AI generator. This may not necessarily disqualify a candidate, but it means a hiring manager should do some deeper research into the candidate’s qualifications.
3. Consider the Candidate’s Communication Style
When you’re evaluating a candidate, look at all the communication they’ve had with your hiring team. If the resume copy style is strikingly different compared to cover letter content, email correspondence, or other types of communication, it’s possible the candidate used AI to generate their resume.
4. Dig Deeper into Candidates’ Experience
A resume is just one representation of a candidate’s qualifications. When your hiring team is considering moving a candidate along the pipeline, make sure to check the individual’s online presence. Look at social media sites, especially LinkedIn, to further evaluate the applicant’s experience, credentials, and professionalism to see how those items relate to what’s stated on their resume.
5. Reference Resume Content in Interviews
If you move a candidate to the interview stage, make sure interviewers ask candidates to expand on the experience and skills specified on their resume. Depending on the position, you might ask for work samples or for a candidate to provide more details on their accomplishments.
In the interview process, pay attention to a candidate’s confidence when they answer questions and talk about their work samples. A lack of confidence or specificity may mean they’ve overstated their qualifications based on AI-generated content.
Review AI-Generated Resumes with Ease
As you review resumes for new job postings, you can better spot AI-generated, copy-and-pasted resumes by following a few guidelines:
- Check resumes for plagiarism using a plagiarism checker.
- Look for specific, unique candidate achievements that go beyond the job description requirements.
- Research candidates beyond their resumes on social networks like LinkedIn.
- Ask candidates about the experience they’ve listed on their resumes to see if their responses support their stated accomplishments.
It makes sense that many candidates will use AI to at least get them started with resume creation. Hiring managers must therefore look beyond the resume to validate the experience and credentials of candidates being considered for the job.
Want expert help in creating better job descriptions and evaluating candidates? Talk with a Nelson Connects account manager to learn how we can help you.
