How AI CV generators are disrupting the job market, overwhelming recruiters with low-quality applications

The rise of AI CV generators has significantly impacted the job market, with nearly half of all job seekers now using artificial intelligence tools to create their resumes.

This surge in AI-generated CVs has left employers and recruiters struggling to cope with a flood of low-quality applications in an already competitive labour market, The Financial Times finds.

AI CV Generators and the Surge in Applications

Recent data reveals that around 50 per cent of job seekers are turning to AI CV generators to craft their applications. These tools, which leverage generative AI technology like ChatGPT and Gemini, allow candidates to quickly generate resumes, cover letters, and even complete assessments.

Khyati Sundaram, Chief Executive of the recruitment platform Applied, described the situation as a “barrage” of AI-powered applications. While the volume of applications has more than doubled, the overall quality has declined.

“A candidate can copy and paste any application question into ChatGPT, and then can copy and paste that back into that application form,” Sundaram explained, highlighting how AI CV generators lower the barriers to entry in the job market.

Impact on Recruiters and the Labour Market

The influx of AI-generated applications has been compounded by a weakening labour market, particularly in the US and UK. With fewer vacancies and more job seekers, competition has intensified, leading to an even greater reliance on AI CV generators.

Online job boards, which make job openings accessible to a broader pool of candidates, have further amplified this trend by simplifying the application process.

Surveys conducted by HR start-up Beamery and creative platform Canva reveal that 46 per cent of UK job hunters and 45 per cent of global job seekers, respectively, have used AI CV generators to enhance their applications.

According to Andy Heyes, Regional Managing Director for the UK-headquartered tech recruiter Harvey Nash, the use of AI in job applications has become increasingly prevalent, with “tell-tale signs like American grammar” and “bland” applications often indicating AI involvement.

Detecting AI-Generated CVs

As AI CV generators become more popular, recruiters are now faced with the challenge of identifying and sifting through a growing number of AI-generated resumes. Many of these CVs are polished with AI tools to include key search words, but without proper editing, they can appear clunky and generic.

Victoria McLean, Chief Executive of career consultancy CityCV, emphasised the importance of CVs reflecting a candidate’s unique personality, passions, and story—elements that AI CV generators simply cannot replicate.

Large employers, including the Big Four accounting firms—Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG—are taking a firm stance against the use of AI in job applications. Graduates applying to these firms have been warned against relying on AI CV generators, as these companies seek to maintain the integrity of their recruitment processes.

AI CV Generators and Recruitment Assessments

The use of AI CV generators is not limited to resume creation; an increasing number of candidates are also using these tools to cheat on recruitment assessments.

Jamie Betts, Founder and Chief Product Officer at Neurosight, a consultancy specialising in psychometric testing, noted that younger candidates in the early careers sector are particularly skilled at using AI tools to evade detection.

Neurosight’s survey of 1,500 student jobseekers found that 57 per cent had used ChatGPT to support their job applications. The survey also revealed that candidates who used the paid version of ChatGPT were more likely to pass psychometric tests, with those from higher socio-economic backgrounds—predominantly male, non-disabled, and white—performing the best.

Human Interaction Remains Key in Recruitment

Despite the increasing reliance on AI CV generators, many employers and recruiters believe that human interaction will continue to play a crucial role in the recruitment process. In-person or virtual job interviews are expected to reveal discrepancies between a candidate’s AI-generated application and their actual abilities.

Ross Crook, Global Managing Director at recruitment agency Morgan McKinley, noted that while automation is on the rise, “there is always going to be the need for human-to-human interaction before final selection.”

As AI CV generators become a more prominent tool for job seekers, the challenge for recruiters and employers will be to adapt their processes to maintain the quality and integrity of candidate selection in an increasingly automated world.

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