Recruiter flags telltale signs of AI-written resumes and offers tips for jobseekers

An Australian recruiter has warned hiring managers are spotting distinctive signs that candidates have used artificial intelligence to prepare resumes and cover letters and offered five practical tips to reduce the risk of being rejected.

Catherine Kennedy, managing director at people2people recruitment, said the firm’s research shows a growing share of applicants are turning to AI tools when preparing job applications. The survey found 24% of Gen Z and millennial jobseekers had used AI to write a resume or cover letter, while 33% of Gen X respondents reported using the technology. Fourteen percent of applicants said they used AI "a lot" when applying for jobs.

Kennedy said AI-generated documents often contain clues in grammar and diction that can signal to recruiters the material is not fully authentic. "A CV or cover letter that sounds fake or over-engineered can raise red flags," she said, adding that hiring teams are increasingly running extra screening and verification steps to detect inauthentic submissions.

Her five tips for candidates using AI are practical and conservative. She advised that the tone of an application should remain authentic and unique to the jobseeker, and that AI should primarily be used for structure or grammar rather than to write an entire application. She warned applicants to fact-check details because language models can fabricate information. Candidates should customise cover letters for specific roles and employers rather than submitting generic AI-generated text. "Don't overdo it," she said. "Use AI as a polish, not to create your application from scratch." Finally, she urged honesty about experience and qualifications.

People2people’s research also found that about 35% of Australians admitted to lying or exaggerating on their resumes, and as many as 90% of those respondents said AI had made it easier to do so. The survey respondents’ biggest concerns about using AI were "sounding fake," being "caught" and "accidentally lying."

The trend comes as some jobseekers say employer reliance on automated screening tools is a separate challenge. Sydney resident Jackson Lusis, 31, told reporters he applied for multiple jobs each day over several months and frequently received rapid rejections. Lusis said many companies use automated systems that scan for keywords and can reject applicants before any human review.

Labour-market context is contributing to applicant pressure. Australia's unemployment rate was 4.3% in June, the highest since November 2021, and the economy shed 33,600 jobs in the period cited by people2people. That environment, recruiters say, is encouraging more applicants to look for efficiencies in the application process, including AI assistance.

Recruiters and employers are responding by refining screening processes. Kennedy said increased vigilance among hiring managers includes additional verification and a keener eye for phrasing and claims that do not align with a candidate’s experience. The recruiter’s guidance stresses that while AI can help with drafting and proofreading, candidates who rely too heavily on it risk creating submissions that sound generic or contain inaccuracies that will be exposed during checks or interviews.

As employers adopt automated tools and as applicants experiment with generative AI, the recruitment sector is adjusting both its evaluation techniques and its advice to jobseekers. Kennedy’s counsel reflects a broader push within the industry to balance technological assistance with clear, verifiable representation of skills and experience.