As artificial intelligence becomes a go-to tool for job seekers, experts are sounding the alarm on blind reliance. While AI helps draft resumes and tailor applications, its limitations—ranging from fabrications to monotonous, templated content—could actually hurt candidates’ chances. Experts from CNBC Make It and other reports caution that trusting AI tools without human oversight may turn job seekers into victims of their own shortcuts.
However, the flood of AI-generated resumes is overwhelming recruiters. A report by Inc. noted that applications on platforms like LinkedIn rose over 45 percent in a year, many of them refined or created by AI tools. Some candidates are applying to over 1,200 roles in just weeks, mass-customizing applications using algorithms.
Former recruiter Jessye Kass Karlin has also observed AI’s pitfalls. “You can totally tell when someone has used AI because suddenly I have six applications that all look the same,” she shared. “Authentic, thoughtful responses are what make top candidates stand out among hundreds.”
DeLorenzo adds that AI-generated resumes tend to be filled with keyword-stuffed jargon that makes them hard to read and generic. “People who use their own words to express their impact are far more effective,” she notes.
Meanwhile, Karlin points out that employers ultimately want to hire people, not machines. “The job process is exhausting and overwhelming, and it’s tempting to let tools take over,” she explains, “but at the end of the day, it’s human connection that matters.”
Recruiters are not only battling application spam but also dealing with candidates who never hear back due to oversaturation. “Automated resumes become digital ghosts,” reports Inc., trapping job seekers in a cycle of desperation and repetitive AI use.
As AI transforms job applications, it’s tempting to lean into automation. But experts insist that blind trust in algorithms may backfire, turning helpful tools into sources of misinformation. Writing resumes with AI should be approached cautiously—with deliberate review, human insight, and authenticity taking precedence over speed and convenience.
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A Surge in AI-Generated Applications
Job applicants are increasingly turning to AI for everything from writing cover letters to optimizing resumes with keywords. According to the 2025 Market Trend Report by recruitment firm Career Group Companies, nearly 65 percent of candidates now use AI at some stage of their job search. In an era where unemployment among fresh graduates hit 5.8 percent by March 2024, and professionals face fierce competition, automation seems like an easy solution.However, the flood of AI-generated resumes is overwhelming recruiters. A report by Inc. noted that applications on platforms like LinkedIn rose over 45 percent in a year, many of them refined or created by AI tools. Some candidates are applying to over 1,200 roles in just weeks, mass-customizing applications using algorithms.
When AI Starts ‘Lying’
Career coach Jen DeLorenzo, founder of The Career Raven, warns that AI can easily fabricate details when asked to adjust resumes to job descriptions. “If the title doesn’t 100 percent align, it is going to start to lie,” she told CNBC Make It. One of her clients learned this the hard way—sending out edited resumes without reviewing them and later facing uncomfortable interviews where she couldn’t explain fabricated achievements.Former recruiter Jessye Kass Karlin has also observed AI’s pitfalls. “You can totally tell when someone has used AI because suddenly I have six applications that all look the same,” she shared. “Authentic, thoughtful responses are what make top candidates stand out among hundreds.”
Crystal Clear Mistakes
AI’s errors are not always subtle. Karlin recalls an applicant accidentally including an AI prompt in a job application: when asked why they wanted to work at a company, the applicant replied, “As artificial intelligence, I do not have emotions.” Such blunders underline the need for human review before submission.DeLorenzo adds that AI-generated resumes tend to be filled with keyword-stuffed jargon that makes them hard to read and generic. “People who use their own words to express their impact are far more effective,” she notes.
Why Oversight Matters
Despite the risks, both DeLorenzo and Karlin agree that AI can be a helpful assistant when used wisely. DeLorenzo recommends writing a resume or cover letter personally first, then using AI to refine the language rather than generate content from scratch. “Even when you train AI tools, they get a lot wrong,” she says. “It’s embarrassing—and it could ruin your chances.”Meanwhile, Karlin points out that employers ultimately want to hire people, not machines. “The job process is exhausting and overwhelming, and it’s tempting to let tools take over,” she explains, “but at the end of the day, it’s human connection that matters.”
Fake Profiles and Resume Fatigue
The dangers extend beyond sloppy applications. As Gartner predicts, by 2028 one in four job applications may be fake, with AI-generated personas deceiving employers. The U.S. Department of Justice also exposed fraud cases where foreign nationals used fake profiles to secure IT jobs at U.S. companies.Recruiters are not only battling application spam but also dealing with candidates who never hear back due to oversaturation. “Automated resumes become digital ghosts,” reports Inc., trapping job seekers in a cycle of desperation and repetitive AI use.
The Best Strategy
Ironically, the rise of AI has reignited the value of human contact. Referrals and personalized cover letters—once thought obsolete—are making a comeback. A 2023 survey by Resume Genius found that 83 percent of hiring managers read cover letters, and 94 percent consider them in interview decisions.As AI transforms job applications, it’s tempting to lean into automation. But experts insist that blind trust in algorithms may backfire, turning helpful tools into sources of misinformation. Writing resumes with AI should be approached cautiously—with deliberate review, human insight, and authenticity taking precedence over speed and convenience.
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