Why AI Is Making Resumes Worse (And How to Fix Yours)

Introduction: The Paradox of Progress

Since it’s stunning 2022 debut, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has made resume writing easier than ever—but in many cases, it’s also made resumes worse. Job seekers are turning to tools like ChatGPT for fast results, only to end up with generic documents that sound polished but lack personality.

Research indicates that 45% of candidates leveraged generative AI to create, update, or enhance their resumes in 2023 according to Canva. And according to Providence Partners, this number is continually increasing. PRWeb suggests that 78% of ChatGPT users who employ the app for job applications also did so for their resume while 66% use it for cover letters, 41% use it for answering written questions, and 37% for interview support.

This boost in AI employment for job searches is accompanied by more applicants applying to multiple jobs which in turn is causing an application volume surge of up to 40% year over year (Recruitics).

How do employers feel about all of this? In spite of the surge in use, 90% of hiring managers believe AI-generated resumes are acceptable so long as this technology is leveraged to optimize and enhance rather than simply create content (Providence Partners). It should be noted, though, that 62% of employers reject AI-generated resumes without personalization (Resume Now).

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an anti-AI article. It’s a reality check and a guide to using AI the right way in your job search. Because there is a right way and a wrong way, and the latter can do considerable harm to your career.

The Upside: How Generative AI Helps Job Searches

Leveraging generative AI for job searches can make a difference. Consider these facts:

• Higher Interview and Offer Rates: Job seekers who used AI for their resumes/cover letters and interview preparation were significantly more likely to secure interviews and job offers. 82% of AI-assisted applicants received interview invites compared to 58% of non-AI users according to (PRWeb).
• Higher Salaries: Among those who used ChatGPT for both applications and interviews, 30% received job offers exceeding $100K, while only 7% of non-AI users achieved similar offers (PRWeb).
• Efficiency: AI tools can generate professional-looking resumes in minutes, saving significant time for applicants (TestGorilla, Resumeble), especially when job hunters are applying for multiple roles at the same time.
• Improved Quality & ATS Compatibility: Generative AI apps can help reduce spelling, grammar, and language usage errors, improve formatting, and enhance document design (TestGorilla). These systems can identify keywords in job postings which is a significant benefit considering that 98% of Fortune 500 firms use ATS (TestGorilla, Recruitics).

The Downside: AI Isn’t a Resume Expert (Yet)

AI models like ChatGPT are designed to predict the next likely word in a sentence, not to evaluate what makes a resume stand out in a competitive job market. And while they can analyze a wealth of resume writing best practices, they can also produce stilted language.

Common Issues with AI-Generated Resumes:

• Generic phrases like "results-driven professional" or "proven track record" are problematic because (a) they are empty and offer no real value and (b) are over-used. Employing these kinds of phrases make your career achievements sound generic.
• Overuse of passive voice and vague accomplishments. Large language models aren’t bad at writing STAR stories when given solid data to work with, but without that data they produce achievement statements that are often over-inflated. And while short sentences and bulleted statements may lead with action verbs, longer sentences and resume sections like summaries are often much, much weaker.
• Templates that feel stiff and robotic, not reflective of your tone or industry. Resume templates in general are problematic because they often use elements such as tables and text boxes that Applicant Tracking Systems either cannot read properly or at all and AI-generated templates are no different.
• Exaggerated or fabricated metrics when context is missing. Context is (almost) everything when it comes to AI prompting so with context missing generative AI doesn’t quite know how to give you what you asked for. And it’s so “eager to please” that it will make up something if you aren’t careful.
• A lack of age-proofing. Unfortunately, many professional resume writers still don’t know how to age-proof a resume so it’s no surprise that AI systems don’t yet know how to do so either. Without age-proofing Applicant Tracking Systems will either view you as under- or over-qualified when in fact you are not.
• Lack of Personalization & Generic Content: This is a major concern. AI tools can produce "bland, keyword-stuffed documents" that lack the personal touch, unique achievements, and storytelling needed to stand out (Built In, Resumeble, ACAMS Today, Resumeble, ACAMS Today). A whopping 90% of companies report an increase in low-effort or spammy applications largely attributed to AI tools according to (Resume Now).
• Inaccuracy and Misleading Content: An incredible 94% of employers have encountered misleading or inaccurate AI-generated content (Resume Now). ACAMS Today reports that overreliance on AI apps can lead to “ghost confidence” where a candidate believes their documentation is tailored but it is instead templated and laden with buzzwords.
• AI Detection Issues: AI detection services exist, but they can unfortunately produce false positives to flag human-generated text as AI. Detection algorithms are not yet advanced enough for shorter texts like resumes and some job seekers have already been rejected for supposed AI-generated application content that was in fact human created.
• Bias in Algorithms: AI hiring tools can reflect biases based on the data they were trained on. Sadly, white- and male-associated names were favored by AIs 85% and 89% of the time, respectively according to (Brookings and Science News Explores). Black men’s names had the worst outcomes and were selected only 14.8% of the time compared to Black women and 0% to white men’s names (Brookings).

AI resumes often lack the nuance that hiring managers, recruiters, and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are scanning for. So how can you leverage the power of generative AI without its pitfalls?

The Fix: Collaborate with AI, Don’t Delegate Everything

Just as employers have concerns about job seekers utilizing generative AI, so do job hunters have concerns about companies employing AI to review resumes and make hiring decisions. HR Dive reports that 67% of job seekers feel this discomfort and 90% of them want firms to be transparent about the use of AI recruiting tools.

These worries on the parts of both employers and job seekers demonstrate the scale of the AI recruiting problem. While there aren’t yet easy and comprehensive fixes, there are common sense steps job seekers can take as they employ artificial intelligence in their job hunts.

Start with Your Voice

Consider training your chosen AI on your voice by uploading samples of your writing or sharing a verbal message with one that can accept auditory inputs. Draft your bullet points or notes before prompting AI and share past resumes and cover letters. Let AI refine rather that define your career story.

Be Specific in Your Prompts

Prompting best practices include noting the role you want AI to assume, the industry or types of employers you are targeting, and the accomplishments you want to include (with data). Ask for examples if that would be helpful and clarify the tone you want your app to use in creating the documents you’re asking for.

Example Prompt: "Act as a resume coach. Rewrite this bullet point to highlight leadership and process improvement in a healthcare IT environment."

Use AI in Layers

The quick-and-dirty prompting approach is to ask once and hope for a perfect outcome. As you hopefully know, that doesn’t generally work well. An alternative approach is to first chat with an AI and train it on your voice and background. Next, brainstorm how best to approach the content you want to create. Then refine the tone and output with a second prompt. Lastly, edit manually to personalize content and validate accuracy.

Test for ATS Compatibility

No AI is God (so far), so it’s important to assess keyword usage and density of your new resume. Leverage tools like Jobscan or ResumeWorded to cross-check your AI-generated resume against job descriptions and verify that the right keywords are used in the right locations in your document.

Infuse Personal Language

As a professional Resume Writer, I can tell you that most folks have favorite verbs and phrases they like to use. These are the kinds of phrases that make you sound like you. AI won’t automagically use them, however, so when you edit your generated resume, make sure you remove anything that sounds empty and sprinkle in phrasing that you use when talking about your background.

The Tools: Which AI Tools Are Most Job Seekers Using?

As already noted, a significant portion of job seekers across various levels and industries are using AI to streamline their application process. But which tools are they using? ChatGPT is of course widely used as a general AI tool for drafting resume content and summaries and tailoring keywords. An ever-increasing number of dedicated AI resume builders are available in the market. While most are designed predominantly to be used for resume writing some offer additional features. Note, too, that some of these systems suffer from the same pitfalls discussed earlier so use these builders with a blend of common sense and strategy. Your options include Resumeble, Enhance, Teal, Rezi, Jobscan, Kick resume, Resume.io, aiApply, BeamJobs, Zesty, Skillroads, Huntr, Resumaker.ai, Jasper Generator, Resume Maker Online, Resume Genius, Resume Worded, MyPerfectResume, and Resume Now.

The Role of Human Judgment

AI-generated and assisted resumes are becoming commonplace, given their efficiency and ability to optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems. While they can significantly improve interview and offer rates, the critical factor for success appears to be personalization and a human touch. Generic AI outputs, potential inaccuracies, and inherent algorithmic biases are significant problems that job seekers and employers need to be aware of and actively address. A hybrid approach, where AI is used as a powerful co-pilot for efficiency and optimization, but carefully reviewed and humanized for authenticity and impact, seems to be the most effective strategy.

The bottom line is that even the best AI tool can’t yet understand your values, voice, or career aspirations the way you do. Great resumes are part art, part strategy. AI can help with structure but not with the underlying message.

Your resume edge isn’t in sounding perfect. It’s in sounding real, competent, and compelling.

When used well, AI is like a mirror: it reflects what you give it. When misused, it becomes a mask.

Start with your story. Use AI to sharpen it. Then send out a resume that sounds like the best version of you.