Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly assisting with tasks in our daily work lives, even before we start a new job. A study by the HR website Remote surveyed 4,000 managers worldwide about how many applicants use AI for their resumes and other application documents.
The results were striking: In the past six months, 77% of the managers surveyed had encountered resumes that involved AI in some way. It was particularly concerning for them that AI is being used more frequently to enhance applicants’ resumes. However, AI sometimes exaggerates or provides false information about the skills and experiences of the applicants.
The use of AI-generated resumes increases with the level of responsibility of the job position. For senior-level positions, about 86% of the applications showed signs of AI usage. Potential executives also frequently use AI, with 88% of HR personnel having seen at least one AI-influenced resume in the specified timeframe.
AI-generated resumes are more common in certain industries, with finance and telecommunications being the most notable. In these sectors, 80 to 86% of HR professionals have encountered AI-generated applications in the past six months. This trend is raising alarms among HR employees. A significant 92% view this development as problematic for their companies and others.
The primary concern is the additional workload for HR departments, as they must verify the authenticity of all the data in the applications. Although it often becomes apparent during interviews that the applicant does not possess the claimed skills, this leads to unnecessary time expenditure for everyone involved. Moreover, it reflects poorly on applicants when they are caught with AI-generated falsehoods.
This trend highlights the growing influence of AI in the job application process, as well as the challenges it poses for both applicants and employers. As AI continues to evolve, it will be crucial for HR departments to develop strategies to effectively manage and assess AI-generated content in applications.