Writing CVs in the Age of AI

Remember when every CV looked the same because everyone was using those “modern templates,” thinking they’d stand out?

We do – we were here for that trend.

Writing CVs at that time was something else. Sleek timelines, bold headers, columns, photos, skill charts, tables… you name it. Almost every single CV that came in for a free review or client project looked like it was designed by the same person.

Naturally, recruiters started rolling their eyes because they couldn’t tell candidates apart anymore. Every “modern CV” looked like it came from the same template pack. And it probably did.

Writing CVs in the Age of AI – déjà vu

Fast forward to today. Most of the jobseekers moved away from the templates, but they didn’t go far, in terms of being different than what others are doing.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and all the free CV makers are the new “modern templates.”
Jobseekers type in the job they’re aiming for, copy-paste the job ad, share their work history and educational background, hit Generate. And they have their “perfect” CV in seconds.

But…that CV is not perfect. It is not special. It will not ensure that they stand out.

Truth be told, AI has raised the floor. No arguments there. Bad grammar is mostly gone, poor structure more or less (depending on the prompt)….but, it also lowered the ceiling.

How? Well, we’re seeing the same things all over again. Identical phrasing, long-winded, generic bullet points, zero personality, same structure, language that no living person would use in an interview.

Recruiters and hiring managers aren’t blind to it. They know what AI-generated content looks like. They learned fairly quickly, because they’re seeing so much of it.

So, AI tools – yay or nay?

Don’t get us wrong – we love technology. We use it daily. It can be a super useful thing.

ChatGPT and similar tools can be fantastic assistants. They can polish your grammar, give you ideas when you’re stuck, point out what’s missing.

But here’s what most jobseekers get wrong: they don’t use AI as a helping hand. Instead, they rely on it completely. They stopped believing in themselves and trust what AI spits out without questioning. They just copy-paste the text and call it a day.

Writing CVs in the age of AI can be a tricky thing if using machine-generated content makes you lose the very thing that makes you stand out – your own voice.

Can AI tell your story?

We’ve been in the industry for over a decade. And, we’ve seen trends come and go. Writing CVs with the help of AI is precisely that – another trend.

AI can mimic structure and generate content, but can it truly capture nuance?

Can AI truly tell your story, explain how you made things happen? Does it sound authentic? Will you be able to communicate at an interview in the same way you’re communicating in your CV?

Think about it and come to your own conclusion.

It’s not about hating AI… it’s about using it wisely

Writing CVs in the age of AI is challenging, mostly because AI has made it quick and easy. And we get it. We live in a fast-paced world.

Who has the time or the energy to spend hours writing a CV? Surely, we make technological advances as a society for a reason. AI can create your CV in seconds. Why not use that?

Because, and we said this during the “modern template” craze too, you’re not the only one using it.

If you think you’re the only applicant who thought of running a prompt, think again.

It’s free, it’s easy, it’s accessible… and everyone is doing it.

So if you want to avoid being ignored, you need to do something different.
Add your twist, your flavour. Add your examples. Make sure to add you in the content.

Writing CVs in the age of AI – final thoughts

This is a complex thing to think about. AI-generated CVs can be beautifully formatted and perfectly phrased. But, they’re also instantly forgettable.

Don’t fall into the trap of doing what everyone else is doing.

Instead, roll up your sleeves and write your own story.

And if you’d rather have a human do the work for you, that’s where we come in. Check our services that deliver results.

If you have an AI-generated CV and you’re wondering how you can improve it, submit it for a free review – no strings attached.

Let’s get you ahead of the competition.