This post was originally published on this site.
Last year, I spoke with someone knee-deep in their job search. He had been applying for senior-level IT jobs and was seeking advice on how to get his resume noticed.
“There are a lot of tech companies now that will auto-reject applicants if their resume was produced by AI,” he told me.
“What?,” I thought to myself. “How could this be?”
I understood that universities were trying to stop the use of AI on course assignments, but I hadn’t considered that companies might be fighting their own battle with AI resumes. Things quickly got existential for me after. I had questions. Here’s what circled my mind:
- What makes a resume feel more human versus AI-generated?
- How can hiring managers (or software for that matter) really tell something was AI-generated?
- How can we improve our applications in a time when both candidates and recruiters are using AI?
We’re in this gray area in 2025, and AI is neither fully embraced nor outright rejected.
3 Reasons AI Resume Builders Hurt Job Seekers
- AI doesn’t know your story like you do.
- AI lacks in-depth industry knowledge.
- AI misses the subtle details that make your resume stand out.
So my message today isn’t to throw away AI or AI resume builders entirely. Rather, it’s this: Our resumes and job searches deserve as much, if not more, careful thought than ever before.
Otherwise, we risk sabotaging our success by either misrepresenting ourselves or, at best, presenting a bland, mismatched version of our experience — one that fails to inspire confidence in both ourselves and potential employers.
The Risk with AI Generation for Resumes
I can’t comment on how many employers auto-reject candidates based on AI. It was one story, and things are changing every day. And I would not be the first thought leader to say that AI isn’t the perfect solution for building resumes.
But I can tell you from 10 years of intense resume writing experience that these precious documents require a great amount of personal touch.
While AI resume tools promise efficiency, they often produce bland, keyword-stuffed documents that lack the personal branding and storytelling needed to stand out in today’s competitive job market. When hiring managers see resumes packed with fluffy buzzwords like “good communicator” or “results-driven” — without any specifics — they can sniff out the AI.
Worse, these documents might lead job seekers to accept them without questioning their accuracy. For example, AI might generate a software development resume and assume you know JavaScript, Selenium and Scrum without checking first.
Hiring managers in tech increasingly value individuality, problem-solving ability, and impact-driven resumes — things AI struggles to deliver.
Why It Matters Today
Many tech job seekers currently struggle with anxiety, rejection, and uncertainty in their job searches—especially today. With layoffs and an increasingly saturated job market, a strong, personalized resume is more critical than ever.
This article should help job seekers navigate the risks of over-relying on AI while providing recruiters and hiring managers with insights into why human expertise still matters in resume writing.
3 Ways AI Resume Builders Could Be Hurting Your Job Search
AI-powered resume builders often fall short when it comes to helping job seekers in tech truly stand out. While automation can generate a well-structured document, it lacks the critical thinking and industry expertise required to craft a resume that gets results.
Here’s how AI resume builders may actually be working against you, and what you can do to fix it.
1. AI Doesn’t Know Your Story Like You Do
A great resume shouldn’t be a generic laundry list of skills and experiences, which is primarily the data that an AI algorithm will have to build from. It should tell a compelling story that connects the dots between where you’ve been and where you’re going.
I had a client who was able to show how they decreased their customer onboarding time by 20 percent by implementing Salesforce CRM across their platform in a record-shattering three months. She never would have thought to include that if we hadn’t realized how relevant that was to her next position. This is your human story.
Think of AI resume generation like an enhanced template you can use. AI will give you a structure to begin with, but you will need to build a more complete, cohesive picture with all the personal details and soul-searching required. And you don’t have to go at it alone. There are countless resume writing services online who can connect you with a real human expert to help you tell your story.
Solution
Take the time to reflect on your career trajectory and personal brand. Before using AI tools, write down key achievements, pivotal career moments and what makes you a strong candidate in your field. If you do use AI, don’t just accept its output at face value: edit and refine it to inject your own voice and perspective. Tell your story with numbers.
2. AI Lacks In-Depth Industry Knowledge
The good news is that AI resume builders can suggest industry keywords and provide a general structure. However, it can’t replace the insight that comes from real-world experience in tech. Tech roles often require highly specific skills, and hiring managers look for nuances that AI-generated resumes frequently miss. Or worse, these resumes can be trained on poor data, which steers the resume in the wrong direction.
For example, a software engineer’s resume should highlight not just technical skills, but also how those skills were applied to solve complex problems. What was the big picture? What KPIs are most useful to include? An AI tool may list “Python” as a skill but fail to showcase how you used it to optimize an algorithm, scale a system, or contribute to open-source projects.
Solution
Research job descriptions in your target field and tailor your resume accordingly. Show your resume to colleagues, mentors and friends in your field to get their own human insight on it. Focus on impact: how your work has improved efficiency, reduced costs or driven innovation.
If you use AI to draft your resume, verify that the technical details are accurate and ensure that your achievements are clearly communicated.
3. AI Misses the Subtle Details That Make Resumes Stand Out
AI tools are great at checking for spelling and grammar, but they often miss the finer points of resume writing such as strategic phrasing, formatting, and tone. Hiring managers in tech review hundreds of resumes, and the small details can make the difference between getting noticed or getting overlooked.
For example, AI-generated bullet points might look fine at first glance but can end up sounding robotic or uninspired. Ultimately, they will blend in with all of the other bullet points that the hiring manager has been reading all day. A hiring manager wants to see compelling, action-driven statements that demonstrate your contributions to past employers. They want to see the numbers and the things that only you can accomplish.
Solution
After using AI, go through your resume with a critical eye. Read it aloud: does it sound like you? Inject some numbers and mini-stories that could have only come from you. And ensure that this comes through on most of the resume. Does it highlight your achievements in a way that’s engaging and impactful? Formatting also matters; ensure that your layout is clean, skimmable, and easy to read on both desktops and mobile devices.
AI can be a useful tool in the resume-writing process, but it’s not a substitute for thoughtful storytelling, industry expertise, or human oversight. By taking a strategic approach and refining AI-generated content, tech job seekers can create resumes that truly stand out in a crowded job market.