More than half of job applicants now use AI to write resumes - here's how to stand out
Over 50% of new job applicants are using AI tools to write resumes and cover letters, according to a LinkedIn survey. Hiring managers are using the same tools to screen applications. That creates a problem: candidates and recruiters are both relying on AI, making applications sound identical.
Vanessa Errecarte, a marketing and personal branding instructor at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, says job seekers can break through by focusing on three strategies.
Build a digital brand before you apply
Most professionals spend more time online than in person, yet they don't have a plan for how to show up there consistently. The time to prepare isn't when you submit applications - it's months earlier.
"You need to start creating a brand for yourself digitally far before you apply for the job, which means regularly thinking about how you're going to show up online," Errecarte said.
Start with a LinkedIn profile and personal website well in advance of your job search. Treat these as ongoing projects, not last-minute additions to your resume.
Develop a unique point of view
AI generalizes. Its algorithm works by finding patterns and averaging them out. When both applicants and hiring managers use AI, everyone ends up sounding the same.
The solution is to cover the basics - show you know what others know - then add something distinctive. Your resume should include standard qualifications, but your cover letter and online presence should reflect your own perspective.
"If you have employers screening with AI and students using AI, everybody is going to sound and look the same," Errecarte said. "You need to first say, I know all this stuff that other people know - cover the general. But then you also have to identify your own point of view. Then the filters say, I need a human to review it."
Master critical thinking
Critical thinking is what ultimately separates candidates. It's not something AI can replicate.
"If we conquer critical thinking and we create our own message, then our output rises above," Errecarte said. "The same thing that makes people lean forward and listen to someone who's more interesting in person will also cause us to slow that scroll online."
For HR professionals looking to refine how your organization screens resumes with AI, understanding these dynamics is essential. AI for Human Resources covers recruitment strategy and how to use AI tools effectively without filtering out strong candidates who think differently.
For job applicants, if you're considering using ChatGPT or similar tools to draft application materials, focus on using them as a starting point, then personalizing the output with your own analysis and perspective.
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