The rise of AI tools has transformed how candidates prepare their job applications. From polishing resumes to drafting entire CVs, platforms like ChatGPT are becoming go-to companions for job seekers. While this helps candidates present themselves better, it also poses a challenge for recruiters: how do you distinguish between an authentic CV and one that’s heavily AI-generated?
The rise of AI tools has transformed how candidates prepare their job applications. From polishing resumes to drafting entire CVs, platforms like ChatGPT are becoming go-to companions for job seekers. While this helps candidates present themselves better, it also poses a challenge for recruiters: how do you distinguish between an authentic CV and one that’s heavily AI-generated?

The Signs of an AI-Written CV

1. Too Perfect, Too Generic Many AI-driven CVs sound flawless but lack depth. A recruiter in Bengaluru shared how a fresh graduate applied for a sales role describing himself as a “dynamic leader with expertise in strategic decision-making.” On probing, the candidate admitted he had no leadership experience — the lines were AI filler.

2. Missing Specifics Human-written resumes often highlight tools, platforms, or measurable results. A recruiter in Mumbai interviewed a marketing applicant whose CV proudly said: “Successfully boosted engagement through innovative campaigns.” When asked “Which campaign, and what percentage increase?” the candidate had no answer — a dead giveaway.

3. Unnatural Consistency In India’s diverse job market, career paths rarely look perfectly linear. Yet, recruiters in Hyderabad’s IT sector have seen CVs with identical two-year stints at every company, neatly formatted and overly symmetrical. Real careers usually include overlaps, short-term roles, or freelance projects.

4. Keyword Stuffing for ATS Especially common in tech CVs, AI often loads resumes with phrases like cloud migration, agile frameworks, stakeholder alignment, business transformation. One Pune-based recruiter said the CV “looked like a cloud computing textbook.” In the interview, the candidate couldn’t explain what agile sprint planning actually involved.

5. Irrelevant Sophistication Another recruiter in Chennai recalled a CV for a factory supervisor role that included phrases like “leveraged cross-functional synergies to optimize stakeholder value.” The job was about managing 40 workers on the shop floor — the language was completely mismatched.

6. Robotic Formatting AI CVs often follow a template with identical sentence lengths, bullet styles, and polished grammar. A recruiter in Gurgaon pointed out that even very senior professionals’ CVs had zero typos or quirks — unusual when compared to genuine applications where at least some individuality creeps in.

7. Communication Skills Mismatch Perhaps the biggest giveaway: when the CV oversells communication abilities. A recruiter in Delhi shared an incident where a candidate’s resume claimed “excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.” But during the interview, the applicant struggled with basic introductions and couldn’t articulate his role clearly. The gap between the polished CV and the actual conversation was too wide to ignore.

8. Fake Experiences and Inflated Internships AI-written CVs often insert exaggerated promotions or internships that don’t add up. A recruiter in Bengaluru once received a CV from a fresher that listed internships at three multinational companies — all within the same six-month period. On verification, two of them turned out to be completely fabricated. Another case in Noida involved a candidate claiming three promotions in four years at a mid-sized IT services firm. When the recruiter called a reference from the company, it turned out the person had worked there only for eight months. AI-generated “career padding” can look impressive on paper, but it unravels quickly when checked.

What Recruiters Can Do

• Ask for context: During interviews, dig into claimed achievements. Genuine candidates can walk through details — tools used, challenges faced, measurable results.
• Look for the story: Real CVs reflect individuality — career breaks, internships, volunteer work, or side hustles. AI struggles to recreate that authenticity.
• Cross-check details: If the CV claims expertise, internships, or promotions that look “too good to be true,” pick up the phone and verify.
• Watch communication: If the CV oversells soft skills like leadership, collaboration, or communication, the interview will reveal whether they actually match.
• Trust instincts: If the CV reads like it was written “for algorithms, not humans,” it probably was.

Final Thought

AI will continue shaping recruitment, but authenticity will remain the most valuable currency. For candidates in India — whether in Gurgaon’s startup scene, Mumbai’s creative agencies, or Chennai’s manufacturing hubs — the best strategy isn’t outsourcing your story to AI, but using AI as a helper while keeping your voice intact.

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