AI Resumes Are Slowing Hiring, and Recruiters Are Quietly Going Back to Referrals

With AI-generated resumes and CVs flooding recruiters’ inboxes, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to tell which candidates genuinely stand out. As a result, some recruiters are turning back to personal recommendations, referrals, and trusted networks as a more convenient way of finding talent. 

You probably have come across videos on social media platforms if you're someone following career tips accounts or channels about using AI to either optimize your CV or apply for multiple jobs. What was once a tool for helping candidates present their experience more clearly has become part of the job application process itself. 

But as more candidates use AI to polish and even rewrite their applications, recruiters are beginning to question how much of what they see on a resume actually reflects the person behind it.  

Why Are Resumes Losing Trust? 

According to a March survey by human resources consulting firm Robert Half, which polled 2,000 U.S. hiring managers, 67% said reviewing AI-generated applications has slowed their hiring process, while one in five reported delays of more than two weeks. The growing volume of applications is also adding to recruiters’ workload, with 84% saying their workload has increased as more candidates submit tailored, keyword-optimized applications that can make it harder to distinguish one applicant from another. 

In a sense, this is creating a dilemma where recruiters are beginning to trust resumes less, especially when many of them now look similar, which has also made some of the common signs of AI-generated resumes easier for recruiters to spot. Rebecca Siciliano, managing director at Tiger Recruitment, told Business Times that common indicators include American spellings, excessive bolding and phrases such as “proven track record” or “trusted right hand.”