ChatGPT, an interactive AI tool launched by OpenAI, has been sweeping the nation with its seemingly limitless communication capabilities. It's now infiltrating the workforce, as job applicants use it to write resumes and even cover letters. But is this going too far? Recruiters have split opinions.
A recent report from resume template service ResumeBuilder found that 46% of applicants
"Most people really don't know how to make a resume or write a cover letter on their own in a very effective way," says Stacie Haller, the chief career adviser with ResumeBuilder. "So this is a much better alternative than doing nothing at all."
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Yet with most things that involve AI, applicants can't just rely on the tech alone. Forty-nine percent of users said they had to at least do 'a little bit' of editing to the resumes or cover letters they received from ChatGPT, and only 11% reported not having to do any editing at all. Overall, three in four job seekers said the materials written by ChatGPT were 'high' or 'very high' quality.
As companies debate expanding their tech stack and investing more in emerging technologies such as VR and the metaverse, ChatGPT has a place in the conversation too, says Haller. And so far, employers seem to be on board: 58% of job seekers said they were not denied a job even when the
Haller says HR leaders are already aware that employees may be getting a little help on job applications. Now, the process is just
"I've been a recruiter for many years and I know when I'm looking at a resume that wasn't necessarily written by the person applying," Haller says. "I already know that it's the interview process that's going to help me determine who I want to hire."
But despite the positive feedback from some, there are still those who urge job seekers and recruiters
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"It's not that we disagree that candidates cannot use ChatGPT to successfully create resumes and cover letters," he says. "Although AI platforms are great for saving time and picking up keywords that can be recognized by applicant tracking systems, they can not speak to unique human experiences and the complexities of our personalities. Make sure you come across as you."
As progressive as AI platforms can seem, bots
"Similar questions will yield similar results," Boersma says. "Recruitment materials are supposed to set candidates apart, so the last thing someone should want is to blend in with other applicants or appear unoriginal."
But that begs the question: how much does a wholly original or unique resume truly help candidates in the long run? In a world where recruiting strategies are ever-changing, the traditional job application process is becoming less critical, and some companies have ended interviews altogether. Haller says
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"I work for ResumeBuilder and we've always had free templates online for somebody else to put together," she says. "That's why I'm taken aback by everybody jumping all over this. This is just today's version of a resume writer and a job seeker is just using new technology to do it."
Although significantly smaller than those who found success, 11% of users were denied a position at a company when the interviewer discovered they used ChatGPT, meaning that there is still apprehension from recruiters and hiring managers. But a little hesitation won't change the fact that
"A resume and a cover letter does not get you a job — all it does is get you an interview," Haller says. "Nobody hires you based on just a resume and a cover letter, but what if ChatGPT could get you through the door?"
