A growing number of job seekers are turning to artificial intelligence to polish their resumes, hoping a cleaner style and stronger wording will help them stand out. A hiring expert says that approach can backfire when the result feels too perfect and too generic. Frances Li, a recruiting company founder and director, explains that AI can fix grammar and reframe everyday tasks as marketable skills, but it can also erase the very details that make a candidate memorable. Her message is not to avoid AI completely, but to stop treating it like a one click shortcut to a “winning” resume.
Li says recruiters are now seeing what she described as a “flood of flawless resumes,” and that sameness is the problem. When the phrasing is polished in the same predictable way, the document stops sounding like a real person. She argues that a resume can be technically correct and still fail to connect with a hiring manager. In her view, the best resumes balance clarity with a voice that feels human.
One of her biggest warnings is how quickly AI can make applicants blend together. “When every candidate sounds the same, it is hard for hiring managers to see the person behind the resume,” she said. “Your personality, not formatting, is what sets you apart.” Li’s point is that structure matters, but individuality matters more, especially when recruiters are scanning dozens or hundreds of applications that already look alike.
She also stresses that authenticity is not the opposite of professionalism. “AI tools can be great for structure and grammar, but if you just copy their output without any edits, you lose what makes you memorable,” Li said. “Recruiters do not need robotic professionalism, they need authenticity and clarity.” That means your resume should still sound like you, with your priorities, your tone, and your real achievements.
Li believes over editing can leave a resume looking impressive but feeling empty. “Candidates remove every bit of personality, and the result is a resume that looks neat but feels cold, employers recognize that,” she said. In practice, that can happen when AI replaces simple language with stiff corporate phrasing and vague claims. The resume may look like it belongs to a high performer, but it does not show what actually motivates the applicant or how they work.
Instead of only listing duties, Li encourages people to reveal what drives them and how they think. “Show what motivates you, not just what you did, personality is what creates connection,” she said. You can do this without writing an essay by choosing a few bullet points that hint at your approach, like how you solved a problem, improved a process, or supported a team. Even small details can help, as long as they are true and specific.
Timing is another trap she sees often, especially among people who have not applied for a job in years. Li warns against waiting until you are desperate, dumping everything into ChatGPT, and hoping it magically turns into a compelling story. “People wait to update their resume until they get desperate for a new job and then they panic, a great resume is an ongoing process, not a last minute task,” she said. Her advice is to keep the document alive so it reflects your latest skills and results.
To make that easier, she suggests a simple habit that does not require a major rewrite. “Set aside 30 minutes each quarter to add your achievements and results, you will thank yourself when an opportunity comes up,” Li said. This routine also helps you remember numbers, project names, and outcomes while they are still fresh. When you finally need the resume, you are editing and tailoring, not rebuilding from scratch.
Li also calls out a common AI weakness, which is leaning on buzzy adjectives instead of proof. If you do not fully understand a word or claim, she says do not use it just because AI suggested it. “AI tools tend to overuse popular phrases like ‘dynamic’ or ‘results driven,’ but recruiters want to see evidence, replace adjectives with concrete outcomes,” she explained. A hiring manager will trust “increased qualified leads by 18 percent” far more than “highly motivated and results driven.”
Her practical rule is to start with your own draft, then use AI as a refinement tool rather than a ghostwriter. “Start with your words, and use AI for polishing, not for writing,” she said, adding, “It is collaboration, not delegation.” That might look like asking AI to tighten a sentence, check clarity, or suggest a stronger verb, then rewriting the output until it matches your real voice. AI can help you brainstorm, but you should own the final wording.
Finally, Li warns against sending the exact same resume to a long list of employers. It can feel efficient to blast out one document to 20 addresses, but she argues it usually lowers your odds. “The best candidates tailor their resume every time, even if only slightly,” she concluded. A small adjustment to mirror a job description, highlight a relevant project, or reorder skills can signal that you actually want that specific role.
In general, a resume is meant to be a quick marketing document that helps an employer understand who you are, what you have done, and what you can do next. Many companies use applicant tracking systems that scan for relevant skills and keywords, so clear role titles, measurable accomplishments, and job specific language still matter. AI can be useful for spotting awkward phrasing or improving readability, but it should not replace the facts, the metrics, and the personality that make your experience credible. The strongest approach is usually a simple one, write honestly, show results, tailor thoughtfully, and use AI like an editor that you supervise.
What AI resume habits have helped you most, and which ones have caused problems, share your thoughts in the comments.
