More job seekers are writing their CVs for software rather than people. UK job board CV-Library said on 5 October that 29 percent of candidates had changed their CV or cover letter because they believed AI might screen it, almost three times the 2025 figure. The survey covered 1,043 candidates and 233 recruiters and employers.
Key takeaways
- 29 percent of candidates tailored their CV for AI screening.
- 70 percent of candidates say widespread AI use makes it harder to stand out.
- 69 percent of recruiters say AI-written applications make the best candidates harder to spot.
- 36 percent of recruiters are less confident than a year ago that a CV reflects real skills.
- 58 percent of candidates would feel better with a guarantee a human reviews their application.
Why is writing for AI backfiring?
When everyone polishes their CV with the same tools, the CVs start to look alike. Recruiters told CV-Library the most common reasons for lower trust were obviously AI-generated CVs (52 percent), exaggeration (44 percent) and generic applications (31 percent).
What should you do with your CV?
Keep it readable by software and by people. Use clear headings and the job's real keywords, but write your results in your own words with real numbers. Our guides to an ATS-friendly resume that gets read and whether employers can detect AI resumes go into detail.
What is the background?
As generative AI tools spread, a common belief took hold that every CV is now read by a machine first. CV-Library's research suggests that belief is ahead of reality. In a BBC report on the research, CV-Library said about 90 of the 425 recruiters it spoke to used AI at the CV screening stage, far fewer than candidates assume. Many applicants are rewriting their CVs for a filter that may not exist.
Who does it affect?
Job seekers who rely on AI tools to write or polish their CVs, and graduates in particular, who often have similar experience and now risk sounding identical. Recruiters are affected too: when every application looks polished, they spend more time checking claims or rely more on tests and interviews.
What should job seekers do?
- Write for a person first. Clear headings and plain language work for software and humans.
- Use the job ad's real terms for skills and tools, but do not stuff keywords.
- Add proof: numbers, project names, tools and outcomes that you can explain at interview.
- Use AI as an editor, not an author. Check every line is true and sounds like you.
- Expect skills tests. More employers are checking ability directly; see our guide to interview work tests.
What happens next?
CV-Library's figures suggest the pressure will keep growing. The share of candidates writing for AI nearly tripled in a year, so standing out with clear, specific CVs is likely to matter even more in 2027.
Source: CV-Library, 5 October 2026.
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