AI is becoming more widely used in the working world, proving, when it works, to be a time-saving and effective resource for both job seekers and employers. One consequence has led to an increase in ‘spamplications’, also known as ‘CV Spamming’, where job seekers are using AI to share their CV with many different employers and applying for multiple jobs in a short space of time.
There are many issues with this method of finding a job, both for employers and candidates and care needs to be taken by would-be employees.
CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, Peter Duris, has explained the best approach to Digital Journal.
Duris says: “AI tools can save time and help you come up with ideas, but it’s important for people to use them responsibly. For instance, you should always double check the text output to make sure that you’re happy with it, and be mindful that AI isn’t always right.”
Citing examples, he adds: “There have been recent stories in the news of job applicants sending cover letters or applications with a chatbot prompt right in the middle of the text that they have forgotten to take out. It’s not a good look—it makes managers think that the worker is careless, doesn’t pay attention to detail, and hasn’t taken the time to write it himself/herself…
“Hiring managers are getting swamped with a deluge of ‘spamplications’ right now, so whatever you can do to make yourself stand out as a candidate will help. And for employers, now might be a great time to focus on interviews as a way to get to know the candidates better, beyond the applications they sent in.”
Duris’s tips for employees are:
• AI is perfect for helping with the overall picture, whether it’s the formatting, language, or structure. It helps make your CV and cover letter come across as polished and professional—but the tiny details are still down to you. Make sure you add that personal touch.
• Use a CV tool that helps with design and layout, rather than just generating the text in a chatbot like ChatGPT or Gemini. A resume that’s well laid out will catch hiring managers’ attention and create a better impression.
• Don’t just generate a single application and send it to every company that’s hiring in your field. You’ll get better results if you personalize your CV to suit different roles. You can still use AI tools for this, as they can help you come up with ideas or show you examples of successful applications for these roles.
Dursi’ tips for hiring managers are:
• When reviewing CVs, look out for real examples of projects the candidate has worked on or results they have achieved. These stories prove something genuine about the candidate and their employment history.
• In an interview, ask the candidate about the skills on their CV—they should be able to back them up with examples, and answer skill-based questions.
• Look out for inconsistencies on candidates’ CVs. It might be a hint that it has been created using AI tools without being edited or looked over by the applicant.
Dursi concludes, observing: “If it’s important for your company to filter out AI generated text, for example if you have asked candidates to complete a written task, there are a number of free and paid tools on the market today that are able to predict how likely it is that the text has been written by AI.”
