this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2026
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I deal with job applications. It's incredibly obvious when a CV and cover letter is just AI. There's no need to even confirm it with software. Everyone bins them straight away.
It's not so much a surge in using AI on genuine job applications—and honestly, that wouldn't even be an issue—its the sheer amount of slop spam coming in. They'll apply for half a dozen jobs with different resumes catered for them, from anything from entry level data analyst to director of marketing, not realising it's the same company.
I've seen AI generated resumes citing experience directly copied from the job posting. As in the 'applicant' says they have X years of experience working on the exact team they are applying for.
It was honestly so stupid it became kind of funny, at least the first time..
Yeah, that's the usual. It just regurgitated the job description and none of the experience matches up.
Had one linking two years as a florist to advance skills in SQL databases and project leading. Look, it could be true, but there's dozens of applicants with resumes with data science qualifications or over a half decade experience, so the florist won't be winning if all they say is what the ad said.
I imagine if any of them get an interview, it's sorted out within seconds. "So, we're hiring a mechanic. We're an auto shop. You seem to be someone that owns a car and that's the extent of it..."
I refuse to write any sort of cover letter for any job application. It's a job. I want it for the money. I'm not going to wrote some bullshit about how I've always dreamed of working for said company and it's the perfect role for me. In an ideal world I wouldn't be working at all.
I'm the same. I still read the opening sentences of them, but if it's the usual "cover letter template" shit, it's pointless and I go straight to the CV.
We've hired plenty of people with lacking CVs that had genuine cover letters, though. It's clear when someone is trying to say they're really into their shit, but all they got on the CV is McDonald's.
But as you become more advanced in your field, they're useless. At the end of the day, you don't want to be stuck working for someone that ignores all the skill and experience, declining an interview because no cover letter.
The whole concept of a cover letter seems ridiculous. Never wrote one either.
Same here. They can find out what I'm like in a conversation, not an essay.
Its essentially expanding on the bulletpoints in your CV. Annoying but not the end of the world. I hate sites that want it reinput in specific formats for no good reason
Just use a generator, they’re cheap and easy and tailored to your resume. DM me for recs, happy to send some ideas or freebie codes
I saw a job app the other day. Caught my eye because it's offering 1.5-2x what I'm making today. They have a big disclaimer that they use AI to help vet resumes. I'm not applying because I'm happy where I am (and because an undisclosed portion of that pay is performance based), but if I did, I guarantee I'm sending AI slop that knows how to sound like what AI wants to hear.
I have been on both sides of hiring. It's awful for everyone. It's like speed dating because you need a partner in two weeks. AI is bullshit. HR is bullshit. Leetcode is bullshit. To a point, even a degree is bullshit — almost all of my coworkers have at least a bachelor's degree but I'll bet none of them know I do not — one of the guys who works for me just got his Master's. The only good test is to sit down with someone and see if they have what you're looking for.
Every time I've gotten to do that, I've been hired. But I've gone months unemployed because getting that shot can be so difficult — the one place my lack of degree holds me back.
Anyway it's like Star Wars said — when bullshit rises, more bullshit rises to meet it.
That even happened before LLMs. Especially at coveted companies. People just want to get an in and then think they can get the job they actually want once they work at the company.
Cover letter generators are really good now. You’re noticing the low-effort ones, but the adept users are tweaking and editing before send. If it hasn’t happened already, pretty soon you will not be able to tell the difference.
Thats the same as getting a template and refining it years ago though.
Is it? The ones today use your resume as context, then retain the paper trail to ensure you have the full context for the interview. At one point I was able to send like one a minute, and they were of a high quality. Enough that I got a few interviews
What if the preliminary reviewer is an AI and it really likes AI written text?
Then you don't want to work there and they deserve what they get.
Then it gets deleted