In the ever-evolving landscape of job hunting, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful ally for job seekers. From crafting tailored resumes to assisting with interviews, AI tools are revolutionizing the hiring process.
To learn more about the experiences of job seekers who utilized ChatGPT compared to those who did not take advantage of the tool, in February, we surveyed 1,000 U.S. workers who have actively engaged in a job search within the past year.
Key findings:
- 18% of U.S. workers who have actively engaged in a job search within the past year used ChatGPT
- Research, resume creation, and interview preparation are the most common uses of the tool by job seekers
- ChatGPT users are more likely to negotiate higher salaries and get more frequent interview requests than those who did not use the tool
- 29% say they did not get hired because the employer became aware of their use of ChatGPT in the hiring process
- Alternatively, 55% say they had a prospective employer praise their use of the tool
1 in 6 Job Seekers Use ChatGPT
Overall, 18% of U.S. workers who have actively engaged in a job search within the past year say they used ChatGPT in the hiring process.
Younger job seekers were more likely to use the tool, with 24% of 18 to 24 year olds, 21% of 25 to 34 year olds, and 25% of 35 to 44 year olds saying they used the tool. Conversely, only 9% of 45 to 54 year olds, and 3% of 54-year-olds used ChatGPT in the hiring process. Additionally, based on our findings, men were more likely to say they used ChatGPT than women (25% vs. 10%).
“The numbers related to age discrepancies in ChatGPT use aren’t surprising for a few reasons,” says Resume Builder’s resume and career strategist Julia Toothacre.
“First, younger generations have historically been more likely to embrace new technologies. Second, there are a lot of people on social media right now sharing their ChatGPT hacks for job searching, so I think it’s something that younger generations are learning about more rapidly. They are likely frustrated with the hiring process and want to try anything they can to get ahead of the competition.
“I was surprised at the gender results. I’ve never known women to shy away from new technology. However, in career development, men seem to be more likely to embrace whatever needs to be done to get the job.”
Job seekers leverage ChatGPT in a variety of ways, including for:
- Research (75%)
- Resume creation (73%)
- Interview preparation (69%)
- Cover letter creation (62%)
- Email communication (51%)
- Complete assessments (51%)
- During the interview (37%)
9 in 10 use ChatGPT to improve application quality
The primary reasons job seekers are using ChatGPT are to improve the quality of their application materials (88%), 76% to appear more professional (76%), and to save time (65%).
Of those who use the tool to create application materials, such as a resume or cover letter, almost all are making some edits to what ChatGPT generates. More precisely, 34% say they make a lot of edits. And 50% say they make some changes, while 15% say they make hardly any edits, and 1% say they don’t make any changes.
Despite the majority making some changes to what ChatGPT produces, 70% say they would rate the quality of the job application materials written by ChatGPT as high, while 30% say medium. No respondents rated the quality as low.
“Job seekers should definitely use AI to help them with the job search process, but it needs to be utilized with caution. AI is pulling its information from what is online and not all advice and information is accurate,” says Toothacre.
“Similarly, they need to make sure whatever AI drafts for them, if they are using it that way, makes sense for their experience and function. AI can sound too generic at times, so this is where putting your eyes on it is helpful.
“I’m concerned about the use of AI to complete assessments. Skills-based assessments are in place to ensure you are qualified and check your knowledge. Using AI to help you pass those assessments is lying about your experience and highly unethical,” Toothacre adds.
ChatGPT Users Negotiated Higher Salaries
Of respondents surveyed who say they have successfully landed a new position, those who used ChatGPT were more likely than those who did not use the tool to say they could negotiate a higher salary (85% vs. 52%). Furthermore, ChatGPT users were more likely to say they received interview requests often (71% vs. 53%, respectively).
While the ChatGPT users group received more interview requests and negotiated higher salaries, the data did not show that this group was hired more quickly.
“I think job seekers who use ChatGPT are seeing more interview requests because they are likely tailoring their experience to the job posts. Most people apply to a lot of positions, but they don’t take time to tailor the content,” says Toothacre.
“While you don’t need to tailor every resume, you at least need to have a version for every function you might apply for. Similarly, AI can help you craft resume statements that are pretty good and written in a way that helps the reader see what you’ve accomplished. Most resumes focus on duties, not accomplishments.
“The same can be said for negotiating salaries. If the negotiation is done via email, which is always preferred, the job seeker can put that message into ChatGPT and ask it to draft a response. You usually need to tweak the language, but overall, it helps job seekers use the best language to negotiate. Even if the negotiation happens over the phone, you can use ChatGPT to create a script or some prompts to help you ask the right questions and use the right language.”
3 in 10 Say They Didn’t Get Hired Because Employer Found Out About ChatGPT Use
Employers seem to have mixed sentiments regarding job applicants leveraging ChatGPT to enhance their application materials. While some view it as a savvy use of technology showcasing adaptability, others question the authenticity and originality of the content produced.
Our survey found that 29% of job seekers who use the tool say they did not get hired because the employer became aware of their use of ChatGPT in the hiring process. Alternatively, however, 55% say they had a prospective employer praise their use of the tool.
“My guess is that some employers think ChatGPT promotes lying or cheating, while others see the efficiency and better application materials. It really shouldn’t matter if someone is using ChatGPT as long as they use their experiences to create the information for applications. If they are using it to pass assessments, that isn’t right.
“How is using ChatGPT to craft a resume or cover letter that different from a career coach? I think age plays a part here as well, as we saw earlier in the article. Older generations, who are hiring most, tend to distrust new technologies while younger generations tend to embrace it,” says Toothacre.
Below, we also share some perspectives from business leaders.
“Any applicant using ChatGPT or other generative AI to pass assessments or write a cover letter would be a hard pass for me. I think it’s totally fine to use for interview practice or to generate ideas. But any time you are substituting the work of an AI for your own organic work, that’s where it crosses a line for me,” says Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy.
“From my perspective, the use of tools like ChatGPT by candidates can highlight key skills that are increasingly important in today’s digital-first environment. These skills include technical savvy, initiative, and the ability to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance productivity and creativity. For instance, using ChatGPT to craft more dynamic and engaging resumes or cover letters can set a candidate apart, showcasing their ability to integrate AI for practical, value-added outcomes,” says Matthew Montez, founder of MCB group.
“However, it’s crucial to balance AI-assisted materials with genuine personal insights and experiences. I would look for candidates who use ChatGPT as a tool to enhance their applications but still ensure their unique voice and qualifications shine through.”
“Candidates should be careful with how they use ChatGPT during the hiring process. There are positives, but employers may not always see these, and this could make it much more difficult for you to secure employment. ChatGPT’s style of writing is very consistent, and when multiple candidates use it, employers may notice. To them, it may seem insincere,” says Martin Gasparian Attorney and owner of Maison Law.
Methodology
This survey was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the survey platform Pollfish. It was launched on February 29, 2024, and consisted of 1,000 respondents.
To qualify for the survey, all participants had to answer they have actively engaged in a job search within the past year.
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