How Easy It Is to Spot an AI-Generated Resume (And Why It Matters More Than Ever)

If you’ve spent any time reviewing resumes lately, whether as a hiring manager, recruiter, or industry advisor, you’ve likely had the same reaction more than once:

“This looks… polished, but empty.”

AI tools like ChatGPT have made resume writing faster and more accessible than ever. But they’ve also created a new problem: resumes that look good at first glance yet fail to reflect real expertise, leadership, or impact, especially in specialized fields like resilience, business continuity, crisis management, IT disaster recovery, cyber, and third-party/supplier resiliency.

When placed side by side with a professionally crafted, role-targeted resume, the differences are striking. This article breaks down the tell‑tale signs of AI‑generated resumes, why they often fall short, and why your resume still matters more than ever in today’s hiring process.

The Most Common Signs of an AI / ChatGPT Resume

AI-generated resumes tend to follow patterns. Once you’ve seen a few, they become surprisingly easy to spot.

1. Perfect Formatting… With Subtle Structural Problems

AI resumes often look clean, but:

• Inconsistent spacing and alignment

• Overuse of identical bullet structures

• Dense blocks of text with no visual hierarchy

• Awkward line breaks or section flow

They frequently ignore modern resume best practices:

• Tables, text boxes, icons, charts, or images that break ATS parsing

• Fonts or layouts that read well visually but fail technically

A strong resume today must balance ATS compatibility and human readability, and that balance is rarely achieved by automation alone.

2. Generic Language That Could Apply to Anyone

AI excels at writing correct language, but not specific language. You’ll often see:

• “Responsible for managing…”

• “Demonstrated strong leadership…”

• “Worked cross‑functionally with stakeholders…”

These phrases are not wrong, but they’re meaningless without context. What’s missing is industry nuance:

• Standards and frameworks (ISO, NIST, FFIEC, FEMA, sector‑specific requirements)

• Correct certification terminology and scope

• The difference between program ownership, coordination, and execution

In resilience roles, especially, precision matters. Generic language signals a lack of depth.

3. A Focus on Duties Instead of Impact

AI resumes list what someone did, but rarely why it mattered. Common gaps include:

• No measurable outcomes

• No indication of scale, complexity, or risk exposure

• No connection between responsibilities and organizational value

For example:

“Developed business continuity plans”

Versus:

“Designed and maintained enterprise business continuity plans supporting critical operations across X business units, reducing recovery time objectives and strengthening executive confidence during incidents.”

That second version answers the question every hiring manager asks: Why was this role important?

4. Missing Leadership, Influence, and Executive Exposure

Many AI-generated resumes underplay, or completely miss, leadership elements:

• Advising executives

• Influencing risk decisions

• Presenting to boards or senior leadership

• Leading exercises, audits, or program maturity efforts

In resilience roles, leadership isn’t always about direct reports; it’s about credibility, influence, and trust under pressure. AI doesn’t know how to surface that unless someone explicitly feeds it the insight.

5. No Evidence of Thought Leadership or Professional Presence

Experienced professionals often:

• Present at conferences

• Publish articles or guidance

• Lead internal training

• Participate in industry working groups

These signals matter, especially at senior levels. AI-generated resumes frequently omit them entirely, even when they are central to a candidate’s credibility.

Why Resume Layout Matters More Than Ever

Resume layouts have changed dramatically over the past decade.

Today’s reality:

• ATS systems still act as the first gatekeeper

• Recruiters and hiring managers spend seconds deciding whether to keep reading

That means your resume must:

• Avoid tables, images, and graphics

• Use clean, consistent formatting

• Apply varied, role‑aligned terminology

• Guide the reader’s eye effortlessly

Passing the ATS is only step one. Once your resume lands in human hands, it must be compelling, clear, and credible.

Your Resume Must Do More Than Reflect the Past

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a resume simply documents where you’ve been. In reality, it must also:

• Signal where you’re going

• Align with the role you’re targeting

• Speak the language of the employer, not just your last job

This is why the headline and opening action statement are so critical. They frame your narrative immediately:

• Your scope

• Your value

• Your direction

AI tools struggle here because they don’t understand career strategy, only text generation.

Why Expert Resume Crafting Still Matters

I craft a unique resume for every professional I work with. Each engagement begins with a tailored questionnaire based on:

• Career level

• Target role

• Discipline focus (resilience, BCM, crisis, IT DR, cyber, third‑party/supplier resiliency)

The goal isn’t to fill space. It’s to:

• Tease out what actually differentiates you

• Capture the nuance of your role and environment

• Ensure the resilience ecosystem is accurately represented

• Translate experience into executive‑relevant language

This process surfaces insights that AI simply cannot infer:

• Why your role existed

• How your work influenced decisions

• Where your credibility truly comes from

The Resume Is Still the First Test

Your resume is often the first, and sometimes only, chance to demonstrate:

• Judgment

• Clarity

• Professional maturity

In a market flooded with AI‑generated content, authentic, well‑crafted resumes stand out more than ever. Not because they’re flashy, but because they’re real. And experienced reviewers can tell the difference immediately. If your resume sounds like it could belong to anyone, it won’t belong anywhere for long. Your story deserves more than automation. It deserves intention.

Note - I used ChatGPT to help write this article, but the topic and points were mine and fed into the system.

At Resilience360 Advisory, we help resilience professionals, whether in business continuity, IT disaster recovery, crisis management, cyber, or third-party/supplier resiliency, turn career aspirations into actionable results. With 25+ years of recruiting and coaching expertise, we provide tailored support that spans resume and LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, salary benchmarking, and compensation coaching. Our career services are designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re planning your next move, strengthening your leadership presence, or positioning yourself for long-term advancement. Beyond coaching, we also offer free resources such as our annual compensation report, monthly career insights, and Resilience Career Alerts to keep you connected to new opportunities across the profession.  Schedule a discovery call today at info@resilience360advisory.com.