As employers increasingly use AI to screen resumes, job seekers are turning to paid optimization services — but a management professor warns there is little evidence these third-party vendors actually work. Instead, he recommends using free language models like ChatGPT and Claude to help tailor your resume to each specific job posting, a strategy that works whether AI or a human ultimately reviews your application.
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A management professor at California State University, Fullerton notes that AI screening of resumes is more common for entry-to mid-level roles at large employers receiving high application volumes, but a little less than half of organizations use AI for recruiting overall. Recruiters often review referral and priority applications without AI.
Why it matters
Job seekers are spending money on third-party resume optimization services, but there is very little verifiable evidence these vendors can meaningfully help candidates optimize for AI. The professor suggests using free LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude instead. One conference paper found large language models prefer resumes created by themselves, though not enough research exists yet to draw firm conclusions.
What to watch
The most practical advice applies regardless of whether AI or a human reviews your resume: mirror the language of the job posting, highlight keywords, quantify experience when possible, and focus on job-relevant information. Tailoring your resume to each job posting can be streamlined by providing an LLM your resume, a narrative of accomplishments, and the job posting itself.
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