Anne Hathaway caught job candidates using identical AI-written thank-you notes, warning that hiring managers can spot the deception—and it costs applicants the job.

What happened

While hiring for a recent role, Hathaway received thank-you notes from all candidates that were word-for-word identical, revealing they had all been written by AI. When she noticed the duplication, she realized the candidates were revealing themselves through the identical language. Co-star Meryl Streep reinforced the stakes, saying 'Nobody on that list gets that job.'

Why it matters

Job seekers facing an uncertain economy and what experts describe as a 'hiring nightmare' have turned to AI to automate thank-you notes while applying to hundreds of roles simultaneously. However, when everyone uses the same tools and prompts, the notes fail to stand out and actually signal to hiring managers that candidates are uninvested in the company and role—the opposite of the intended effect.

What to watch

A Gen Z hiring manager noted that personalized thank-you notes remain rare, and taking 'two seconds' to hand-write one after an interview can be an easy way to stand out among millions of unemployed candidates competing for the same positions.