AI can help write a resume but beware: Human touch still wins

Artificial intelligence has rapidly become part of the job search process, helping candidates generate résumés, cover letters and even identify suitable vacancies. Yet an important question remains: does an AI-written CV actually improve the chances of securing an interview?

New research from career platform Kickresume indicates that while AI can be helpful, human judgment remains crucial. In a field experiment involving more than 200 real job applications, the company found that a human-written, single-column CV generated the strongest employer response rates, while generic AI-generated résumés performed the worst. The findings also highlight the importance of tailoring applications to individual roles. According to Kickresume, the study was designed to test recruiter responses under real-world conditions rather than through surveys or hypothetical assessments.

The experiment took place between April and June 2026 and involved 204 genuine job applications, primarily for customer service and sales representative roles. Four different CV formats were used: Human-written, single-column CV; Human-written, two-column CV; Generic AI-generated CV; and AI-generated CV tailored to the specific job description.

Each version was submitted approximately 51 times across a range of vacancies. The overall positive response rate was 18%, with 36 employers responding favourably. Of those positive responses, 61% resulted in direct interview invitations, demonstrating that attracting recruiter attention remains a critical first hurdle in the hiring process. Notably, 30 of the 36 positive responses came from applications that were considered a strong match for the advertised position. This finding reinforces long-standing recruitment advice that relevance and alignment with role requirements matter more than simply submitting large numbers of applications.

One of the most striking findings concerned CV layout. The human-written single-column CV achieved a 31% positive response rate, outperforming all other resume formats tested. In contrast, the human-written two-column version received only a 12% positive response rate.

While the experiment was observational rather than fully controlled, the main difference related to single-column documents, which have traditionally been easier for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse accurately. ATS platforms are now used extensively by employers to screen applications before they reach human recruiters. Many recruitment specialists have warned that complex designs, sidebars, graphics, and multi-column layouts can hinder ATS readability. The Kickresume findings provide additional real-world evidence supporting this concern.

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, said the results reflect broader trends the company observes across millions of CVs created using its platform. “We found that one-column CVs drew far more responses than two-column ones,” Duris explained. “It matches what we see across millions of resumes: clean, single-column layouts dominate, partly because they’re the easiest for applicant tracking systems to read.”

AI performs better when guided

The study also sheds light on the growing role of AI in recruitment preparation. The generic AI-generated CV recorded only a 10% positive response rate, making it the weakest performer in the experiment. However, when the AI-created document was tailored to the requirements of each vacancy, the positive response rate increased to 18%.

In practical terms, tailoring almost doubled the effectiveness of the AI-generated document. This suggests that AI works best as a drafting assistant rather than a replacement for human input. A generic resume generated in seconds may save time, but candidates still need to review, customize, and align the content with the employer’s expectations.

According to Duris: “A little tailoring of your AI-written CV to fit the job description can boost its performance significantly. Pulling in the language from the posting shows recruiters and hiring managers you’re a genuine fit for the role.” The findings mirror broader workforce research showing that employers increasingly value relevant skills and role-specific experience over generic applications.

A challenging job market

An unexpected outcome of the project was the difficulty encountered in finding sufficient vacancies. Kickresume initially targeted New York City positions that closely matched the candidate profiles used in the test. However, after approximately one week and 102 applications, suitable roles became scarce, forcing researchers to expand their search to remote positions and other locations.

This observation aligns with ongoing discussions about a slower labour market and what some analysts have termed the “Great Hunkering Down,” a trend where employees remain in existing jobs longer because of economic uncertainty and reduced hiring activity. Recent labour market indicators from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, suggest that hiring activity in some sectors has moderated from post-pandemic highs, while competition for professional roles has intensified.

For job seekers, this suggests an important practical lesson: if no response has been received after approximately two weeks, it may be more productive to focus attention on other opportunities rather than waiting indefinitely. The experiment offers three clear lessons. The first is, keep CV formatting simple. Single-column layouts appear more effective and are generally easier for ATS platforms to process. The second is to tailor every application. Whether using AI or writing from scratch, aligning your CV with the job description significantly improves your chances of success. The third area is to use AI as an assistant, not a substitute. AI-generated content can save time, but human editing and customization remain essential.