AI-Generated CVs Are Slowing UK Hiring But Trying to Detect AI Isn't the Answer

The useful part

CVs Are Slowing UK Hiring But Trying to Detect AI Isn't the Answer | Onrec We apologize, our site does not support Internet Explorer 6 or 7. Please view our site in a different, standards-adherent browser such as Firefox, Safari, or Chrome, or upgrade your Internet Explorer browser to Version 8 or Version 9. Recent Robert Half research found that 67% of UK hiring managers say the need to screen for application materials has increased the time it takes to hire.

How it works

• With AI now embedded in everyday working life, attempting to draw a simple line between an "AI CV" and an "authentic CV" risk focusing on the wrong problem.
• They should prompt a broader conversation about how we establish trust when creating convincing application materials has never been easier.
• What 2026 Means for Workforce Screening Recruitment risk has moved upstream: why pre-employment checks are now a governance issue In the Spotlight.
• Perhaps most significantly, employers report seeing high volumes of generic applications alongside fabricated or embellished work histories, making it increasingly difficult to establish whether the...
• Almost half (48%) say CVs and application materials are creating notable challenges for their organisation.

What to take from it

I don't believe the answer is to embark on a mission to identify every CV that has been written or improved using AI. The more important question for employers is much simpler: are the claims being made by this candidate true? From detecting AI to verifying people Recruitment has traditionally relied heavily on the CV as the starting point for establishing a candidate's suitability.

Example or evidence

• Rather than investing increasing amounts of time trying to determine whether particular sentences were, organisations should concentrate on the information that can be independently verified.
• Background screening has traditionally been viewed as one of the final stages of recruitment – something undertaken once an organisation has identified its preferred candidate.
• If employers respond to generative AI simply by introducing more technology designed to detect generative AI, recruitment could get caught in a cycle of increasingly sophisticated generation and detection...
• That could add another layer of complexity without addressing the underlying issue.

Details worth keeping

That doesn't mean employers should distrust candidates. It means recruitment processes need to evolve. Identity, employment history, professional qualifications, education and other relevant credentials can all provide employers with greater confidence that the individual progressing through the recruitment process genuinely has the background they claim.

Related coverage

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• Onrec: Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec 18 Sep 2026 | Skills & Learning New City & Guilds Employability Report reveals growing human skills shortage as employers turn to AI recruitment tools that prioritise...