Generative tools can turn a job advert into a tailored CV and cover letter in seconds, mirroring the advert's wording closely. The result is often fluent and keyword-rich but generic, with similar phrasing across many applicants. Signs include polished summaries that echo the job description, claims without specifics and near-identical answers to open questions. Using AI to write is not dishonest in itself; the issue is that the document says less about the person.
When most applications look strong on paper, screening on wording alone stops separating candidates. Teams get more value from evidence that is harder to generate: specific experience checked against requirements, short structured questions answered in the candidate's own voice, and work samples. Penalising AI use outright is hard to do fairly and may disadvantage people who rely on it for accessibility or language support.