Can recruiters tell if AI wrote a resume?

Yes, and the numbers back it up more than you'd think.

According to Greenhouse's 2026 AI in Hiring Report (surveying 4,100+ recruiters and hiring managers), 91% have caught or suspected AI-driven deception from candidates at some point, with 63% specifically catching AI-exaggerated resume content. Separately, 62% of employers reject AI-generated resumes and cover letters that lack personalization.

The tell isn't usually perfect grammar — it's the opposite problem: genericness. AI tends to produce resumes full of interchangeable phrases ("proven track record," "results-driven professional") with vague achievements instead of specific numbers. The most reliable detection method, though, isn't the resume itself — it's the interview. When a candidate can't elaborate on a specific claim they made in writing, that mismatch gives it away regardless of who wrote the original text.

I wrote a longer breakdown of the specific patterns recruiters look for: [AI Resume]