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Writing your CV with AI: good or bad idea?

Published on October 11, 2026 · 7 min read

ChatGPT and other AI tools can write a CV in seconds, but a fast CV is not always an effective one.
Discover the benefits and limits of AI, as well as the method to build a CV that truly matches recruiters' job offers.

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This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change: always check the version in force on the official websites listed at the bottom of the page.

Writing your CV with AI: is it a good idea?

Sara is looking for a job as a sales assistant and asks an AI tool to write her CV.
Two minutes later, the document is ready: it is clean and well written.
She sends it to fifteen companies, but receives no reply.
When she reads the job offers again, she finally realises that her CV does not speak to any of them.

AI is neither forbidden nor bad in itself: it all depends on how you use it.
Used as an assistant, it saves you time, but if it writes in your place, it can make you miss opportunities.

The benefits of AI for your CV

Used well, AI can help you:

• correct spelling and grammar mistakes;
• rephrase a sentence that is too long;
• find a more precise action verb;
• shorten a crowded text;
• check that your dates are consistent.

You will not be the only one using it: according to Apec, the French employment association for executives, managers already use AI to improve their CV and cover letter, and to get through applicant tracking systems (ATS), the software used to sort applications.

The downside: a standardised CV that lowers your chances

The main weakness of AI is that it produces texts that look alike, always with the same phrases, such as "dynamic, rigorous, with excellent people skills".
Recruiters read these phrases all day long, and they prove nothing.
The real problem comes from how AI is used: many candidates generate a single CV, then send it everywhere.
Yet every job offer has its own vocabulary, tools and priorities, and a standardised CV answers no offer in particular.
It therefore loses points at two levels:

• With sorting software: the keywords of the job offer are missing, so your CV ranks lower.
• With a recruiter: they do not see the link between your background and the job, and move on to the next CV.

Remember that your CV will very often be read by a human.
According to an Apec study, only 8% of companies say they use AI tools to recruit executives, and selecting applications remains mostly in the hands of recruiters.
Your CV must therefore convince a person, not just a machine.

Mistakes to avoid with AI

• Copying and pasting without rereading: AI makes mistakes and does not know your real background.
• Letting AI make things up: a skill, a figure or a degree added "to look good" is still a lie. In France, Article L1221-6 of the French Labour Code states that candidates must answer the recruiter's job-related questions in good faith. A decisive lie discovered after hiring can have serious consequences, up to dismissal depending on the circumstances.
• Sending the same CV to every offer: it is the leading cause of applications that get no reply.
• Keeping empty phrases: replace them with facts.
• Sharing your data without thinking: before pasting your full CV into a tool, check what it does with your personal information.

How do you tailor your CV to a job offer?

Read the job offer like a recruiter

A good CV starts with a careful reading of the offer.
The recruiter wrote the ad with precise words, and those are the words they will look for in your CV.
Your job is therefore to show them, line after line, that you match what they are asking for.

Write a CV that answers the job offer

Here is a simple method to apply for each application:

1. Read the job offer twice, highlighting the tasks, skills, tools and qualities required.
2. Spot the exact keywords: if the ad mentions "customer relationship management" and you have this skill, use that exact expression.
3. Link each requirement to proof, such as a job, a training course or a project.
4. Use the job title from the offer as the title of your CV.
5. Put what matches the job best at the top.
6. Add concrete results, with figures whenever possible and always accurate.
7. Remove anything that adds nothing for this specific job.

The job offer asks for "a good command of Excel and order tracking".
Sara no longer writes "good computer skills", but "Tracked 40 orders a week in Excel".
The recruiter immediately makes the connection with their offer.

Why build your CV yourself with cv-lettre.com

Building your CV yourself does not mean starting from a blank page.
With cv-lettre.com, you stay in control of the content, while the tool takes care of the layout:

• A CV that reflects who you are: you write every line, so you can defend every word in an interview.
• Free: you create your CV online at no cost.
• Several templates: Éclat, Horizon and Aurore, in the colour of your choice.
• Movable sections: with drag and drop, you highlight what matters for each offer.
• A live preview: you see the result as you type.
• A PDF that sorting software can read: the file contains real text, which recruiters and their software can read and search for keywords.
• Your data stays in your browser.

How do you use AI wisely for your CV?

Write first, then ask

The right method is to reverse the roles: you write, and the AI proofreads.
First write your CV based on the job offer, with your own experience and your own results.
Then ask the AI to correct your text, making it clear that it must not add anything.

Sara writes her CV herself, then asks the AI: "Correct the spelling and punctuation of this text, and suggest shorter wording, without adding any information."
This way, she keeps a CV that is true to her background, with more polished writing.

Check every line before sending

Before each application, reread your CV with this checklist:

• every piece of information is true and you can prove it;
• the main keywords of the job offer appear in your CV;
• no empty phrase replaces a concrete fact;
• your dates are consistent from one section to another;
• the title of your CV matches the job you are applying for.

Keep one version per application

Since your CV changes depending on the offer, keep a version for each application.
Give each file a clear name, with the job and the company, for example "CV-Sara-sales-assistant-CompanyX.pdf".
When a recruiter calls you, you will know exactly which CV they have in front of them.

Be ready to defend every line

In an interview, the recruiter may ask you about any item on your CV.
For two or three key points, prepare a short explanation: the situation, what you did and the result you achieved.
If a line on your CV seems hard to explain, it is often a sign that it does not really come from you.

Conclusion

Writing your CV with AI is not a bad idea, as long as you stay in control.
Use it to correct and rephrase, but make sure the content comes from you and from the job offer.
A CV you build yourself, tailored to each offer and checked before each application, remains the best way to stand out from standardised applications.
To get started, create your free CV on cv-lettre.com and read our tips for a successful CV.

Sources

• Executives use AI to improve their CV and cover letter and get through ATS filters (Apec)
• Recruiters: how is AI transforming practices? (Apec)
• Can I dismiss an employee who lied on their CV? (Éditions Tissot)
• Create a free CV online (cv-lettre)