<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians who use </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/artificial-intelligence" rel="" target="_blank" title="AI"><span>AI</span></a><span> to generate more professional headshots, cover letters or resumes when </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jobs" rel="" target="_blank" title="applying for a new job"><span>applying for a new job</span></a><span> may be shooting themselves in the foot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They're all over LinkedIn but the slick-looking AI-generated photos can raise red flags for hiring managers and recruiters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Robert Walters Sydney senior director Kris Viner discourages Aussies from using them, especially when applying for new </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/work" rel="" target="_blank" title="jobs"><span>jobs</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LATEST:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-baghsarian-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-grandfather-sydney/66bdff80-d78a-4f28-974f-a9b31bf840be" target="_blank"><strong><span>Human remains found in search for kidnapped Sydney grandfather</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI headshots are starting to appear more frequently on LinkedIn, but they can actually hinder more than help," she told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hiring managers value authenticity, and using a generated image risks being seen as misleading."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ai-for-job-applications-rules-resumes-cover-letters-headshots-explained/088c8b1f-b870-4483-adbd-67e2964a423c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shane Little, managing director of enterprise solutions APAC at Hays, agreed that AI headshots can raise concerns if they don't reflect how a candidate presents in real life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While they may look polished and professional at first glance, recruiters are increasingly cautious about images that feel overly stylised," he told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If an AI headshot creates a mismatch between expectations and reality, particularly in video interviews or in‑person meetings as it can undermine trust."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AI headshots are unlikely to significantly boost a candidate's prospects and can actually work against them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The same can be said for AI generated cover letters or resumes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trump-tower-on-gold-coast-australia-petitions-launched-in-response/83f92312-b767-4d78-8530-7c6e87046dc0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Design for Trump's first tower resort in Australia revealed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Using AI to generate a cover letter or resume can hurt your chances if it's used poorly or without personalisation," Little explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Recruiters are increasingly spotting applications that sound generic, overly polished or disconnected from a candidate's real experience, which can raise concerns about authenticity and effort."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While there's no harm in using AI tools to draft your resume or cover letter, that's as far as it should go.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Generic AI-generated cover letters or resumes can feel impersonal or misaligned with the role, which can hurt a candidate's chances at landing the job.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They may also be flagged by AI-based screening tools, which are becoming more common in recruitment, especially for high-volume roles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI screeners may look for and penalise things like unusual formatting, excessive jargon and AI‑style phrasing," Giuseppe Carabetta, associate professor of workplace and business law at the University of Technology Sydney, told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some systems try and flag applications that appear templated or mass‑generated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And there's no direct law requiring employers to disclose their use of resume‑screening AI tools.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dr-simon-gordon-the-epworth-surgeon-accused-of-unnecessary-surgery/78c039bf-57ae-43d6-aa43-371ba09d404d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Prominent surgeon accused of performing unnecessary endometriosis surgeries</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/vN4pGtGsbkYbJYJ1Zd6CUyV7ulo=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F01%2F744665%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So if you do get AI to help write your resume, make sure you give it a thorough clean up before submitting it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Candidates must personalise them, review them carefully, and ensure the content reflects their real experience and achievements," Viner said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Little encouraged Aussies who plan to use AI in their job search to remember a job application should be personal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Don't expect AI to get it right all the time," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's not all bad news for Aussies hoping to use AI to help them land a new job in 2026.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI can be a very useful tool when preparing for interviews," Viner revealed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI can also help you think through how to present your experience, role-play answers to potential questions, and suggest insightful questions to ask at an interview."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google 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