75% of UK recruiters say most CVs are AI-generated, report finds
A new report by TestGorilla, a skills-based hiring platform, reveals that 75% of UK recruiters believe the majority of CVs and profiles they receive are written by AI. The findings underscore growing challenges in verifying candidate skills and raise questions about the authenticity of applications in an increasingly AI-driven recruitment landscape.
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AI-generated CVs dominate recruiter inboxes
TestGorilla’s latest report highlights a stark shift in recruitment practices, with 75% of UK recruiters reporting that most CVs they receive appear to be AI-generated. According to TechRadar, this trend is reshaping how recruiters evaluate candidates, particularly in verifying the skills and experiences listed on applications.
Wouter Durville, CEO of TestGorilla, said that a CV, which once represented a candidate’s personal account, is increasingly becoming "an AI’s account of what a recruiter wants to read."
Skill verification takes time but reveals gaps
The report reveals that 73% of recruiters verify a candidate’s skills, a process that can take up to 60 minutes per applicant. Despite this effort, 87% of recruiters find that applicants’ AI skills are weaker than claimed on their CVs. Nearly half (49%) of UK recruiters cite skill verification as their biggest hiring challenge, while 43% point to a shortage of skilled candidates.
The study also found that 33% of recruiters see little difference between applications in AI-related fields, further complicating the hiring process.
UK and US recruiters diverge on hiring attitudes
UK recruiters are less likely to hire based on a candidate’s potential compared to their US counterparts. Only 15% of UK recruiters would hire someone based on their promise, while 23% of US recruiters adopt this approach. This difference suggests a more cautious and skills-focused hiring culture in the UK.
AI adoption in the UK workforce
This report follows earlier Lazyfounder coverage on gaps in AI knowledge among UK leaders. A study by Emergn found that 23% of senior leaders may be overstating their AI expertise due to career pressures and rapid industry shifts. The findings align with TestGorilla’s report, which suggests that while AI tools are widely used, actual proficiency often falls short of claims.
What this means
Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.
For founders and operators, TestGorilla’s report signals a critical shift in recruitment dynamics. The prevalence of AI-generated CVs means hiring teams must invest more time and resources into skill verification, potentially delaying hiring timelines. Startups in the UK, particularly those in tech and AI-driven fields, may need to revisit their hiring criteria or adopt alternative evaluation methods—such as structured skill assessments or real-world task-based interviews—to separate genuine expertise from exaggerated claims.
The disparity between UK and US hiring attitudes also highlights the importance of tailoring recruitment strategies to local expectations. UK recruiters’ skepticism toward candidate potential could create challenges for early-career professionals or those transitioning into AI-related roles, while US-based teams might prioritize adaptability and growth potential. For companies operating in both markets, this divergence may require distinct hiring playbooks.
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This story is an original summary drafted with AI by Lazyfounder from the reporting listed above and checked by automated validation. Facts are attributed to their original publishers; sections marked as analysis are Lazyfounder's. Where a source is in another language, facts were machine-translated and quotations are reported, not reproduced. Read the original coverage via the links, and see our AI policy and corrections policy.
About the author
Editor, Lazyfounder
Tarun Mottlia edits LazyFounders, covering Indian startups, funding rounds, AI and product launches. Every story on the site is AI-assisted and checked against its cited sources before publication.
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