Candidates can now produce polished cover letters, restructure CVs and generate convincing answers to application questions within seconds. The Institute of Student Employers’ 2026 Student Development Survey found that 67% of employers were concerned that graduates might misrepresent their abilities using AI during selection. The signal in written applications is weakeningWritten applications have traditionally helped employers judge communication, motivation and experience. They can still provide useful context, but employers should be cautious about treating polished writing as evidence of job performance. As AI makes professional-looking applications easier to produce, employers will need to rebalance their selection processes.