Possibly screwed over by AI

[Zkr623]

In the interests of time and to avoid errors, I wanted to reply as quickly and smoothly to an interview request by email from a recruiter who wanted to move to the next step. So I let my AI app formulate a quick reply. Only after sending, I noticed AI had added a telltale 'signature' to the bottom.

" Thank you for reaching out. Thursday, November 20th at 1pm works perfectly—I’ll be available and looking forward to our conversation.

You can reach me at (XXX) XXX XXXX.

Best regards,

Would you like a slightly more casual or more formal version as well? You can reach me at 2XX XXX XXXX

"

Am I screwed? AI suggested a followup to tell her to disregard the last email BUT that would just draw more attention to it. I am so embarassed. Aren't recruiters trained to look for details? Is this over?

I think "reach out" is now so widely used its not an issue. I don't like it much but I wouldn't judge/dismiss someone for it - especially as applicants may not be British.

Would judge someone for not proofreading though.

Just a quick tip - a big give away you’ve used AI are m dashes (sp?), a longer than normal dash. So even if you use AI I would edit to replace those with normal dashes.

I'd have binned your application on reading 'reaching out'!

It doesn’t say that?

Nah, if someone was so lazy that they couldn’t write a two line email, I’d be very concerned about their ability to do the job. And I use chatGPT quite a lot.

Nethermind, I can see now OP had typed it but it didn’t show in the screenshot

I recruit and it wouldn't bother me. Where I work, using AI is heavily promoted. I would view favourably a (brief) follow-up email apologising for the error. It would show you cared and were owning the mistake.

Or the engineer my son was interviewing over Zoom who had long pauses before he answered questions.... It didn't take long for DS to twig that the guy was using AI to answer him and didn't actually understand his subject!

Well you said it yourself. - it comes across as lazy…. Why would they want a lazy person working for them?

Shallow and nitpicky! Yeah, that’s right, it’s so shallow not to employ someone who can’t send simple correspondence with any attention to detail.

Initially this was an immediate no from me (sorry OP). In that I think it looks lazy/like you don't know how to write a basic formal email which is key in a lot of jobs/you've got no attention to detail.

However, I can foresee it being argued in employment tribunals and the like in the future as an accessibility tool (and therefore potentially grounds for claims of discrimination, although that would be very hard to prove in this specific case) AND some employers are very pro-AI. So it's possible that some will be less bothered!

Also I don't think you can argue AI screwed you over. You screwed yourself over by not checking.

I think people are vastly overestimating how a lot of people respond in the recruitment process. It used to drive me insane because I'm a stickler for professionalism but I'm now well used to people responding with typos and as if they're writing a text. Actually it does still drive me insane but we generally err on the side of going with their application and the interview. We've never withdrawn an interview slot on the basis of it and never would. The actual panel would rarely be involved in the interview admin anyway.

Tbh there are two issues.

Using AI to write a single sentence. You really couldn’t do that yourself?

And the lack of care and proof-reading.

But it’s irrelevant anyway, a recruiter will not care.

I don't mind intelligent use of AI but brainless use without checking would really deter me

You screwed yourself over not AI. I work in a job where attention to detail is needed and so wouldn’t take your application forwards

Jumping on your post here, saw a few comments saying perfectly is spelt wrong. What’s the correct way to spell it? Genuinely confused.

If you'd sent it to me, yes, you'd have binned your chances. It suggests that you're lazy & slapdash, & those are rarely qualities sought in an employee.

Look at the screenshot in the OP.

Ahh thank you! Missed the image attached and thought I’ve been spelling it wrong my whole life!

Do you really have to ask? You seem to struggle to put yourself in the other person's shoes.

Sloppy sloppy sloppy, and aside from that YABVU to use the words ‘reaching out’ in any context ever. The whole email reflects badly on you.

2/10, must try harder.

If dashes were good enough for Emily Dickinson, they're good enough for any human. 😆You've reminded me of this by Wendy Cope though;

Higgledy-piggledy
Emily Dickinson
Liked to use dashes
Instead of full stops.

Nowadays, faced with such
Idiosyncrasy,
Critics and editors
Send for the cops.

Civil surface?

Not screwed over by AI. Screwed over by yourself. If the recruiter misses this lack of attention to detail and recruits you, they only have themselves to blame!