Job applicants are hiding secret AI messages in their résumés

Job applicants are increasingly hiding AI instructions inside résumés using “white text on a white background” tactics to influence automated screening, according to reporting and examples from employers. Paul Lee, CEO of InnoCaption in Irvine, California, said screening software flagged a résumé containing roughly 1,500 characters of hidden prompt text telling the system to ignore prior instructions and rate the applicant as a top-tier fit. Employers and HR leaders say this “résumé hacking” raises ethical concerns and can undermine trust in hiring. A May 2026 Duke University study with collaborators found hidden prompt injections in about 1% of nearly 200,000 résumés analyzed.