Should You Use AI To Write Your Resume In 2024

Do you want to see how different a resume made by a professional career advisor is compared to one made by me, ChatGPT? Watch this video! I’ll make two resumes using the same information and job details. One will be made by a human career advisor, and the other by me, ChatGPT. We will share the newest trends in careers and hiring, useful insights, strategies for finding jobs, and the best practices to help you either find a new job, move up in your career, or excel in your current job.

Writing a CV or cover letter with the help of AI tools is a popular topic in career management news. Using AI technology can be advantageous for streamlining the writing process, but there are also reasons to be cautious.

You might have heard about OpenAI, a research and development company that created a language model called ChatGPT-3.5. It’s a modern AI tool, but it only has data up to September 2021. The ChatGPT Plus premium subscription is the only way to access ChatGPT-4. The current free version of ChatGPT is still based on GPT-3.5, which is not as accurate and capable in comparison.

According to OpenAI, GPT-4 is much safer to use than the previous generation. In their internal testing, it can reportedly provide 40% more factual responses and includes mechanisms to reduce undesirable results, thus enhancing reliability and ethical responsibility.

Today, we’re sharing our list of “Do’s and Don’ts” up to date, along with video demonstrations. These videos show real-life examples of how we apply these lessons with our clients, giving you practical insights into best practices and what to avoid.

Considerations When Using ChatGPT for Resume Writing

While ChatGPT can indeed be a helpful tool for generating text, it’s essential to understand its limitations. ChatGPT is a language model trained on extensive data, but it may not always generate perfect or contextually accurate content. Therefore, it’s crucial to review and refine the output created by ChatGPT to guarantee that the final resume is professional and free of errors.

1. Provide clear instructions

When you’re interacting with ChatGPT, it’s important to give clear instructions about the content you need it to generate. Specify the sections you want in your resume, like summary, experience, skills, and education. Make sure you describe your preferred format, style, and tone clearly. By providing detailed instructions, you can help guide ChatGPT to produce more relevant and personalized content for your needs.

2. Edit and customize the output

ChatGPT can create a draft of your resume, but it’s crucial to review and customize the content to match your specific skills, experiences, and career objectives. Personalize the generated text to highlight your accomplishments, qualifications, and any industry-specific terms pertinent to your field. This customization ensures that your resume accurately represents you and effectively communicates your value to potential employers.

3. Focus on readability and coherence

It’s crucial to make sure that the content generated is easy to read and flows logically. Use headings, bullet points, and succinct sentences to arrange your resume in a clear, structured manner. Edit the output produced by ChatGPT to enhance clarity and improve the overall readability of your resume. This editing process helps ensure that your resume is engaging and effectively communicates your qualifications and experiences to potential employers.

4. Proofread and fact-check

ChatGPT may not always offer accurate information, so it’s vital to fact-check the content it generates. To ensure accuracy, double-check the dates, employment titles, educational backgrounds, and any other pertinent information. Furthermore, proofread the entire resume carefully, making sure that all spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Human review and input are essential to ensure that your resume is reliable, error-free, and effectively communicates your qualifications and experiences to potential employers.

It’s important to remember that while ChatGPT can help generate content, you should actively participate in the resume writing process. Use ChatGPT as a tool to assist you, but don’t rely solely on its output. Your active involvement ensures that your resume accurately reflects your skills, experiences, and career goals, resulting in a more personalized and effective document.

Dos When Considering Using AI to Assist with Resume or Cover Letter Writing

1. Creating a template to get started with resume and cover letter writing can be a helpful strategy, especially when facing writer’s block. However, it’s important to note that anything ChatGPT generates should be customized for your specific experience and accomplishments. Additionally, it needs to reinforce your value proposition and personal brand. While the template can provide structure and ideas, it’s crucial to personalize the content to accurately reflect your qualifications and suitability for the job.
2. Condense the job description to grasp the role’s skills, responsibilities, and requirements. Use the prompt: “Craft resume bullet points for (insert job title) with metric-based achievement examples.”
3. Request the primary keywords associated with a job description or a specific role. Utilize the prompt: “What are the crucial keywords for this job?” (Paste the job posting before proceeding.)
4. Share a draft of your resume along with a job description to tailor your resume to a position of interest. Employ the prompt: “Can you optimize the resume for this job?” Before continuing, paste the job description and your résumé.

Dont’s When Considering Using AI to Assist with Resume or Cover Letter Writing

1. Avoid using AI tools to write your resume or cover letter. Your CV and cover letter won’t have the personal career details that emphasize your accomplishments and distinctive experiences if you copy and paste documents created by AI tools. AI makes generic documents, and you need to customize them to create your personal brand.
2. Avoid using an objective statement. ChatGPT often includes an “Objective” statement in the resumes it creates. According to the Muse, an objective statement is redundant because you’re applying for a job, and your objective is already clear. Objectives don’t provide new or useful information to the reader.
3. Avoid relying on AI tools to format your resume. The layout format they provide is often outdated and doesn’t follow industry best practices.
4. Avoid using AI tools for final editing. Many grammar and writing rules specific to resumes and cover letters may not be recognized by AI tools yet.

Final Word

AI tools can offer useful suggestions for writing a resume or cover letter, but we advise against relying solely on them to create your documents. Crafting a high-quality resume that attracts more interviews demands personalized information and tailored language that reflects your unique experience and skills.