You might be wondering why, as a resume writer, I'm talking about using AI (such as ChatGPT) to help write your resume.
Am I crazy?! Am I trying to do myself out of a job?
The answer, maybe a little. But ChatGPT can be such a helpful tool.
I'm guessing that you may already be using it for other aspects of your life. (Recipes? Writing blogs? Drafting emails?)
So I think it's okay to also consider using AI in the job application process - as long as you do it with care and some thought.
Here are some things to consider when using AI or ChatGPT to write your resume. Please note the BUT with each dot point!
Efficiency: ChatGPT can help you save time. It quickly generates content and puts your resume into the right format, including a personalised professional profile, job descriptions, and skills sections, streamlining the often time-consuming resume creation process.
BUT you need to make sure you put in detailed information (prompts) explaining what is special about you. Otherwise you'll end up with a generic sounding resume.
Reduced Writer's Block: If you're struggling to find the right words to describe your experience and selling points, ChatGPT can provide a creative spark and suggest relevant phrases to make your resume stand out.
BUT, as above, you need to tell it (with prompts) detailed information regarding your background and unique skills. Otherwise, your profile will sound completely generic and it will sound like it's written by a robot, which it is!
Consistency: AI tools provide a consistent tone and formatting throughout your resume, which can be challenging to achieve manually. This consistency can make your document appear more professional.
BUT sometimes a bit of personality or quirkiness can be a good thing in a resume.
Language Improvement: ChatGPT can improve the overall readability and language quality of your resume, making it sound more 'resume-like'. It will also avoid common grammar and spelling mistakes.
BUT be careful, as the language may be north American focused. And as above, some quirkiness or more natural sounding language can be a positive thing.
Tailoring and Keyword Optimisation: You can tailor your resume using ChatGPT to match specific job descriptions or industries, optimising keywords to help you pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
BUT ChatGPT may over-do the keyword placement and your resume will sound like it's writtern by a computer.
The moral of the story?
Although ChatGPT has its advantages, particularly in terms of efficiency and language improvement, relying solely on AI-generated content is risky: it can lead to potential errors and your resume may end up sounding robotic.
So I recommend using AI as an initial drafting tool - particularly with your professional profile which can be notoriously hard to write. But make sure you put in detailed prompts regarding your job titles, experience, and unique selling points.
Then you can review and edit the content to ensure it accurately represents your unique experience and personality.
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