
Should You Use ChatGPT to Write Your Resume?
Will you get what you need with a ChatGPT-generated resume?
Now that ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, you might be wondering about its application in your job search – namely, to write your resume or other materials.
But what are the implications, advantages, or pitfalls you might experience when using ChatGPT for resume writing?
ChatGPT can produce a seemingly robust resume in seconds, potentially eliminating the dreaded task of resume writing from your job search tasks.
A truly compelling resume, however, must use unique content that sets you APART from the competition… ensuring others can’t claim your achievements or own your professional perspective.
The bottom line: No matter if you turn the job of resume writing over to ChatGPT (or its competitors Google Bard and Baidu Ernie), both you and the bot will need to dig deeper to discover your competitive edge.
Consider these scenarios where it can make sense to use ChatGPT to build your resume:
1 – You’re targeting a lower-end role with a ChatGPT resume.
With 10 or less years of experience under your belt, most of your accomplishments and career path should echo that of similar professionals.
For example, most IT security analysts will be able to point out how they’ve engineered or embedded threat detection solutions or worked on intensive monitoring systems. A registered nurse should have a background in hands-on patient care, with a good understanding of safety initiatives.
However, when you’ve amassed a significant amount of experience, your resume (and LinkedIn) should also capture your leadership style, pattern of success, career trajectory, and personal brand reputation.
You’ll find that chatbots can prompt you for individual achievements, but function best as a foundational tool for a resume (as described by Eryn Marshall of Oyster in “ChatGPT writing résumés and cover letters needn’t be feared, HR pros say“), who points out that the “human element” will still be a factor in your job search.
2 – You already know someone at the company, so your ChatGPT-generated resume is a mere formality.
Unlike the hiring process at graphics solutions company Canva, your resume might not need to undergo intensive scrutiny, especially if you were referred for a great opportunity or otherwise leveraged your network and reputation.
But if you’re planning on targeting a role where you’ll face stiff competition and a grueling interview process, think again before cranking out a ChatGPT-generated resume and calling it done.
The text will look professionally done, but will it convey the heart and effort behind YOUR career success?
Recruiters and employers have been unimpressed by bland resumes for years. Most often, these resumes fail to provide the context crucial to describe each candidate’s contributions. Therefore, when you use ChatGPT to write your resume, be ready to supply your own career data – leveraging the app as a resume-writing framework.
As noted by Cliff Jurkiewicz in “Should you use ChatGPT to apply for Jobs?” on FastCompany, “ChatGPT is just another tool that requires input to create something.”
3 – You have a straight-line career path that needs minimal explanation.
If your career aligns with the typical trajectory in your field, using ChatGPT to write your resume can make sense. Each job description and bullet will emphasize your successive wins and roles.
If your career has taken a few left turns, however, it’s important to build a writing strategy that describes your penchant for your field, echoes your leadership philosophy, and helps employers realize why you’re a good fit despite some bumps in the road.
These steps are crucial when presenting a work history with gaps, career detours, or other setbacks, where you might need:
- Your last several jobs to appear on the first page (where they can take center stage). If this is the case, each entry must be short and crisp. ChatGPT does NOT produce tight content (see point #5).
- A strategy for explaining how your career path adds up to a new, high-level role that could be a slight detour from your previous experience.
- Formatting that helps feature some experience over others, especially if you’re aiming for a position reflecting only a segment of your skills.
- Brief explanations of new industry keywords or trends.
If you’ve encountered these issues, you already know you need a plan to address them.
So keep in mind you may need a compelling way to craft your STORY, not just assemble the components piece by piece.
4 – You’re pursuing a role commonly found in job descriptions (familiar to ChatGPT).
Targeting an operations manager, chef, or medical technician position? Chat apps can dig up and leverage MILLIONS of related job descriptions before you can even blink.
However, there’s only one Chief Executive Officer in many healthcare systems, manufacturing corporations, yacht design companies, or wholesale golf distributors.
The more esoteric your career pursuits, the more difficult it will be for ChatGPT to train itself to provide the distinguishing content needed for your resume.
In Should You Write Your Own Executive Resume?, you’ll see that the task of setting yourself apart requires some introspective thought about your personal brand and career contributions.
You must answer the tough questions likely to be posed in an interview – and get that compelling story on paper! This is true whether you rely on a professional writer, chatbot, or resume template, and even MORE important when you’re approaching or targeting the C-suite.
5 – You don’t mind taking the time to edit ChatGPT-generated text.
Prompting ChatGPT for resume content will produce lengthy, often generic sentences. The problem? Most recruiters and employers aren’t interested in navigating a dense thicket of words to see your ROI.
In 2023, your resume must hit the mark quickly – while DIFFERENTIATING you. If you’re unsure how to make each sentence your own, or how to roll up each bullet without losing its meaning, you may need more help than a bot can supply.
The verdict?
Use chatbots like ChatGPT to write your resume if you’re comfortable gathering the detailed and salient information that really answers the tool’s prompts – and if you’re focused on cohesion in your career story.
Then, you’ll need to spend more time fine-tuning the results to fit your target pursuits – ensuring your final resume is powerful enough to support your ascent to the top.