Should You Use A ChatGPT Resume?

ChatGPT and other similar AI programs that generate text are being used for everything from writing emails to crafting online dating profiles. But should you use AI to help you land your next job? While no one wants a resume that looks like a ChatGPT resume, experts say if you don’t use AI to give you a leg up on the competition,  you could be putting yourself at a disadvantage. 

According to a recent survey from ResumeBuilder.com, out of more than 1,000 current and recent jobseekers, nearly half used ChatGPT to write their cover letter or resume. Of those jobseekers, 70% said they got a better response when they applied for a job using an AI-generated resume. Surprised? We were, too, which is why we decided to break it all down for you.  

Why You Should Use AI

For years now, companies have been using applicant tracking software, commonly referred to as “ATS.” ATS programs help human resources employees identify the best candidates for positions. If your resume isn’t ATS optimized, it’s easy to fall through the cracks, even if you have great experience. “It was kind of this black hole of despair…a lot of people thought, “wow you know, I thought I had good experience but I’ve applied to 50 jobs and I’m hearing nothing,” says career coach Elizabeth Pearson. “It really rocked a lot of peoples’ confidence.” (Check out more great insight from Elizabeth Pearson here!) 

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Enter artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as “AI,” which in many cases is leveling the technological playing field for job seekers. Using AI for resumes, cover letters or other components of the hiring process is helping people with good experience finally be seen. “You’re going to really increase the odds that you’re actually going to connect and get your profile or your resume seen by somebody who actually has some idea what the role is and if you’d be a fit,” says Pearson. “I think anybody who’s not using AI is just going to be a needle in a haystack.”

Ways To Use AI In Your Job Search

From crafting amazing resumes to applying for positions (and actually getting a response), there are a number of ways people are tapping into AI to better their chances of getting hired. “AI can really help spark ideas and is a welcome prompt when you’re struggling with complex, difficult to get started on job search templates like resumes and cover letters,” says career advisor Alison Cheston.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular ways job seekers are using AI, and how you can use it, too: 

Resumes: Is there anything more tedious than writing a resume? AI can help make the process easier. Building a ChatGPT resume is pretty simple–provide details about your experience, the job you’re applying for, projects you’ve led and other relevant facts. (If you want to get really granular, ask ChatGPT what details it needs to write the best resume for the job you’re looking for.) Essentially, ChatGPT will  provide you with the basics, and then you’ll build upon what it offers and customize your resume until you get a final product you’re satisfied with. (In other words, you’ll add your brilliant creative spark.) Also, keep in mind there are also AI platforms that are specific to resume writing, like Rezi, Kickresume and Skillroads. Check them out and let us know what you think. 

Cover letters: The jury is still out on whether cover letters are necessary, but if you’ve applied for a job recently, you will have noticed that most employers are still asking for them. According to Pearson, having one canned cover letter and swapping out the name of the company just isn’t good enough–it needs to be tailored to the job you’re trying to get. She says a good cover letter has the following format: a couple opening sentences, three “power bullets” in the middle that call out specific keywords from the job description and a line that thanks the reader for his or her time. To optimize your cover letter, Pearson recommends Coverdoc.ai. 

Leverage AI on LinkedIn: One of the most important things job searchers can do to improve their odds of getting hired is cleaning up their LinkedIn profile. AI can help with that too, as many jobseekers use ChatGPT for help with drafting their “about” section. AI can also be used to craft LinkedIn request messages. “Every time you want to connect with somebody on LinkedIn, you have an option of adding a note and you should 100% always add a note,” says Pearson. If you’ve used AI to help compose your message, make sure you’ve edited to include a personal point of connection. Did the person attend the same college as you? Do you have a friend in common? Be sure to make it personal, in some way, if possible. 

Job applications: If you’ve searched for a job recently, you know it can be incredibly time consuming to sift through positions and then fill in your information over and over again. With platforms like Simplify, you enter your information once and then it autofills applications via some of the most popular career websites. It also can help you track and manage your job applications. 

But Wait…Do Employers Care?

Using ChatGPT to write your resume, or Coverdoc.ai to draft a cover letter might feel a little bit like cheating on your homework. But do employers care? According to Pearson, for the most part, no. “Employers are just wanting to find the best pool of candidates quickly,” she says. 

However, employers might care if your resume reads like a job description and doesn’t include any real details about who you are as a person, and what you’ve accomplished during your work history. But that’s what you’ll get  if you’re vague with the information you provide to the AI platform crafting your resume. To avoid this, make sure you’re sharing as many specifics as possible. “Let AI wordsmith it for you,” says Pearson. “But you have to come with the meat, the concrete details, and the specifics of what you accomplished.”

It’s also critical to remember that like any technology, AI has limitations. For example, you might plug your details into ChatGPT, ask it to draft a cover letter and it generates something that looks good at first glance. When you examine it a little closer though, you could find it’s not up to snuff. “Buyers should beware of generic language, boring tone, and outright fabrications that can come from the tool,” says Cheston. “You are the only person who can defend your record, and if there are lies in your documents you will not be able to successfully substantiate how you leveraged your strengths for success in your previous roles.”

The Bottom Line

As AI technology advances, one concern continues to permeate the discussion and that’s the potential loss of creativity. Should that hold us back from using AI? Pearson says no and that we can find other ways to infuse creativity into our job search, namely, on LinkedIn. “LinkedIn is a great place where you’re not constrained by the two page resume,” she says. Use it as a place where you not only highlight your resume, but also where you show who you are as a person–for example, where you volunteer, your other interests and recommendations others have written for you. “That’s where you show your creativity,” she adds. “Let AI help you with a lot of other stuff.”

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