If you’re a job seeker, you’ve probably at least considered—if not used—generative AI to help in writing your resume. Heck, many resume writers even use AI to write resumes for their clients. But here’s the thing: If you want to write your resume with AI, you need to be smart about it.
Full disclosure: I make my living by writing resumes and supporting job seekers. I would much rather you worked with me (and I don’t use AI when writing resumes, by the way), but if you don’t have the budget or need a quick fix, I’d like to provide you with a strategic approach so that you’re not creating something that barely passes muster. With these seven tips, you’ll have something that’s at least close to the target, if not outright awesome (if you want awesome, let’s talk!).
How to Think of Generative AI
This is how I explain AI to my clients: Think of it as a four-year-old. They’re cute, they want to please, and they try hard. But while little kids are awesome at completing simple tasks, they get easily overwhelmed when you give them too much to do. AI is the same.
The trick to be effective when you write your resume with AI is to chunk it down.
That means if you give AI tasks that are small, contained, and clearly defined, you can get somewhere. However, AI is not great at nuance, which is a key component for a cohesive and targeted resume. With some strategy, AI can help to:
- Rewrite or finesse your resume summary.
- Condense and refocus job scopes.
- Draft and refine accomplishments.
- Write targeted cover letters (when requested).
On the flip side, without focus, AI is prone to:
- Either overgeneralize your experience or make up experience you don’t have to match a job description.
- Add metrics that aren’t real and don’t make sense, such as measurements of intangibles.
- Bury your key results and value.
- Make your experience sound generic and like everyone else’s.
Strategy and collaboration are key.
Tip #1: Chunk Your Writing into Sections
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is copying their entire resume into AI and asking it to “make this better.” Remember, it’s like a four-year-old. Unclear directions turn into a nothing sandwich. Instead of plopping everything into your AI of choice, work on one section at a time. Give it one or two things to do when asking about individual sections.
Smaller questions result in better outcomes. Plus, when you ask about something specific, you have more control, making the document sound more like you, not like everyone else who’s using AI ineffectively.
Tip #2: Be Laser Focused with Your Instructions
If you’ve used AI, you know that the output is only as good as the input. My husband asked for ideas for dinner one night, and he got them—without ingredients, measurements, or cooking instructions. I tell AI what I have in the kitchen, what I’d like to eat, and ask for a recipe using those ingredients. Shortly thereafter, dinner is served.
When you write your resume with AI, don’t say just “write (or edit) my resume summary.” Instead, say:
“Write a resume summary paragraph of no more than 80 words that aligns with this JD. Be sure to pull out the keywords that will help the resume be found by ATS. Write this in first person understood (no pronouns) and avoid filler words when not needed.”
Include the full job description and even some of your top talents or skills and watch the magic happen.
Tip #3: Ask AI If It Has Any Questions
You might not think of leveraging active-listening skills when working with AI, but it makes all the difference in your outcomes! Active listening is when you reflect back what you heard someone say to ensure you understood correctly. AI often does this, but it only does it effectively when you ask it to. At the end of any prompt—to write your resume with AI or figure out dinner for tonight—ask a simple question: “Do you have any questions for me?”
When you do this, your one-way command turns into a two-way conversation. Remember: You’re talking to a four-year-old, so make it easy for AI to understand.
You may not get any questions at all, but you may get some that clarify what you need and lead to exceptional outcomes. Bye-bye, generic drivel; hello, content in your voice!
Tip #4: Use AI Carefully for Accomplishments
When you write your resume with AI—or without, for that matter—accomplishments tend to be the hardest part to craft. I’ve shared a formula with you before, so you have a framework, and many job seekers will share with AI the CAR formula and a brief story of what they did with the hope of getting out some excellent accomplishments.
Unfortunately, AI doesn’t always do great with translating your information into winning accomplishments.
The biggest issues I see in this category include:
- Burying the lede (aka, result) at the end of the accomplishment statement.
- Inventing metrics when none are provided, and they don’t even make sense.
A good prompt to use is:
“Rewrite this accomplishment to start with the result. Do not invent metrics. If results are qualitative, reflect that appropriately.”
If you choose to leverage AI for accomplishments, be sure to carefully review them before incorporating them into your resume. You don’t want to get caught in an interview having to defend accomplishments with made-up information.
Tip #5: AI Is Great for Targeting Job Scopes
Job scope descriptions often become bloated, repetitive, or overly tactical. AI can help you condense and clarify—especially if you’re moving up in your career and need to show scope rather than tasks. It can be used to refine your overview to:
- Eliminate redundancy.
- Elevate language from tactical to strategic.
- Focus on leadership, scale, and complexity.
Naturally, continue to review for accuracy, alignment with the job scope, and relevance to your industry.
Tip #6: Use AI for Cover Letters (When They’re Required)
Cover letters aren’t dead, but they are situational. Many HR professionals and recruiters don’t bother to look at them, but some companies do still request them. If that’s the case, you can use AI to:
- Get you started with a solid first draft.
- Align your experience to the role.
Here’s a good prompt to use:
“Write a cover letter for this JD for [position] at [company]. Call out 3 key skills that the position is looking for and highlight how I can fulfill them; bullet these. Also include something about the mission, vision, and/or values of the organization and how they align with my goals.”
Be sure to proofread and personalize with the recruiter or hiring manager’s name.
Tip #7: Know When AI Is Not Enough
While you certainly can write your resume with AI, it’s not a sentient partner in the process. Yes, you can do some things to make the work more collaborative, but only a person with experience crafting resumes and supporting job seekers can incorporate the nuance needed to position you for success in your job search.
AI can admittedly be a good tool in three key instances:
- You want to make edits and updates to your professionally written resume as you move forward in your job search.
- You have a decent base and need some help refining your presentation.
- Your budget is limited and something is better than nothing.
This is a competitive market, and good enough might not be quite enough. Human insight and experience will make the difference you need to move ahead because, after all, a resume is only one aspect of a successful job search.
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Need help navigating the job-search process? There’s a reason I named my company Your Career Advocate: I’m here to guide and support you from initial application through salary negotiation. Learn more about how I can help.