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I am not here to judge anyone for using AI to write their resumes, even though I offer resume writing services.

Why am I not judging you?

Because I know that most people do not use AI in a useful way to write their resumes. I also know that when it comes to actually getting hired, your resume and cover letter will have to pass an actual person’s sniff test. And humans will always write better for other humans.

BUT…

AI can absolutely help you create a better resume.

But you should stop asking it to simply write your resume.

AI tools are great at helping applicants analyze job descriptions, identify keywords, improve your bullet points, brainstorm accomplishments, prepare for interviews, and even figure out how to explain complicated parts of your career.

But there is a big difference between using AI to help you write your resume and telling AI to write your resume for you.

And that difference matters.

The Problem With “Write My Resume”

Imagine opening ChatGPT or another AI tool, pasting in your work history, and typing:

“Write me a professional resume.”

You’ll probably get something that looks pretty good.

The document that your AI companion spits out may have polished language. It may sound professional. It may even include impressive phrases like “results-driven professional,” “cross-functional collaboration,” “strategic initiatives,” and “proven track record.”

There’s just one problem.

The resume will likely be full of a bunch of hogwash and not reflect anything meaningful about you or your actual experience. 

AI is very good at generating language. But is the language it generates actually useful, clear, or meaningful to an actual person? 

When you give your AI chatbot a vague prompt, it has to fill in the blanks and those bits of unknown information is where the AI will fill-in impressive sounding, but very generic word salad (a bunch of useless and sometimes confusing stuff). 

Vague, AI generated resume word salad might have some things like:

• Leveraged strategic initiatives
• Optimized operational efficiencies
• Spearheaded cross-functional solutions

Okay. Those are certainly words on a piece of (digital) paper, but what do they actually mean when it comes to understanding what you actually did and accomplished. When I read bullets like that, I immediately think “But HOW did this happen? What did this person DO?”

The content that clearly answers “What is this person capable of?” is the information recruiters and hiring managers actually need. 

AI Doesn’t Automatically Know What Makes Your Skills Relatable or Useful

One of the biggest mistakes I have seen job seekers make is assuming AI can look at their work history and somehow know which experiences are most important.

I know that AI chatbots seem magical, but the truth is…they are not.

When it comes to writing your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, your chatbot only knows what you tell it and sometimes…it will even invent things on your behalf.

Meaningful details that show you know how to collaborate with others, impress customers, or sell ice cubes to a polar bear are things that have to come out of your brain. These are also the things that will impress a real, human reader.

AI Is Better as a Resume Coach Than a Resume Writer

Instead of saying:

“Write my resume.”

Try using AI throughout the process.

Here are some ways to use AI throughout your writing process. You can use AI to:

• Analyze the job posting and identify important keywords and qualifications.
• Spot information that may be missing from your resume bullet points.
• Help uncover accomplishments by asking you targeted questions about your work.
• Identify opportunities to quantify your experience and results.
• Suggest stronger, more specific action verbs.
• Compare your resume with the job description and identify potential gaps.
• Make wordy bullet points more concise without changing their meaning.
• Flag vague or generic language that could be more specific.
• Generate alternative ways to communicate an accomplishment so you can choose the version that best reflects your experience.

In other words, use AI to analyze, question, refine, and strengthen your resume, rather than handing it your career history and asking it to manufacture the finished product.

You Still Need to Be the Expert on You

AI might know millions of ways to phrase a resume bullet.

But it wasn’t sitting beside you at work, observing all of the real and meaningful things you accomplished.

You know those things. Your job is to bring the substance. AI can help you craft the details into a useful and meaningful resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. 

If you need more help with learning useful ways to collaborate with AI to improve your resume, check out my AI Job Search Cheat Code Guide below. It’s free and will arrive in your inbox in moments!

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