Candidate Resource Center

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Should ChatGPT Write Your Resume? Best Practices for Using AI for Resumes in 2025How do you efficiently apply for jobs? Are AI-generated resumes and CVs (curriculum vitae) a viable option for applying for jobs?A StandOutCV study found that the average job seeker applies to 27 positions for every 1 job interview. Furthermore, they found that the average person has to submit 162 job applications to land a job.That’s a lot of work. In another post, we highlight the importance of tailoring your resume to match the job descriptions of the position you’re applying to. Easy to say, but not as easy to draft 162 unique resumes as you apply. Some job search experts suggest applicants submit around 10 to 15 applications per week to land a job. However, it’s not always feasible to draft 10 to 15 unique resumes and cover letters every week. This can be not only time-consuming but mentally taxing. Here is what this post covers:Pros and cons of using an AI resume generator based on job descriptionsEffective and safe ways to use AI to enhance your CV, resume or cover letterHow to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to tailor your resume to a job descriptionGenerative artificial intelligence is an emerging solution to this problem. AI is becoming a popular tool for writing resumes and cover letters. It can quickly draft a resume based on simple prompts and even remember past instructions and experience to iterate on resumes based on a job description. However, AI isn’t a silver bullet. This article will explain how to most effectively use generative AI to write resumes and make applying for jobs easier. We’ll cover what AI is and isn’t good for and how you can effectively make use of it. Pros and Cons of Using AI to Write Your ResumeGenerative AI works using text-based prompts. You give the AI instructions, and it will perform the task to the best of its ability. And yet, AI-created resumes have a mixed public reception, especially when the text is noticeably AI-written. So, how do you effectively write a resume with AI?Why you should use AI to help with your resumeAI can save you time on a lot of simple tasks. For example: AI can identify the most important keywords from a job posting and:Compare the keywords in a job posting to your resume.Ensure you’re matching the phrasing and word choices with the company’s requirements.AI can quickly iterate on alternative versions of text, and:Rephrase a sentence or an entire paragraph.Rewrite a paragraph based on a new job description. AI can generate resume formats for you to use to reorganize your skills.AI resume writing tools can save time because:Quick iterations won’t require you to do re-writes and edits.AI can pull the most important skills and details from a job posting.AI can check to make sure your skill set matches the requirements for a job.AI is about efficiency. It’s best thought of as a low-cost personal assistant that can perform simple tasks for you. But remember: The results are only as good as your instructions!To get the most out of AI, think of it as your own personal assistant. You don’t have to accept the first draft. You can tell AI things like, “I like what you wrote in the first sentence, but can you make the second sentence better by being more direct and confident?” You’ll be surprised at what you get. Here is an example, using ChatGPT:The objective statement sounds a little dry, and doesn’t stand out, so we asked ChatGPT to iterate on it:The more detailed your prompts, the better your results. The more you provide feedback, the more the AI tools learn how to work for you. Why you shouldn’t rely solely on AI to write your resumeAnd yet, AI does have its limits. AI-generated text fits into an “uncanny valley” where the reader can tell something that they’re reading is AI without quite knowing why. We’ll explain a bit of this.AI tends to be general and non-specific in its responses.AI doesn’t have the same thorough experience that you do. It will often explain in the broadest possible terms your skills or expertise (which is why specifics are key).Hiring managers are often looking for specific instances of experience and metrics related to your experience.AI can be wrong.The CRE industry, for example, has a lot of specific jargon and terms that the AI may not recognize or understand (yet).It may not understand the specific experience that a job posting is looking for. AI overuses some terms.AI will make frequent use of the same phrases, verbs, and adjectives when describing experience.Especially as it relates to applications, AI will frequently use terms like “underscores,” “crucial,” and “it’s imperative” that set off red flags in the reader.An AI response might be prohibited by the company.Some job postings will include a clause about using AI and throw out any resumes they suspect use AI.Don’t directly copy and paste what the AI generates into your resume. Curate the AI’s response and edit it to be more specific and helpful to the job posting. Even better, use AI to analyze a job posting and pull the most important keywords and requirements. You don’t have to use AI just for generating new content — you can also use it to pull the most important information! Remember that whatever the AI generates will only be as good as your prompt. There is another way that AI has benefitted some applicants, which is by optimizing resumes, which we explain next. How to Use AI to Optimize Your Resume (Instead of Write It!)While an AI can generate a resume for you, we recommend taking the time to draft a version of your resume that has all the key experience you have. Include specific experiences, metrics you improved, and keywords that are relevant to your industry. While an AI tool can provide the format for this, you should write your resume's first draft. Then, use AI as a resume enhancer, making sure your resume, CV or cover letter hits all the key points in a job listing. Once you have a “perfect” resume as a starting point, you can start optimizing it for specific postings. Copy the job posting into your generative AI (ChatGPT, etc.) of choice. Tell the AI, “Please analyze this job posting for the most important requirements I need to have in my resume.” Read over the requirements to make sure nothing strange stands out.Copy your current resume into the AI. Give the AI the prompt to “Revise this resume based on the requirements of the job posting.”Read over the result to look for any incorrectly used phrases, terms, or acronyms.Copy the new resume content over to your resume!A big benefit of doing this is to optimize a resume for the ATSes that companies use. An ATS is an applicant tracking system, which is an automated system that sorts and categorizes applicants based on their experience. This system will search for specific keywords and years of experience and filter out applicants who don’t have the basic requirements for a job. An ATS will also reject applications that have formats it can’t understand. For example, if you use low formatting settings, the ATS may not differentiate your years of experience from the description of your responsibilities. Some ATSes use generative AI to analyze resumes, so it makes sense to have the AI help optimize your resume for itself. You can even upload a PDF of your resume and ask the AI if it understands the content within. A resume that the ATS denies will likely never be considered, so having an ATS-friendly resume is one of the most fundamental requirements of applying for a job. You can check if your resume is ATS-friendly by doing a web search for resume analyzers. The need to use the exact words and phrases of the job posting is a direct result of ATSes. Best Practices for Using AI for ResumesIn summary, how should you be using AI on your job hunt?DO: Use AI to analyze job postings for relevant experienceGenerate new resume formats and templatesOptimize your current resume for a new job postingRefine your resume to be ATS-friendlyDON’T:Have an AI write your resume from scratchSubmit an AI-written resume without proofreading itUse AI if the company you’re applying for denies all AI-generated applications. As you use AI on your job hunt, we’d be careful with submitting applications that are entirely AI. Even done as an experiment, a poor application can get you blacklisted from the company, leading to future applications being automatically thrown out. This is doubly true if the company mentions restrictions on the use of AI for applicants. Should You Use AI for Your Cover Letter and Resume?Select Leaders spoke with Chui Senanayake, founder and president of The Job Helpers, a professional resume writing and career coaching service. “AI is a powerful tool, but strategy is key,” he said. Chui offers this advice for CRE jobseekers to make the most of AI:Use AI, but stay authentic: AI can optimize resumes, but hiring managers look for real achievements and leadership impact.Leverage AI for job matching, but network too: AI connects you to jobs, but personal connections unlock hidden opportunities.AI for resume interview prep: Use AI to structure cover letters and responses, then refine them with a personal touch and a Q&A with your favorite AI tool.Stay ahead of AI trends in hiring: Understanding ATS systems and AI-driven recruitment helps you stand out.How is Select Leaders using AI? “By integrating AI, SelectLeaders is making job searching smarter, more targeted, and more efficient,” Chui said.In collaboration with The Job Helpers, SelectLeaders leverages AI-driven job matching to help CRE professionals connect with the right opportunities faster and more effectively. “Together, we provide AI-powered analysis to evaluate job descriptions and match them with candidate resumes, aligning skills, experience, and industry-specific keywords,” Chui said. “This helps to eliminate guesswork and increase interview success rates.”Select Leaders also uses AI to enhance job application tracking, offering real-time insights, so candidates can refine their applications. For employers, AI optimizes job postings to attract top talent by ensuring clarity and alignment with industry expectations.How does Select Leaders’ resume services use AI?SelectLeaders combines AI-powered optimization with human expertise to create CRE-focused, high-impact resumes.AI-driven resume analysis: This ensures ATS compatibility, keyword optimization and industry alignment.Expert review and refinement: CRE specialists tailor content to highlight leadership and impact.Custom application support: AI helps with job matching, while experts fine-tune resumes for specific roles.“This hybrid approach ensures candidates don’t just get noticed — they get hired,” Chui said.Bonus: AI Prompts for Resume, CV & Cover LetterUse AI to compare a resume and cover letter to a job postingTry this prompt: I would like you to compare my resume and cover letter to a job posting. Here is the job posting (paste the text). Here is my resume (paste the resume). And, finally, here is the cover letter (paste the cover letter).Alternatively: I would like you to compare my resume and cover letter to a job posting. First I will share with you the job posting and my resume. After you give me feedback on that, I will give you my cover letter. Ask AI to identify gaps in a resume and cover letterI would like you to compare a job posting to my resume and cover letter and identify gaps that I may have missed and tell me if I hit all of the key requirements. First I will copy and paste the job posting. (Paste the job posting text, and the AI tool will let you know when to upload your resume and cover letter.)Here is the cover letter and resume.(Paste the text of both. Most, if not all, AI tools do not read PDFs. If you aren't sure, ask it what format it wants!) Ask AI to create a template for your resume to match a job descriptionPlease generate a resume format that I can use based on this job description. Include any key terms that I should incorporate.