Step by step how to use ChatGPT to write a resume: 5 prompts to craft your professional profile

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way we live our lives. From Siri to Alexa, we have come to rely on technology to make our lives easier. But, how can we leverage AI in our job search? 

ChatGPT, a  powerful language model developed by OpenAI, has gained prominence as one of the leading AI tools for various applications. Millions of people are using it to help them with everything from writing custom code to researching blog topics and—you guessed it—writing their resumes.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, this article breaks down how to use ChatGPT to write a resume that captures recruiters’ attention. 

Read on as we lay out:

• The benefits of writing your resume with ChatGPT

• A step-by-step process for using ChatGPT to write a resume

• If employers can tell if you use ChatGPT

• 5 prompts to craft your professional resume 

Benefits of writing your resume with ChatGPT

Resume writing is a painful task for many people. From agonizing over the right choice of words to ensuring proper formatting and layout, the process can feel overwhelming. Leveraging the power of AI, ChatGPT offers some relief as there are several advantages of using ChatGPT to craft your resume. Benefits include: 

• Save time. While the average job seeker spends hours on end painstakingly writing, tailoring, and updating their resume, ChatGPT can easily generate content based on your input in a matter of seconds. 

• Save money. While there are several free resources available for resume assistance, they may not cater to your individual work experience. Hiring a professional resume writer can be costly (though many think it’s worth it). However, ChatGPT provides a free alternative that tailors its suggestions to your unique work history. 

• Customize with ease. ChatGPT allows you to tailor your resume for different job positions by simply adjusting the prompts. This helps you easily customize your resume based on the most relevant skills and experiences, raising your chances of landing interviews for the roles you want.

• Achieve consistency. By using ChatGPT, you can maintain consistency in formatting and language across your resume, presenting a polished and professional image to potential employers. Ultimately, you will enhance your credibility and professionalism.

• Gain access to AI insights. ChatGPT can provide recommendations based on its vast knowledge base, helping you craft a resume that showcases your qualifications and achievements for today’s job search standards; you’ll present yourself as a competitive candidate.

How to use ChatGPT to write a resume based on a job description

Now that you understand how using ChatGPT to write a resume can be beneficial, take full advantage of this tool to optimize your resume for maximum impact.  

Follow these five steps to unlock ChatGPT’s full potential:  

1. Understand how AI works

Before diving into resume writing with ChatGPT, it's essential to understand its capabilities and limitations. The tool generates text based on the input you provide, which is referred to as prompts. The more details you feed it, the higher quality information it will produce.

It does have some limitations and states that it can make mistakes. So, it's essential to review and refine the content to ensure accuracy and relevance to your career goals. 

2. Gather information

Start by gathering all the necessary information you'll need for ChatGPT to write a strong resume. For writing a resume, you may want to provide the job description(s) you’re targeting along with your existing resume (if you have one), professional summary, and past work experience (with dates). Your educational background and key skills are important; just as vital are quantifiable achievements. Any awards, certifications,  specialized training, or relevant volunteer experience will be helpful.

Provide specifics like metrics and dates, so ChatGPT can provide a truly customized resume that accentuates your value. 

3. Start chatting with ChatGPT

Now that you have your information ready, initiate a conversation with ChatGPT. Introduce yourself and provide an overview of the type of resume you want to create. For example, you might write, "Hi ChatGPT, I'm John Doe, and I'm looking to craft a resume for a software engineer position.”

If you're unsure about the details to provide, simply inquire. Ask ChatGPT for the specific information it requires to create your customized resume. For instance, you might add a question to your prompt like, "What details are necessary to ensure my unique skills and achievements are emphasized?" 

It will likely spit out a list of questions for you to answer. Give as much detail as possible. Providing clear and concise prompts will help ChatGPT clearly understand your requirements and generate more relevant content. We share some example prompts below.

4. Review and refine the content

After ChatGPT generates content for each resume section, review and refine it. Ensure that the information is accurate, well-organized, and tailored to the job you're applying for. You may need to edit the text, add specific details, or rephrase sentences to better align with your professional brand and career goals. 

5. Finalize and format your resume

Once you're satisfied with the content, copy it into a Word file, finalize and format your resume according to industry standards. Pay attention to details such as font styles, spacing, and layout to guarantee readability and professionalism. Use online resume builders or templates to streamline the formatting process. 

Can employers tell if you use ChatGPT?

The likelihood of employers being able to recognize an AI-generated resume depends on the specificity of your prompts. Let’s consider a generic prompt such as, "Craft a professional summary highlighting key skills and experience for a marketing coordinator job."

If countless individuals utilize similar prompts, the resulting resumes may sound uniform and lackluster. However, when the input revolves around your unique background, experience, and achievements, the likelihood of employers recognizing a ChatGPT-generated resume diminishes significantly. 

5 ChatGPT prompts for writing your resume

Remember, ChatGPT is a great tool, but it’s only following your instructions. The more detailed the prompt, the more customized and helpful the answers it provides will be. So, provide context, ask for specific information, and be clear and concise. You can ask it to create an entire resume at once, or ask for help on a specific section of your resume.

Here are few examples to give you ideas:

1. Accountant resume prompt

2. Sales manager summary prompt

3. Prompt for marketing specialist achievement bullets

4. Prompt for software developer skills section

5. Work experience description for a project coordinator prompt

Remember, you don’t have to stop at the first prompt! Continue asking ChatGPT to refine the content, add more specific details, or tailor it to another job description. Keep the conversation going to create your ideal resume.  

Need help with formatting your resume? Browse 25+ impressively designed and professionally-formatted Career.io resume templates to design a resume that stands out.  

Key takeaways

1. Writing a resume can be time-consuming. ChatGPT offers an efficient alternative, saving both time and money.

2. ChatGPT allows for easy customization of resumes based on specific job descriptions and individual backgrounds, essentially tailoring each resume to the target position.

3. By maintaining consistency in formatting and language, ChatGPT helps create polished and professional resumes that leave a positive impression on employers.

4. Leveraging the vast knowledge base of AI, ChatGPT provides valuable recommendations to craft resumes that meet modern job search standards.

5. While employers may not easily recognize AI-generated resumes, providing specific prompts tailored to individual backgrounds and achievements enhances the uniqueness and relevance of the generated content.