How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Resume

ChatGPT is one of the most popular AI chatbots out there. Its popularity stems from its ability to generate human-like responses and its versatility—it can be used to research a variety of topics, correct your grammar, create playlists, write a cover letter, and even assist you in writing a resume.

As we all know, writing a resume is not always easy. Some job seekers have too much experience to condense into one simple document, while others have just enough but struggle with selecting relevant accomplishments or skills to highlight.

In cases like this, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for resume writing—as long as you know how to use it to your advantage. The secret is to combine the right prompts with a good amount of common sense, and voilá, you have a well-written resume. Here, we'll teach you exactly how to write a resume using ChatGPT.

What's ChatGPT and what can it do?

ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer. It's an artificial intelligence tool driven by natural language processing (NLP)—a technology that enables machines to process and understand human language to perform repetitive tasks.

This AI tool can engage in human-like conversations based on a prompt or a simple question. For instance, you could ask ChatGPT questions such as “What day is today?” or “How many holidays are there in the U.S.?” and get an accurate answer.

But it's not a failproof technology: ChatGPT's level of accuracy can vary dramatically depending on the subject or difficulty level of your prompt. This means that some responses can be factually wrong. Thus, it's advisable to trust it blindly, especially with sensitive or historical matters.

What are ChatGPT prompts?

If you're not familiar with the term, prompts are suggestions, questions, instructions, or ideas you can give ChatGPT—and similar AI tools—to elicit a response or action from the tool based on a specific context.

To get the best out of ChatGPT, it's recommended that you use clear and direct instructions and offer the necessary context. For example, prompting “write me a resume” will yield a different response than the prompt “write a resume for a data scientist based on this particular job description.”  

Can I use ChatGPT to write my resume?

Yes, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in writing your resume—the keyword being “help.” As AI tools are not always 100% accurate, it's not advisable to rely solely on it, especially if you're either writing your first resume or using an AI for the first time.

“If you're unfamiliar with how to write a good resume, you won't be able to tell if what ChatGPT generates for you is actually good quality,” says Muse career coach Lauren Wethers. “You run the risk of submitting a resume that has errors, contradicts itself, or is clearly AI-generated, which will do more harm than good.”

So first and foremost, familiarize yourself with the tool and learn the basics of how to write a resume. Then, combine both. “Write a draft of your resume on your own first, and then you can use ChatGPT as a tool to enhance it,” Wethers says.

How to use ChatGPT to write a resume: Step-by-step

Now that you know what ChatGPT is capable of, you might be asking yourself: “How do I use ChatGPT to write a resume?” While there are many ways to use ChatGPT to write a resume, some are more effective than others. Here are five smart tips to use this AI to your advantage: 

1. Use ChatGPT to customize your resume

If you're not new in the job seeking world or have read any of our posts about resume writing, you know that your resume should always be tailored to the specific role you're applying for. ChatGPT can make this task easy for you by customizing your resume based on the job description.

How to do it with ChatGPT prompts:

• “Hey ChatGPT, tailor my resume for a role as [job title] at [company name] with this job description.” Paste your resume and the job description and send it.

• “Hey ChatGPT, give me a new version of my resume tailored for a role as [job title] at [company name] based on this job description.” Paste your resume and the job description and send it.

2. Ask ChatGPT to summarize bullet points

If you struggle to describe your responsibilities and achievements in bullet points, ChatGPT can summarize them for you. Remember that employers are looking for results and impact, so you want to use action verbs and metrics whenever applicable.

“AI doesn't know the details of how you pulled off a major win in your last job, but you do. You can use a prompt like ‘Write 2 resume bullet points using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format for a [job title] position based on the project description below,’” Wethers says. “Copy and paste a description of a project you worked on or a major achievement at work, then tweak the bullet points it gives you according to your needs.”

Here are other ways to do it with ChatGPT prompts:

• “Generate 3 to 4 bullet points for a [job title] using action verbs, metrics, and impact.”

• “Generate 3 bullet points with achievements and metrics relevant to a [job title].”

3. Make ChatGPT write your resume summary

Love them or hate them, a resume summary is necessary for most job seekers. It briefly introduces you to the recruiter, letting them know right off the bat what stage of your career you are at and what your professional objective is. If you're in a creative slump, ChatGPT can help you.

How to ask ChatGPT to write a resume summary:

• “Hi ChatGPT, write a professional summary based on my resume.” Paste your resume and press send.

• “Hi ChatGPT, write a summary for my resume including three relevant skills.” Paste your resume and press send.

4. Use ChatGPT to write a list of relevant skills

“One of the strengths of ChatGPT is its ability to analyze and compare—use that to your advantage. For example, you could paste your job description into ChatGPT and ask it to give you the top skills required for that role, which you can then incorporate into your own skills section,” Wethers says.

How to to ask ChatGPT for a list of skills:

• “Tell me [x amount] skills relevant for a role as [job title] based on this job description.” Paste the job description and send.

• “Give me the top skills required for a role as [job title] based on the job description.” Paste the job description and send.

5. Compare the vocabulary in the job description with your resume

While we're on the topic of AI, many companies that receive a high volume of applicants are investing in Application Track System (ATS)—artificial intelligence systems that select candidates. They scan resumes and compare them to specific job descriptions to determine if they match. 

The trick to passing through ATS is to add relevant keywords from the job description to your resume—and ChatGPT can help you with this step, too. “If you're actively applying for roles, it can compare the language in your resume to the language in the job description and help you tailor your wording accordingly,” Wethers says.

How to do it using ChatGPT prompts:

• “Update my resume using the most relevant keywords from this job description.” Paste the job description and send it.

• “Write a resume for [job title] at company [company name] including the most important keywords from this job description.” Paste the job description and send it.

Best ChatGPT prompts for resume writing

When it comes to resume writing on ChatGPT, the possibilities are endless. The key is to explore different prompts to get what you need from the tool. “Whatever you do, the more specific your prompt, the better your result will be,” Wethers says. “Tell it exactly what you want and what you don't want.”  

Here are 10 best ChatGPT prompts for resume writing:

1. Write a full resume, including a professional summary, for a [job title] based on this job description.

2. Write a full resume for a [job title] at company [company name] based on this job description.

3. Based on this resume, write a new tailored resume for a [job title] at company [company name], including bullet points for each work experience, and key skills from the job description. 

4. Write [x amount] resume bullet points using the STAR format for a [job title] position based on this job description.

5. Tailor my resume for a role as [job title] in company [company name] based on this job description. Include a professional summary, keywords from the job description and key skills relevant for the role.

6. Update my experience section using action verbs, metrics, and impact. Write [x amount] bullet points for each work experience.

7. Write [x amount] bullet points of achievements, with metrics and impact, based on these responsibilities.

8. Write a professional summary with only three sentences based on my professional experience. Include my most relevant achievements and skills.

9. Tell me the 10 most relevant skills for a [job title] based on this job description and requirements.

10. How would you rewrite my resume if you were applying for [job title] at company [company name] based on this job description?

Side note: Whenever you prompt ChatGPT to perform a task based on pre-existing information, remember to provide that information. For example, if you want the AI to write a resume summary based on a job description or your own resume, you need to send it along with the prompt.

Don't forget to customize the responses

Whether you're using ChatGPT or not, it's important not to lie on your resume. While the AI will generate responses based on your prompts, they may not always accurately reflect the truth. What you should do is adapt the responses to align with your actual skills, accomplishments, and work history.

Plus, the AI's vocabulary can sometimes sound like a true robot, with outdated or overly formal expressions. Make sure to always spell and grammar check your resume, making necessary changes and adjustments before sending it. Remember, the AI is a tool to help, not to do all the work for you.