Many people are trying to enhance their resumes by using AI to write it.
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ChatGPT has become an AI tool that many people use today. Using it to help create a better resume has become much more commonplace than it ever was before. But is that a good idea?
My career counseling client, Dylan, was surprised when I reviewed his resume and recognized that he had used AI to create it. The conversation went like this.
“Dylan, let’s go through some of your resume and review your listed duties and accomplishments. Tell me about this one.” His response was hesitant, saying, “I haven’t done that.” And I replied, “Your resume says you did.”
“Dylan, ChatGPT wrote this resume for you, didn’t it?” He admitted that yes, it had. He replied, “I gave it my old resume along with the description of the job I was applying for. I thought the AI-created resume looked pretty good.” Well, not when it listed a lie. He wondered how that had happened. Tech people refer to these AI mistakes as a “hallucination,” or in other words, it just made something up.
Avoid a major mistake when using AI
Since Dylan actually lacked that skill, imagine what it would have been like if it hadn’t been me, but a recruiter, who was talking to him about a job. He would have had to admit it was something that he hadn’t done. That he had misrepresented himself and lied. That would torpedo that job opportunity, and he would have missed out on a job that he really wanted. Also, consider the frustration the recruiter would have felt realizing she had wasted her time.
It isn’t just Gen Z that seems to be making this mistake. Many people are trying to enhance their resumes by using AI to write it. But instead of it being better, what they usually get has become too generic, which a recruiter can spot, even if the resume manages to make it through the initial screening. The AI-created resume lacks the one thing employers care the most about: your results.
What AI is missing
Artificial Intelligence does not think. It will not ask the right questions. It won’t know any of the results you achieved. It works from what it reads, based on what you tell it. So, if you don’t have the accomplishment clearly outlined, it won’t appear on an AI-generated resume.
What impresses employers most is when you highlight key outcomes, such as delivering cost savings, creating something new, generating revenue, or increasing productivity. Depending on AI to do this will leave out the most influential things your resume must state—the results you achieved.
Best way to improve your resume
Most people write weak resume bullets because they focus on duties and what they were responsible for, rather than on what they delivered. Hiring managers don’t want a job description. They want proof you performed, contributed, and produced results.
The fastest way to uncover strong bullet content is to step back and analyze your work experience like an employer would. Ask yourself these questions and write down the answers:
What was my most important accomplishment performing this job?What changed because I did this? Did I create something new? Any innovation? Automation? What did I improve and how did that help the company?Did I deliver any cost savings?Did I make money or add revenue to the bottom line?Did I create any improvements that saved time or improved efficiency? What problem did I solve and what happened because I solved it?Did I lead, influence, or drive something to happen?Did I improve customer satisfaction, retention, or service results?
Quantify your results
Next, prove your impact by adding numbers whenever possible. Use statistics: numbers, dollar amounts, and percentages. The exact figure doesn’t have to come from an Excel spreadsheet—it can be your best honest estimate of the savings, money gained, improvement, or contribution you made. Often, using a percentage is easier to recall and just as powerful. Define the scope, noting how large it was, how many, or provide a before-and-after comparison.
For example:
Created and implemented a new process that increased productivity by 22%Led a global cross-functional team of 20 managers and engineers Designed an improved tool that reduced plant installation work. Results saved over 200 hours annually. Led the new product development and assisted with the product launch into 5 countries Opened the markets in seven states within eight months, driving rapid expansion Led the innovation, automation, and implementation of a new enterprise system. Results increased productivity by 40% and saved $175K. Directed multiple cross-functional teams that delivered end-to-end business transformation solutions for the client
If your work involves sales, it’s essential to demonstrate your impact with statistics. Here is a sample of how to highlight this.
Led the sales team with 6 reps in an underperforming territory and grew revenues from $45M to $96M in 18 months, making the territory number 1 in sales for the company
Not everything can be quantified, but your goal is to quantify results whenever you can.
The most important resume rule is put the best bullets first
When writing your resume bullets, always start with your most important accomplishment first, followed by the next most important. Put bullets in the right order based on what matters most to the employer for the job you’re applying for.
Outcomes impress an employer
Results are what you must stress to produce a more powerful resume. AI can’t do that for you; only you know that information. Clearly articulating outcomes and accomplishments is what will get the recruiter’s attention. Pointing those out is key to getting an interview and landing a new job.