Should You Have AI Write Your Resume?

As is true with so many uses of AI, its value in helping you write your resume can cut both ways.

The Pros of AI Writing Your Resume
AI is able to do a great job at incorporating into your resume the keywords, phrases, and emphases that will help it score well in applicant tracking systems (ATS – the programs most large employers now use to screen submitted applications).

It will craft phrasing that will highlight the impact and accomplishments of your work history, rather than just listing responsibilities and functions.

It can tailor content, phrasing, and tone to better match an employer’s “style” than is possible without it.

It can avoid the cliches that are so common in most resumes (e.g. “seasoned professional,” “results driven”).

It will utilize up-to-date terms and industry-specific jargon appropriate to the career area to which you’re applying, terms with which you may not be familiar enough to utilize correctly.

It does an excellent job pf catching spelling and grammatical errors.

 

The Cons of AI Writing Your Resume

AI-authored resumes tend to over-promote personal achievements (this is particularly true for people in the earlier phases of their careers) in a way that is fairly obvious. For example, someone who’s out of college for three years is unlikely to be able to genuinely substantiate a claim that they are a “trusted leader,” or a “go-to source of institutional knowledge”.

In the effort to make it through ATS, AI authored resumes tend to be keyword-heavy, causing them to sound stilted and artificial.

Over reliance on AI authorship can diminish your individual “voice,” the use of which can often separate you from the crowd of applicants.

And if you have a complex career background, AI is likely to fudge some of the nuances that could more clearly explain your job progression.

My Recommendation For Using AI To Write Your Resume

The best way to harness AI in your resume is to submit a version to an AI platform, identify keywords and phrases that appeal to you, and then incorporate them. Finally, step back and ask yourself if the resulting product is fundamentally truthful and believable. With many years of practice reviewing hundreds of resumes, I’d be happy to help you in this valuable process.