TL;DR
→ Thinking about using AI like ChatGPT in your job hunt? It can be a real game-changer for drafting resumes and prepping for interviews. AI tools can quickly help with structure and wording, making the whole process smoother. But to keep things genuine, it’s important to add your personal touch. Most folks find that a mix of AI assistance and their own input works best—you get the efficiency without losing authenticity. Beyond just resumes, ChatGPT can help you practice interview answers, craft catchy LinkedIn headlines, and focus your resume on showcasing your actual achievements instead of just listing job duties. Bottom line: use AI as a helpful sidekick, but make sure your job search materials still feel like you.
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With AI tools like ChatGPT becoming more popular, many people are trying them out for resume writing. But it’s not always clear if that’s the best move—or if it’s just a quick trend that people follow because it’s easy and fast.
So, what should you actually think about before deciding?
AI can definitely help. It’s quick, gives solid suggestions, and helps with formatting. AI tools like ChatGPT can draft bullet points, suggest powerful keywords, and present your experience in a polished way. But is it enough? Or should we stick with the traditional method of writing resumes ourselves or work with a professional?
Some people see AI as just another tool—like spell check or Grammarly. It can help refine a resume, but when it comes to something as personal as presenting your work history, others feel it’s too important to leave in the hands of a algorithm. After all, AI can sometimes rely on fluffy language, inflate metrics, or use fancy words that don’t feel authentic. There’s a risk that AI-generated content might miss the unique details or personal touch that make a resume stand out.
So, what do job seekers think?
Recently, I ran a poll on LinkedIn to get a sense of how people felt about using AI for resume writing.
Here are the results from 718 votes:
- 22% said, “Yes, AI is super helpful!” They feel AI alone is enough to get a polished, professional resume.
- 16% voted for “No, traditional methods only.” This group believes that human input, whether through self-writing or a professional, is irreplaceable.
- 56% chose “A mix of both is the way to go.” They see AI as a helpful tool that can streamline the process but believe adding a personal touch makes it truly effective.
- 5% were “Not sure.”
Over half of respondents, favor a hybrid approach, combining the best of AI with human input.
Let me share some tips on how to make the hybrid approach work for you
This poll result makes a lot of sense when you consider what each method offers. Here’s a breakdown of how you can use AI effectively—without losing that personal touch:
Start with AI for structure and ideas
If you’re looking at a blank page, AI can help break the ice. ChatGPT can offer a strong starting point, helping you with layout, structure, and phrasing that align with resume best practices. Use AI to shape the basic sections and get content on the page quickly.
Why this works: AI takes the initial pressure off, especially if you’re struggling to organize your experience or find the right phrasing. This lets you start with a solid draft rather than a blank screen, making it easier to get momentum.
Add your unique voice
Once the draft is ready, review it and add details that make the resume yours. AI might create solid content, but it won’t know the small achievements or specific projects that make you a unique candidate. Tailor these sections to reflect your actual experiences and language.
Why this works: Adding personal anecdotes and specific details makes your resume feel real and relatable. AI-generated content can sometimes feel generic; by injecting your own voice, you’re ensuring that your resume genuinely represents you.
Fine-tune for authenticity
AI can sometimes generate content that’s overly formal or includes buzzwords that don’t quite sound like you. Go through each section and replace phrases or metrics with descriptions that feel authentic. Make sure the resume truly represents your voice and your impact.
Why this works: This step polishes your resume to ensure it doesn’t sound overly “robotic.” By refining the tone, you create a resume that connects with hiring managers on a human level, making it more memorable.
Choosing the right approach for you
Ultimately, it comes down to what you value most in your job search materials:
Speed and convenience: If you’re all about these, AI can be a great standalone option. It can help you quickly build a well-structured resume with relevant keywords and formatting.
Personal touch: If this matters most, consider using AI only as a first draft, then refining it with your own words and experiences. This way, you get the efficiency of AI without losing authenticity.
Best of both worlds: Like most people in the poll, use AI for the basics, then add your insights. This hybrid approach allows you to leverage AI’s efficiency while ensuring the result still feels true to who you are.
The poll results tell us something important: AI is a powerful tool, but when it comes to the deeply personal task of presenting yourself on paper, many people prefer a human touch. By blending both approaches, you can create a resume that’s polished yet personal, efficient yet authentic.Use AI as a helper, not a replacement, and find the balance that makes your resume stand out—for all the right reasons.
In recent conversations with my clients and other job seekers, I’ve discovered an opportunity to showcase additional ways ChatGPT can support your job search beyond just crafting your resume.
Most people don’t realize that ChatGPT and similar tools are capable of more than just basic Q&A or spitting out a bullet-pointed resume template. With a few tweaks, ChatGPT can help you sound human, engaging, and prepared—without the standard, robotic responses.
Here’s how to take ChatGPT from “useful assistant” to “interview coach with a personality” so you can stand out for all the right reasons.
1. Mock interview coaching: sound like you’re talking to a friend who knows their stuff
Interviews can feel like a guessing game, trying to hit the right note between confidence and authenticity. Practicing with ChatGPT helps you test out different answers—and it can even give you feedback. But to make the experience really worthwhile, go for a conversational style that’s less about scripts and more about genuine conversation.
****You can copy paste the following prompts
Enhanced Prompt: “Act as an empathetic interview coach. I’m preparing for a [Job Title] interview in [Industry]. Ask me some likely questions and offer constructive, friendly feedback on my responses. Let’s work on making my answers feel clear, confident, and easy to connect with—like I’m chatting with a mentor. If my answer feels ‘off,’ guide me to strengthen it.”
Why this works: The empathy angle here helps ChatGPT mimic a coaching style that’s encouraging rather than bluntly evaluative. You’ll get insights not just on what you said but on how you can say it more effectively—boosting your confidence while also helping you practice phrasing that feels natural.
2. Common interview questions with a twist: practice answers that feel like your own
We all know the big interview questions: “Tell me about yourself,” “What’s your biggest weakness?” But most canned answers sound… well, canned. The key here is to get ChatGPT to generate responses that feel conversational and reflective of your unique perspective.
Enhanced Prompt: “Act as a career coach and give me sample answers for the top ten interview questions for a [Job Title] role in [Industry]. Keep each answer short, natural, and in a tone that feels approachable, like advice from a friend who’s also really good at their job. After each question, I’ll type ‘next’ for the following one, or ‘10’ if I want to see all ten at once.”
Why this works: By telling ChatGPT to answer as if you’re talking to a friend with professional chops, the responses you get won’t sound like they came straight out of a career advice handbook. You’re practicing answers that sound like you—only more polished.
3. Questions to ask in the interview: go beyond the basics
Asking thoughtful questions is often your last big opportunity in an interview to make a memorable impression. Use ChatGPT to frame questions that actually reflect your curiosity about the company and your alignment with its values and goals.
Enhanced Prompt: “Act as a job candidate preparing for an interview with [Company Name]. Based on what you know about their mission, values, and work culture, help me create a list of questions to ask that feel insightful and specific. Let’s focus on things like growth opportunities, team dynamics, and how they support employee development.”
Why this works: This prompt helps you avoid one-size-fits-all questions. Instead, ChatGPT will guide you toward questions that reflect a deep interest in the company and a desire to understand the bigger picture. It’s the kind of detail that interviewers remember.
4. LinkedIn headline: be the person who gets clicked
A catchy, engaging LinkedIn headline can change the game, making recruiters want to know more about you specifically.
Enhanced Prompt: “Act as a LinkedIn expert. Craft a LinkedIn headline that captures my skills and experience using the keywords [X and Y]. Make it conversational, like I’m introducing myself at a networking event, and keep it under 220 characters.”
Why this works: ChatGPT knows to prioritize keywords, but with this prompt, it’s also more likely to create a line that’s intriguing without sounding forced. Think of it as your virtual handshake—one that says “I’m qualified and interesting.”
5. Building a resume from scratch: less job duties, more impact
When it comes to resumes, most job seekers fall into the trap of listing duties instead of showcasing the impact of their work. ChatGPT can help flip that script so that your resume reads like a story of your achievements, not a list of tasks.
Enhanced Prompt: “Act as a resume expert. Create a professional resume draft for a [Job Title] with [number of years] experience in [Industry]. Let’s make each section concise and results-focused, emphasizing achievements over duties. Keep the tone engaging and polished, and make sure the resume structure is easy to scan.”
Why this works: This prompt steers ChatGPT toward showcasing what really matters in your experience. By asking it to focus on impact, you’ll end up with a resume that’s clear, readable, and demonstrates the actual value you bring.
Whether you’re prepping for interviews, optimizing your LinkedIn, or rewriting your resume, these enhanced prompts make ChatGPT feel less like a tool and more like a trusted partner. By blending AI’s strengths with your own personal touch, you can really improve your odds.
In the end, the trick isn’t just to get ChatGPT to generate the right words—it’s to make those words feel like you.
See you all next week.