ChatGPT Resume Prompts: How to Use AI to Write Your Resume

So you’ve heard about ChatGPT but aren’t sure how to use it to your advantage in today’s competitive job market. The good news: AI isn’t as daunting as it sounds. By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll know how to use ChatGPT like your own professional resume writer.

Let’s dive into what ChatGPT is, how you can make the most of it as a job seeker, and which prompt examples to use to create a standout resume.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool making waves for its sophisticated use of natural language processing (NLP) technology — and an AI language model called GPT-3 — to help people communicate with computers more naturally.

ChatGPT can produce incredibly human-like text. In fact, GPT-3 is so powerful that some companies have incorporated it into their AI resume creators.

How Can ChatGPT Help Your Job Search?

The average job search can take a long time, so it’s no wonder job seekers want to do everything they can to speed up the process.

ChatGPT is a powerful tool, and when used strategically, it can help job seekers in today’s competitive job market reach their career goals even faster.

Here are five benefits of using AI in your job search:

• Saves time: ChatGPT can help you quickly generate quality resumes, cover letters, and other job search materials.
• Improves quality: While material generated by ChatGPT won’t be perfect, it’s a great starting point for improving the quality of your job search materials.
• Increases chances of an interview: Using ChatGPT to tailor your resume to each job description can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview.
• Helps you stand out: By using the right prompts, you can leverage ChatGPT to help you stand out from other applicants.
• Builds confidence: Feeling confident in your job search materials can make a big difference, and ChatGPT can give you the extra support you need to put your best foot forward.

Can ChatGPT Write a Resume?

Yes — and so much more.

There are countless ways to use ChatGPT for your resume, whether for core tasks (like crafting bullet points for your resume, writing cover letters, and optimizing your LinkedIn profile) or more complex use cases. For example, ChatGPT can identify the relevant keywords in a specific job posting so you know exactly what skills to highlight.

The best part about ChatGPT is that it allows you to automate the tedious aspects of your job search, which gives you more time to focus on what matters: landing your dream job.

What Are ChatGPT Prompts?

Prompts are suggestions, questions, or ideas for what ChatGPT should write or say next, based on the context of the conversation.

The more unique and specific the prompt, the more powerful the output will be. For example, if you’re a software engineer, don’t just type, “Write five bullet points for my resume.” Instead, input something like, “Write five bullet points with metrics for a software engineer with expertise in machine learning, Python, and Java.”

Here are five best practices to get the most out of ChatGPT prompts:

• Be specific: The more specific your prompts are, the better the results will be.
• Customize the prompts: Adapt the prompts to your own experiences and achievements.
• Use multiple prompts: Don’t rely on just one or two prompts. Experiment with different prompts to see what works best.
• Edit and proofread: Always edit and proofread anything generated by ChatGPT before submitting it.
• Use ChatGPT prompts as a supplement, not a replacement: ChatGPT should be used as a tool to help you with your job search, not to do the work for you.

How to Use ChatGPT Prompts to Write a Resume

Here are four main ways to use ChatGPT to write a high-quality resume:

• Create a resume from scratch
• Tailor your existing resume to better match specific job descriptions
• Write effective resume bullet points
• Craft resume summaries and professional summaries

ChatGPT Prompts for Writing a Resume From Scratch

When you ask ChatGPT to write a new resume, you’ll need to provide as much detail as possible. ChatGPT leverages machine learning, so the more information you feed it, the more tailored the responses will be. That said, be sure you’re comfortable with the privacy policy before copying/pasting any personal data or information into ChatGPT.

Here’s an example of what to do:

1. Pull up the job description you’re interested in.

2. Open a new document for your resume.

3. Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window.

4. In ChatGPT, copy and paste each of the following prompts, one at a time, followed by the job description where specified:

   • “Write a resume for a [TITLE] based on this job description. [Copy/paste the job description.]”
   • “Write a resume based on this [TITLE] position at [COMPANY] and include bullet point achievements that show impact and metrics. [Copy/paste the job description.]”
   • “Write a tailored resume for this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. Don’t include an objective statement or references, but do include a professional summary, my past 10 years of work experience with three to five bullet points per role, and incorporate the most important keywords from the job description in those achievements. [Copy/paste the job description.]”
   • “Based on this job description for a [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY], write a resume for my past [X] years of work experience with three to five bullet points per role that include metrics and the most important 10 keywords from the job description. My past titles and companies were [X, Y, and Z]. No need to include an objective statement. [Copy/paste the job description.]”
   • “Rewrite this same resume but add a [RESUME SECTION NAME – e.g, certifications] section.”

5. Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.

6. Though ChatGPT can provide suggestions, they’re not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.

ChatGPT Prompts for Tailoring Your Resume to a Job Description

One of the best ways to stand out to hiring managers and recruiters is by tailoring your resume to each job description. This shows that you’ve taken the time to understand the role and that you have the skills and experience they’re looking for.

Here’s how to tailor your resume using ChatGPT:

1. Pull up the role you’re interested in.

2. In another tab or window, pull up a copy of your resume.

3. Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by “Shift” + “Enter” for a line break, and then the job description and/or your existing resume where specified.

   • “Tailor my resume to this job description for a [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your current resume and the job description]”
   • “Using the resume and job description below, showcase 10 relevant skills I should highlight. [Copy/paste your current resume and the job description.]”
   • “Take my experience as a [JOB TITLE] and identify which skills I should highlight if I’m looking to pivot into a role as [TITLE] at [COMPANY OR TYPE OF COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your current resume; you can also try with both your resume and the job description.]”
   • “Here’s my current resume. How would you rewrite it if you were applying to this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]? Include metrics in the achievements. [Copy/paste your resume and the job description.]”
   • “Update the experience section of my resume to make it sound more actionable. [Copy/paste your resume.]”

4. Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.

5. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.

ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Effective Resume Bullet Points

Your resume bullet points should be impactful and engaging, highlighting your skills and achievements. Instead of listing your responsibilities, focus on the results you achieved.

Here are some ChatGPT prompts for writing effective resume bullet points:

1. Pull up the job posting you’re interested in.

2. In a second tab or window, pull up a copy of the resume most relevant to the role you’re interested in.

3. Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by “Shift” + “Enter” for a line break, and then the job description and/or your existing resume as needed.

   • “Write a resume bullet for a [TITLE] position that describes impact and uses metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E, F].”
   • “Write 3 resume bullet points for a [TITLE] position that describe impact and use metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E].”
   • “Write 4 resume achievements with metrics based on the following job responsibilities. [Copy/paste the job description.]”
   • “Write 3 bullet points demonstrating my ability to [RELEVANT SKILL OR ACHIEVEMENT].”
   • Follow-up prompt: “Are there any other action verbs I could use instead of ‘X’ and ‘Y’?”

4. Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.

5. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.

ChatGPT Prompts for Writing a Professional Summary

A professional summary is a brief overview of your skills and experience. It should be no more than a few sentences long and should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.

Some recruiters see value in a professional summary, but others see it as a waste of space. If you have more than five years of experience, a professional summary can be a good way to share your career story. If you have less than five years of experience, skip it and get right to your work experience.

If you want to use a professional summary, here’s how to write one with ChatGPT:

1. Pull up the job listing you’re interested in.

2. Open your resume in another tab.

3. Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window.

4. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by “Shift” + “Enter” for a line break, and then the job description and/or your resume as needed.

   • “Write a professional summary for my resume and keep it under 100 words. [Copy/paste your existing resume]”
   • “Create a compelling professional summary for a job application using my resume and the job description below as a reference, and keep it to 500 characters or less. [Copy/paste your existing resume and the job description.]”
   • “Based on my resume below, write a professional summary that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 500 characters. [Copy/paste your resume.]”
   • “Based on my resume below, write a professional summary for a [TITLE OR LEVEL]’s resume that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 3 sentences. [Copy/paste your existing resume]”
   • “Create a professional summary under 500 characters that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role in [INDUSTRY]. [Copy/paste your resume.]”
   • “Create a summary that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role. [Copy/paste your resume.]”

5. Take the summaries generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume under the “Professional Summary” section.

6. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.

Final Thoughts About Using ChatGPT for Resume Writing

Using ChatGPT to help with your resume can be a huge time-saver. But remember that AI should be used as a supplement for your job search, not a replacement. You should always double-check and edit any content generated by ChatGPT before submitting it.

Think of ChatGPT as one of the tools in your job search toolkit, and you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream job.

Disclaimer: I am an AI chatbot. The information provided in this article is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice.