You can use ChatGPT to make a resume from beginning to end, but if all you do is type in, “Create a resume for me,” the results won’t be good enough for you to use.
In fact, resumes obviously generated using AI raise red flags for 53% of hiring managers.
@resumegenius 🔶 Update your #resume with #chatgpt (More hacks in the 🔗 in our bi0!) #chatgpthack #jobsearchtips #jobsearching #careeradvice #resumegenius #chatgpt4 #chatgptbot ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice
We’re here to help. With our expert-crafted prompts, you can use ChatGPT (or any LLM) to create a resume that’ll impress hiring managers in minutes.
To protect your privacy, don’t share any personal information with ChatGPT when using these prompts, including your full name, address, phone number, email address, etc.
5 steps for creating a resume from scratch
If you’re creating your first resume, or want to start fresh, this set of prompts will walk you through making your first draft.
1. Introduce yourself and create a draft resume
Once you’re logged into ChatGPT, the first step is to create a rough draft.
Using this prompt, start by providing ChatGPT with an overview of your professional background. By detailing your education, work experience, and key skills, you’ll give ChatGPT what it needs to create a solid draft resume that highlights your qualifications and achievements.
You are an experienced resume writer who specializes in working with clients in [Industry/Field]. Help me write a resume for a [Job].
Here is some information about me. Ask me questions if you need to know anything else to write a professional resume.
I graduated with a [Degree] from [Institution] in [Year]. Since then, I’ve worked as a [Job title 1] at [Company Name 1] between [Year – Year] and [Job title 2] at [Company Name 2] between [Year – Year].
My main responsibilities at [Company 1] included [Job Responsibilities]. At [Company 2] I was in charge of [Job Responsibilities]. My key hard skills include [Hard Skills]. My soft skills include [Soft Skills]. I also have a [License/Certification].
Here’s an example of a [Job] resume:
[Paste resume example text here]
Asking ChatGPT to role play as a resume writer will help get better results because it gives ChatGPT more context for how you want it to respond. This is known as role prompting.
Be sure to answer any questions that ChatGPT follows up with to give it a more accurate picture of your experience.
2. Add more specifics
Now that you have the basics down, add more detail to your resume by telling ChatGPT about your achievements with the following prompt:
I will provide you with additional achievements to include in my resume. As an expert resume writer, please update the resume and incorporate each achievement into the most appropriate section of the resume.
[Include more achievements here, specifying which role each experience comes from.]
If you’re not sure what to include, think of experiences that make you qualified, like:
- Professional achievements
- Relevant experiences
- Academic achievements
- Certifications or licenses
- Awards
- Professional development or continuing education
- Technical skills
The more specific you are, the better the results will be. Try to come up with several key achievements that demonstrate your skills and have tangible results you can include.
3. Tell ChatGPT to make improvements
Next, you can ask ChatGPT for suggestions on improving other sections of your resume using this prompt. Then, follow up by asking it to integrate those changes into your resume.
Please provide a list of suggestions for how to improve any of the resume sections and work experience bullet points. For example, by including strong action verbs, improving the structure of the sentences, highlighting more of my skills, and any other improvements you can think of.
Please re-write the resume to incorporate your suggested improvements.
Take a minute to look over ChatGPT’s changes and make sure that everything on your resume is an accurate reflection of your experience. Then copy and paste the resume into a doc to keep it handy since we’ll be using it for the next prompt.
4. Tailor your resume to the job description
Your resume should now do a pretty good job of showcasing your experience and achievements. But to really impress hiring managers, use this prompt to tailor it to the job you want.
In part one, paste the job description and requirements for your target role to help ChatGPT identify the most important qualifications and skills needed for the job. Then in part two, paste the latest version of your resume for ChatGPT to rewrite and target the skills from the job description.
You are a senior hiring manager with years of experience hiring for [target job title] roles. Please take a look over this [job title] description and job listing and identify the 10 most important qualifications and skills for candidates to have in this role.
Here is the job listing:
[Paste in the job description and requirements]
You are a [professional title/headline] applying for this [target job title] position. Please rewrite the following resume to target these 10 qualifications and skills as much as possible:
[Paste in your resume]
5. Edit your new resume for accuracy
Once you’ve incorporated all the necessary details and tailored your resume to the specific position you’re applying for, it’s time to check it yourself and make sure everything is accurate and true.
ChatGPT is not perfect, and its tendency to make up untrue or unreal information is well-documented. So, don’t assume that everything it gives you is correct and ready to use. You’ll still need to proofread your resume to make sure it aligns with your actual job history and skills.
Here’s how to get a polished, professional final result:
Adjust the format to better fit your industry
While it depends on the prompt you give ChatGPT, the chatbot will usually format your resume in the following order:
- contact information
- resume introduction
- experience
- education
- skills section
Keep in mind that the resume format and content generated by ChatGPT might not be appropriate for your industry or career level. So review and adjust your resume as needed to make sure it meets your target employer’s expectations.
For example, if you work in a technical industry, you don’t need ChatGPT’s long statements describing hard skills like programming languages. In this case, it would be better to save space and list them as bullet points in your skills section.
Remove the “References available upon request” section
ChatGPT typically includes the phrase “References available upon request” at the end of your resume. However, this phrase is unnecessary and takes up valuable space.
To make the most of your resume, we recommend removing any mention of references and using the extra space to provide more relevant information about yourself.
Download an eye-catching resume template
After you’ve finished editing your ChatGPT resume, all that’s left to do is choose a resume template.
Different industries have different standards, so keep this mind when you decide which template to use. For example, a colorful template with a bold design is acceptable if you’re a fashion designer, but an employer in the legal field is likely to find it unprofessional.
The best resume templates for 2024
One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
8 prompts for improving your current resume with ChatGPT
If you already have a resume but it just needs a bit of polishing, we’re going to show you how to use ChatGPT to review and improve it with these eight prompts.
1. Elevate your skills
Our 2024 Hiring Trends Survey found that 65% of managers are willing to hire candidates with all the right skills, even if they don’t have professional experience. With skills-based hiring on the rise, it’s important to make sure the skills you include on your resume sell you as a capable candidate.
Strengthen the skills on your resume with this series of prompts that uses role prompting and chain-of-thought prompting techniques for the best output. With chain-of-thought prompting, you use multiple steps to give ChatGPT more context and help it create a focused response.
First, tell ChatGPT to adopt the role of an experienced resume writer and career expert, and give it the specific information you want to deal with:
You are an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. Please take a look at this description of what [marketing managers] do and what skills and qualifications they need from O*NET. No further action is needed for now, just respond that you understand.
[Copy and paste the occupation summary information from O*NET OnLine – you can simply search for the occupation. If they don’t have available information for your target role, alter this prompt to use a job description for your target role.]
If you’re making a general resume, we suggest using information from O*NET OnLine – a government-run database that includes skills information for over 1,000 jobs.
Just go to onetonline.org, search for your job title using the “Occupation keyword search” bar, and copy and paste the tasks, technology skills, work activities, and detailed work activities into ChatGPT.
If you’re writing a targeted resume and know exactly what job you’re applying for, use the job description for the role instead.
ChatGPT won’t create any output just yet. First, you’ll ask it to identify the key skills for your specific resume:
Based on this information and your insights as a resume, career, and [tech] expert, what do you think are the most critical skills for job seekers to demonstrate on their resume, with an emphasis on relevant [marketing] hard skills?
Now, ask ChatGPT to provide expert advice on how to improve the work experience and skills sections of your resume so that they can target these skills better:
Now, please take a look at the skills section and work experience section of my resume. I am a [Senior Marketing Specialist] applying for [Marketing Manager] roles. Please provide feedback on how I can improve both my skills and work experience sections to highlight these important [marketing] skills.
[Copy & paste your work experience and skills sections]
And in step four, ask ChatGPT to re-write these sections for you, based on all of the information it compiled from the first three steps:
Please re-write my professional experience section and skills section to incorporate these improvements, but don’t make up any additional information to include in my resume.
Here’s a step-by-step video guide for you to follow:
Always double-check everything ChatGPT gives you for accuracy, and edit it for proper resume formatting.
When it comes to skills, ChatGPT tends to create long lists with detailed descriptions of each skill, which isn’t ideal.
And, it’s known to “hallucinate” — say things that aren’t true. It’s your job to make sure everything on your resume is accurate.
2. Revise your work experience bullet points
With the next series of prompts, ChatGPT will give you suggestions for making the language on your resume concise, descriptive, and even more impactful.
By focusing on the work experience bullet points of your resume, you can engage hiring managers and make your accomplishments shine.
By the end, you’ll have a table with several variations of each bullet point for you to choose from.
Let’s collaborate to enhance my resume! You are an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. I will send you bullet points from the work experience section of my resume, and you tell me how to improve them. Suggest starting each bullet point with an action verb to grab hiring managers’ attention. Please make sure not to add any additional information that isn’t already in my bullet points. Then, let’s make a three-column table that shows exactly which words you changed! Show me the original version in the left column with changed words in bold, your changes in the center column with replaced words in bold, and an explanation for the changes in the right column. If you understand, reply with “Got it! Let’s do this!” I will send you the bullet points in the next message.
Next, paste the work experience section of your resume.
[Copy & paste your work experience section bullet points]
Now you should have a nice table showing improved bullet points along with an explanation of what it changed.
The third prompt asks ChatGPT to identify and replace any clichés with more original and descriptive word choices.
Thank you! Now, let’s identify any clichés and replace them! Let’s opt for more original and descriptive language. Once again, let’s make a three-column table that shows exactly which words you changed! Show me the original version in the left column with changed words in bold, your changes in the center column with replaced words in bold, and an explanation for the changes in the right column.
The fourth prompt asks ChatGPT to edit the bullet points to make them more clear and concise.
Thank you! Now, let’s see if there are any phrases that can be edited for clarity and conciseness. Please identify any wordy or redundant phrases that could be rewritten. Let’s make a three-column table that shows exactly which words you changed! Show me the original version in the left column with changed words in bold, your changes in the center column with replaced words in bold, and an explanation for the changes in the right column.
Finally, the fifth prompt asks ChatGPT to create a table of all the edits and variations it created.
Awesome! Now, please create a four-column table showing me: my original bullet points, your version with action verbs, your version with cliches eliminated, and your version edited for brevity. Also, please present your final version of the bullet points to me in the format that they would appear on a resume! Thank you.
The best part about this prompt is that it creates an organized table with all the different variations of your bullet points, so you can see all of them side-by-side and choose which ones you like best.
Check out this video that takes you through all the steps one by one:
3. Add hard numbers
One of the best ways to strengthen your resume bullet points is by using numbers to measure your accomplishments. Numbers show employers what kind of experience you have, and what kind of results you can deliver if they hire you.
Use the following prompts to ask ChatGPT for examples of numbers you can use to highlight your accomplishments.
You are an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. What are examples of numbers and metrics (other than percentages) I can use to highlight experience and accomplishments on my resume?
Provide your work experience section and ask ChatGPT to suggest where you can add quantifiable achievements to make your resume stronger.
I will send you the work experience section of my resume. Please tell me how I can make it stronger and better highlight my accomplishments using numbers and metrics like the ones you mentioned above. Do not add any information to my resume that is not already there. Instead, show me where I can add quantifiable achievements and what kind of numbers would impress hiring managers. Do not use only percentages. Here is the work experience section of my resume:
[Copy & paste the work experience section of your resume]
The examples ChatGPT provides should show you where it would be useful to add numbers. But be careful about copying the numbers it gives you — they may be exorbitantly high, or simply untrue. Only add numbers that are true for your experience.
ChatGPT has a tendency to overuse percentages when asked to quantify the work accomplishments on a resume. To avoid this, you can also try specifically asking it to add “counting numbers” or “whole numbers.”
4. Create a resume summary
Now let’s move on to your resume summary – it’s often the first thing an employer reads so it’s important to get it right.
This prompt asks ChatGPT to help you create a compelling resume summary using the information on your resume and a template.
You are an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. Can you help me craft a summary that grabs hiring managers’ attention from the start? Let’s focus on highlighting my key achievements and ensuring it’s concise yet compelling. Use this resume summary template (Example 1) to customize information from my resume (Example 2).
Example 1:
“Accomplished [Your Profession] with a proven track record of driving [specific achievements or outcomes, e.g., revenue growth, efficiency improvements, etc.]. Leveraging [your key skills or expertise], I’ve consistently delivered [impactful results], exceeding expectations in [relevant areas]. Recognized for [noteworthy accomplishment or skill, e.g., leadership, problem-solving], I am adept at [mention any unique skills or qualifications]. Eager to bring my expertise to a dynamic team where I can drive [desired impact or goal, e.g., innovation, growth].”
Example 2:
[Copy & paste your resume]
Now you have a brand new resume summary to impress employers with. Before putting it on your resume, take a minute to add a personal touch and make sure it doesn’t sound overly AI-generated.
5. Improve your resume summary
If you already have a resume summary but it needs a little work, use this prompt to get feedback from ChatGPT on how to improve it.
You are an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. I will send you my resume. Based on my experience and accomplishments, please tell me how I can make my resume summary more impactful while keeping it concise. Use only the information already provided on my resume and don’t make anything up. Instead, show me what improvements would impress hiring managers and you, a resume expert. If you understand, reply “Got it.” I will send you my resume experience section in the next message.
[Copy & paste your resume]
ChatGPT will create a resume summary for you that’s tailored to your individual experience and resume – just make sure to proofread it and make adjustments where needed.
6. Ask for resume improvement suggestions
With each section of your resume now polished, it’s time to get feedback on your resume as a whole. This prompt will get ChatGPT to identify areas for improvement on your resume:
You are an experienced career coach with a background in recruiting for [tech] companies and [marketing] roles. I’d like your help with improving my resume further. I will send my resume to you in the next message. Please provide specific tips and tricks to enhance its effectiveness and make it stand out. Focus on including insights on how I can improve my resume specifically for a [marketing] position in [tech]. Please respond “I understand” if you understand.
Here’s my resume:
[paste resume here]
Great, thanks! Now look over my resume again and ask me questions about anything you find vague.
ChatGPT will likely give you some pretty decent advice — it’s up to you to sort through what it suggests and apply any changes you see fit.
7. Tailor your resume to a specific job description
Tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re applying for is the best way to increase your chances of landing an interview because your most relevant qualifications shine.
But we know that tailoring your resume is time-consuming, so we created this series of prompts to make it quick and painless.
You’ll get specific advice on how to target your resume to the role you’re applying for, a draft of your tailored resume, and an overview of all the changes made so you can quickly decide what to keep and what to leave out.
Act as an employer for the job in Example 1. Look at my resume (Example 2) and provide feedback on how I can improve it:
Example 1:
[copy and paste job description]
Example 2:
[copy and paste resume]
Now act as an experienced resume writer and career expert with a background in recruiting for [marketing] roles in [tech] companies. With these specific areas in mind, please re-write my resume to target this [Marketing Manager] position at [Lightspark].
Thank you! Now let’s make a three-column table that shows exactly what you changed! Show me the original version in the left column with anything you changed in bold, then your changes in the second column with your additions in bold, and an explanation for the changes in the third column.
You can use this prompt over and over again to help you apply to dozens of jobs without putting in the hours of manual work it used to take. Now there’s almost no excuse not to tailor your resume.
8. Have ChatGPT proofread your resume
The final prompt asks ChatGPT to proofread your resume for any errors that might be concerning for hiring managers.
It’s easy to let a typo or two slip through the cracks when you’re writing your own resume (especially when there’s a looming application deadline). This makes double-checking so much easier:
You’re an expert resume writer with years of previous experience as a hiring manager. I’m going to share my resume with you. Please proofread it carefully, checking for any typos, spelling errors, or grammatical errors. If you see anything on my resume that might be concerning for hiring managers, let me know and offer advice for fixing the issue. Here is my resume:
[Copy & paste your resume]
After following these eight prompts, your resume should now be fine-tuned to the job you’re applying for, and well-polished with no mistakes.
There are only two things left to do before submitting your resume to hiring managers: choose a template to use from our collection of over 400 free templates, and write a ChatGPT cover letter to go with it.
Check out these other AI job search tools to streamline the application process.
Frequently asked questions about writing a resume with ChatGPT
If you want to know more about how to use ChatGPT to create or improve your resume, we’ve answered some of the most common questions here:
1. Should you use ChatGPT to write your resume?
You should use ChatGPT to write the first draft of your resume. ChatGPT is great for:
- saving you time in filling out the required sections of your resume
- responding well to a job description
- helping you with writing
But because ChatGPT-generated resumes have several issues, including made-up information and an overly formal tone, you should carefully edit the draft that ChatGPT produces before submitting your resume.
2. How do you use ChatGPT to improve a resume?
There are two ways you can use ChatGPT to improve a resume. First of all, you could copy and paste (or upload) your resume and then ask ChatGPT to make improvements to it.
Or you could ask it to provide a list of suggested changes that would make your resume more impressive, if you’d rather decide which changes to implement on a case-by-case basis.
3. Is it free to write my resume with ChatGPT?
Yes, it’s free to write a resume with ChatGPT. OpenAI also offers paid versions, but all of our prompts were designed to work on the most current free version.
4. How do you upload a resume to ChatGPT?
To upload a resume to ChatGPT, you’ll need to copy and paste the text into the message box. Don’t worry about formatting details, ChatGPT can scan headers and bullet points without proper formatting.
If you’re logged in, you can also upload your resume to the ChatGPT conversation by dragging the file from its location directly into the chat box. Your version may limit the number of chats you can create with file upload capabilities, though.
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About Resume Genius
Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.
For media inquiries, please contact us.
Nathan Soto
Career Expert & Digital Content Writer
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Newsweek and Fast Company, offering insights into resume writing, interview preparation, and personal branding. Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French and Music. Currently based in Taipei, Taiwan, he also excels as a Mandarin–English translator and English language coach.
View Nathan's Profile
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