Using AI to Enhance Your Resume
Yes, you can use AI to help you with your resume. Tools like Copilot or ChatGPT can be helpful for getting started or generating ideas. But first, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- AI isn’t a replacement for real advice. It can’t give you the personalized, big-picture support that a Career Advisor can. Be sure to stop by the Career Lab or book an advising appointment to get feedback that’s tailored to you.
- Always review what AI gives you. Make sure it’s accurate, sounds like you, and fits the job you’re applying for. Employers want to hear your authentic voice—not a polished paragraph from a chatbot.
#1 Tip: Be Specific
The more specific you are, the better the AI can help you.
Instead of asking something general like, “Can you help me write a resume?” try something like: “Can you help me tailor my resume for a data analyst position? Here’s the job description and what they’re looking for.”
Why it matters: Recruiters are already seeing A LOT of copy-paste applications that sound the same — because people are using AI without editing or personalizing the content. Make sure your materials still sound like you.
Sample Prompts for Strengthening Bullet Points
Use these prompts to improve the bullet points in your resumes so they are impactful, demonstrate your skills clearly and effectively, and are relevant to the position you are applying to.
Pro Tip: Meet with a Career Advisor or Career Fellow to learn how to structure and create a resume before using these prompts.
Prompt: [Insert current resume draft] How should I strengthen the bullet points in my resume? Please do not rewrite my resume.
Prompt: Identify any vague or abstract ideas in the bullets on my resume that need to be improved. Do not rewrite my resume.
Prompt: [past the job description for a position you are applying to] Which of the experiences on my resume are strongest or most relevant for this position?
Sample Prompts for Tailoring Your Resume
Many jobs utilize AI to scan your resume for a match of keywords from their job description, so it’s important to tailor your resume to match the specific job you are applying to. AI can help you identify these keywords and incorporate them into your resume.
Prompt: What are 10 keywords from this job description that are missing from my resume? (paste the job description and your resume details)
Prompt: Make suggestions for naturally incorporating these keywords into my resume. Do not rewrite my resume.
Prompt: Can you categorize these keywords into different sections such as skills, responsibilities, and qualifications?
Prompt: How can I optimize these keywords for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to increase my changes of passing the initial resume screening?
Prompt: I’m applying for this role (upload job description and your resume). Which of my experiences most closely aligns with the skills and qualities needed for this job? Make specific suggestions to better align my resume with the job description. Do not rewrite my resume.
Prompt: The job description mentions the following skills (insert). Make specific suggestions for how I can integrate those into my resume. Do not rewrite my bullet points.
