Over the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly powerful tool, particularly in the advent of large language models like ChatGPT. AI can now be used for anything, such as creating recipes, writing children’s stories, or even helping you get started on an updated resume.
Using Resume Builder’s AI assistant, you can quickly create a first draft of your resume. Read on to learn how.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Resume Builder’s AI Writer
Step 1: Navigate to ResumeBuilder.com
To start building your resume using our AI assistant, first navigate to ResumeBuilder.com and click the “Create My Resume Now” button on the front page.
Step 2: Choose a template
Pick a template from our list that feels visually appealing and relevant to your professional field.
Keep in mind all templates can be edited later — you don’t necessarily have to stick with the one you choose at this point.
Step 3: Start from scratch or import from LinkedIn
You don’t have to start from nothing, thanks to Resume Builder’s LinkedIn import tool. This feature allows you to import work history and basic information from your LinkedIn account, making the resume-generation process even easier.
If you do not import from LinkedIn, you must fill in your basic info on the next page. Just fill this in and advance the page to the work history section by clicking the “Next” button.
Step 4: Use AI writer to summarize your work duties
Once you’re in the work history section, you can utilize Resume Builder’s AI assistant to help write your work history bullet points. Simply click the “AI Writer” button in the work summary field and give it the job title you hold (or held) for it to generate suggested copy for your bullet points.
Step 5: Edit content as needed
The AI-generated bullet points can be a good starting point, but sometimes they will need to be edited to be more accurate for your purposes. This is easily accomplished through the editing pane while choosing your generated bullet points.
Step 6: Continue building your resume
There are several points at which you can use the AI assistant to help generate text for your resume, including your education and profile summary. The process is similar to adding and editing bullet points for your work history.
Keep in mind the AI text defaults to bullet points, but that may not be appropriate for something like your profile. This is easily edited in the text edit field.
What’s the Difference Between AI Writer and Suggested Phrases?
You probably noticed Suggested Phrases just before “AI Writer” — you may have even clicked it already out of curiosity. Both features of the resume generator perform a similar function, if in different ways.
The AI writer uses large language model tech to scrape information from the web related to your job title and fills in suggestions for common duties and accomplishments in your field.
The Suggested Phrases feature works differently, giving you fillable bullet points relevant to almost any job but allowing you to fill in the blanks to make them more relevant. Where the AI writer can get very specific, Suggested Phrases cannot.
How AI Can Boost Your Resume
There are many ways in which our AI writer can help enhance your resume. First, it can be more efficient. Even if you don’t use the generated text as written, it still gets you from the blank page to a first draft quickly. It’s often easier to have a starting point you can work from rather than nothing at all.
Second, it can help kickstart your writing by giving you plenty of good ideas for content and information to include on your resume. It’s not uncommon to feel stuck or to miss some way to describe an aspect of your previous work history in a way that feels impactful. The AI writer allows you to search by any word or phrase, not just job titles, letting you turn a prompt like “Spanish” into “Taught Spanish language and culture classes to students of all ages and abilities” in one click.
Third, the AI writer keeps keywords in mind. It can be hard to pepper specific keywords into your resume without them feeling shoehorned in — Resume Builder’s AI writer takes those keywords into account when suggesting content for your resume. This is important when accounting for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which digitally screen resumes for important words and phrases before passing them on to a human. If you want to learn more about ATS and how it affects your job hunt, check out our guide.
Lastly, if you struggle with writing or how to word something, the AI writer is trained to follow resume best practices for phrasing tone, verbs, and more, ensuring you sound appropriate and professional on your resume. Using it can help you gain a sense of that language so you’ll be better equipped to add to your resume in a natural way.
The Limits of AI
AI is a powerful tool that can take a lot of the load off your shoulders when starting a resume. But it’s important to view AI writer-generated text as a first draft, not a finished resume. Think of writing your resume as a two-stage process:
- Brainstorm positive career experiences. (e.g., What were your duties and achievements for each past job? What work strengths or credentials are you proud of?)
- Analyze those experiences against your target job, and delete any that aren’t relevant.
The first stage requires you to think creatively, while the second stage requires you to think critically. The AI writer is creative: it’s useful during the first stage but less so once you get to the second stage. It kickstarts brainstorming and produces strong content based on your work history, but you still have to analyze that content through the lens of your target job and determine what to include/omit on your final resume.
There can also be issues with the generated text if your job title was uncommon, a misnomer, or shared a title with a different profession. If this is the case, then the AI writer’s suggestions may not be accurate or suitable. To account for this, search the general title of the role you actually held (e.g., if your role was essentially sales manager, search that title for ideas rather than your given job title).
For the same reason, the AI writer is less useful for career changers. It generates text ideas based on your past titles, but those ideas are less relevant to anyone looking for a very different role. However, the AI writer can still be useful for searching their target job title and related terms, and then scanning the results for points that do capture their overlapping experiences or transferable skills.
Lastly, the AI writer doesn’t incorporate your relevant performance data (such as money saved, percentage of revenue growth, and clients served). These are important details you will need to add to your resume directly. For example, “Sales Manager” results include:
Developed sales strategies and implemented customer service strategies to increase customer satisfaction
Change to:
Developed sales strategies and implemented customer service strategies to increase customer satisfaction by over 20%
Frequently Asked Questions About Using AI to Build a Resume
Does using AI make building a resume faster?+
Yes, using AI can make building a resume faster and easier. However, note that while AI can help you create a great resume quickly, it is still important to review and edit your resume to ensure it accurately reflects your skills and experience.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when using AI to build a resume?+
When using AI to build a resume, avoid these many frequent mistakes:
- Using too many buzzwords: While it’s important to highlight your skills and experience, using too many buzzwords can make your resume sound generic and unoriginal. Instead, focus on using specific examples and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your value.
- Neglecting the basics: Even with the help of AI, you must make sure your resume is free of errors and typos. Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it.
- Not customizing your resume: AI can help you create a great resume quickly, yet it’s essential to customize your resume for each job you apply for. Tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the job posting.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a resume that accurately reflects your skills and experience and helps you stand out from other candidates.
Am I more likely to get an interview if I have AI help build my resume?+
AI-powered resume builders can help you create a professional-looking resume quickly, but note the content of your resume is what matters most, not how it was generated. Employers are interested in your skills, experience, and achievements and how they align with the job requirements. While a well-formatted resume can help you stand out from other candidates, it is ultimately the content of your resume that will determine whether you get the interview.
