How to Use ChatGPT to Write a CV

2023 will go down in history as the year of artificial intelligence, mainly ChatGPT. Almost every company is talking about how this technology will affect the future. But we’re in the present. And you’re looking for a job. Can ChatGPT write a CV?

In this article, you'll get a step-by-step guide on how to use ChatGPT to write your CV. You'll also find tips on editing a ChatGPT-generated CV. Finally, you'll make a more informed decision whether to use ChatGPT to prepare your application.

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Want to learn how to write a CV by yourself? See our guides:

• CV Writing Tips and Advice
• Extracurricular Activities for a CV
• How to Introduce Yourself on a CV
• How to Present Your Degree on a CV
• How to Write an Effective CV Summary
• Should You Include an Address on Your CV
• Skill-Based CV Guide
• Transferrable Skills on a CV
• What are Hard Skills on a CV

How to Use ChatGPT to Make Your CV

ChatGPT is a tool that revolutionized the world. Unsurprisingly, in 2023, Udemy, a popular online learning platform, reported that tech skills using ChatGPT had increased by more than 4400% worldwide.

Utilizing ChatGPT to write a polished CV involves a systematic approach. If you want to write a CV using ChatGPT, you should follow these 5 steps::

1. Gather your personal information

Before you start using ChatGPT to write your CV, there are a few steps you need to take if you want to do it right. Lay the groundwork by gathering your personal information and details about your professional journey. This includes all the CV sections like your education, work experiences, skills, and additional information.

Having a well-organized repository of your accomplishments gives ChatGPT the necessary raw material to create a CV that authentically represents your unique career. Remember, the strength of your CV lies in the precision of the information you provide.

2. Analyse the job listing to make a targeted ChatGPT CV

Once you have your information ready, there is still one more thing you need to investigate. Targeting your CV to align with the specific job you're applying for is crucial. Fortunately, ChatGPT can help you.

You can use this tool to help you look for CV keywords, skills, and qualifications mentioned by the employer. It will help you write a CV with ChatGPT that directly addresses the needs of the company. This, in turn, means you significantly increase your chances of standing out in the job market.

3. Use good prompts to write your ChatGPT CV

How you structure your prompts (inputs) will greatly impact ChatGPT’s output. In fact, ChatGPT can make the best candidates look inadequate, and fresh graduates appear as if they ran businesses from the day they were born. It’s because ChatGPT has to lie on your CV due to limited knowledge. Most people will approach ChatGPT by writing a single sentence.

To visualise, let’s look at how ChatGPT writes a CV with the input and a prompt like:

“Write a CV for an HVAC Technician.”

ChatGPT-generated CV with little personal information

We can see that even with limited information, ChatGPT generated a filled-out CV. Let’s start with the good things about it:

• It follows the standard CV format.
• It generated valuable skills for an HVAC technician, along with some potential CV achievements.
• Furthermore, it left brackets with notes for what information you should input there.

But, this CV wouldn’t score a job interview, even if all these brackets were filled out. Here’s why:

• It mixed the way it structured the CV achievements. The entry-level job bullet points start with CV action words (Acquired, Assisted). But the current job’s achievements do not (Install, Diagnose). They take on the form of “job responsibilities.”
• ChatGPT implemented a skills section that’s common in the USA, not the UK job market.
• It added a “references available upon request” line, which is generally a bad practice. You can learn more about references on a CV in the embedded link.
• It also generated a weak CV profile, which wouldn’t work even with a CV with no experience. The line “proven expertise” doesn’t prove anything.
• And, as previously mentioned, it lied a lot, as it didn't know anything about the candidate.

But what if we gave ChatGPT a ton of information? After all, you gathered many details in the previous points. See the detailed prompt below:

“Create a CV for me as an HVAC Technician with 4 years of experience. I’m attempting to get a Senior HVAC Technician position at Serra Metal. The CV should follow the formatting rules of making a CV for the UK market. I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering in 2017. I want you to emphasise the following skills, which are required by the employer: HVAC Systems, Troubleshooting and Diagnosis, Maintenance, Safety Compliance, and Environmental Regulations. I also want you to include my current workplace - Cutterz, where I’ve worked for the past 4 years. Include quantified CV achievements which show my cost-cutting expertise, collaboration skills, and the previously mentioned skills.”

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got this time. 

ChatGPT-generated CV with a lot of personal information

You can see that the CV improved in some areas while not making any changes in others. The professional summary still needs work, the references section still exists, there are some formatting issues and missing information, and ChatGPT has generated bullet points that may not be factual.

But there is a silver lining. All the CV achievements are now quantified, the skills section follows the UK CV structure, and this application is generally better targeted than the previous one.

However, as you have probably noticed, filling this CV with real information would require you to order ChatGPT to replace each point you want with a different one. Do that for the entire application, and you have created your CV. But at this point, what’s the difference between using ChatGPT to write your CV and making one on your own?

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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4. Polish your ChatGPT-written CV

A ChatGPT-generated CV is just a foundation. To make it into the perfect CV, you must scrutinize each section to ensure its accuracy. Add specific details that might be unique to your experiences and accomplishments. Pay attention to the language, formatting, and overall readability. Correct any errors or inconsistencies, ensuring your CV maintains a professional and cohesive tone.

Avoid common pitfalls such as excessive jargon, overly complex sentences, or generic buzzwords. By investing time in meticulous polishing, you transform your ChatGPT-generated draft into a compelling document that truly represents you.

5. Use a CV template

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for generating content, it lacks the ability to create a structured CV look or layout. This means you need to use a CV template of some sort.

Templates provide a standardized format, ensuring consistency in your CV's appearance. Consider templates that suit your industry and preferences, considering the importance of a well-organized and aesthetically pleasing CV layout. 

Here are some of the best CV templates we recommend you use.

Pros & cons of writing a CV with ChatGPT

Like any tool, ChatGPT isn’t perfect. You have already seen the analysis of the two previous CV samples generated by the AI. In this section, I'll explore the pros and cons of using ChatGPT for CV writing.

Let’s start with the good sides of ChatGPT CVs:

Pros of writing a CV with ChatGPT

• Efficiency: ChatGPT streamlines the CV writing process, generating content quickly and saving valuable time, especially when generating rough drafts.
• Enhanced Creativity: The AI's ability to suggest different phrasings and structures can introduce a level of creativity to your CV, making it stand out from more traditional approaches.
• Innovative Content Suggestions: The AI may offer unconventional or innovative suggestions for CV achievements, skills, and other sections that could enhance your CV.
• Versatility: ChatGPT can adapt to different professional contexts, making it suitable for various industries and career levels.

And here are the common problems of using ChatGPT for CV making:

Cons of writing a CV with ChatGPT

• Lack of Personalization: While efficient, ChatGPT might produce generic content that lacks the personal touch crucial for distinguishing your unique professional career. If you want to eliminate this problem, you must spend a lot of time refining your prompt and editing the output.
• Misinterpretation of Context: The AI may misinterpret specific contexts, resulting in inaccuracies or potentially inappropriate language in the CV. Depending solely on ChatGPT without personal input may lead to a CV that doesn't represent your unique strengths.
• Limited Industry Knowledge: The AI might not possess specialized knowledge in certain industries, potentially leading to inaccuracies or providing irrelevant information in your CV.
• Editing Required: A ChatGPT-generated CV often requires thorough editing to correct any inaccuracies, improve specificity, and tailor the content to your unique needs.
• Mixing resume and CV rules: ChatGPT may mix the rules and formats applicable to resumes and CVs. This can result in a document that does not adhere strictly to the conventions expected in either format, potentially confusing employers.

Should you use ChatGPT to write a CV?

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can add efficiency and creativity to the process. However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Think of ChatGPT as your assistant, not the sole writer. Blend its strengths with your personal touch and your career journey. You’ll have to constantly switch between the roles of a writer, editor, and narrator if you want to do this right. If all you’re looking for is a quick draft of a CV, ChatGPT can generate it in seconds, but the ideal CV takes a lot of time.

If you’re prepared to go the extra mile, the collaboration of human skills & intuition, and AI innovation can result in a CV that truly stands out in your job search.

While ChatGPT is a useful assistant in writing, LiveCareer takes your resume creation to the next level. LiveCareer offers pre-written prompts and an array of ATS-compliant resume templates. Save valuable time as you seamlessly format and customize your resume easily, making your resume-building experience efficient and exceptional.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this article about ChatGPT CV writing. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.