The recent buzz around ChatGPT and other AI technologies, especially in content creation, has generated a lot of interest. AI is now being used by professionals to create various types of content, including marketing materials, articles, blog posts, and eBooks. With this trend, it’s easy to see how these technologies might soon be used to write application documents like resumes, pitches, selection criteria, and LinkedIn profiles.
This shift has raised concerns among many resume writers. Some have even suggested that certain resume writing agencies may already be using AI to prepare resumes for their clients. A colleague approached me this morning to get my take on the issue. After a brief conversation to address his concerns, I decided to share my thoughts on the matter.
I believe the best approach is to first distinguish between the different types of resume writing services available to job seekers.
What is Resume Editing Service?
On one end of the spectrum, there are resume editing services, which involve taking your existing resume, rewriting it, and making it look more polished. This is a great option for those who want a quick, inexpensive refresh. I suspect that resume editing companies are already exploring or using AI, and for job seekers who simply want a quick tidy-up of what they’ve written, tools like ChatGPT can do a fairly decent job.
Given this perspective, I personally think AI could potentially threaten the job security of resume writers who specialise in editing services, especially as job seekers become aware that they can use these technologies on their own.
However, it’s important to note that while AI can be helpful, it often produces content that lacks uniqueness. For job seekers looking to showcase their distinct abilities, relying solely on AI might not be the best approach.
What is a Resume Writing Service?
On the other end, some services (like Rev-Up Your Resume) focus as much on consultation, personal branding, skills matching, and content curation as they do on writing. I’ve often said that writing a resume is the easy part. The real challenge lies in eliciting and identifying high-quality, job-specific information from clients.
A legitimate resume writer would take the time to truly understand their clients’ career goals and personal brand. They will delve into their value proposition, strengths, skills, and concrete achievements.
The reality is, AI currently falls short in these areas—or at least, there are no publicly available AI technologies capable of achieving this level of personalised service.
Human Resume Writer Versus AI
Crafting effective resumes for senior professionals and executives requires years of experience, a deep understanding of their professional landscapes, and insight into what success looks like in their fields. It involves setting expectations, drawing out key information, and the ability to convey complex ideas through well-crafted language.
Many accomplished resume writers have successful careers behind them, providing them with rich industry knowledge. They’ve honed consultation skills to optimize the resume writing process, developed nuanced writing styles, and acquired a vocabulary that current AI cannot replicate. Additionally, there are several situations where unique resume formats are essential to highlight particular aspects of a client’s career effectively.
Conclusion
I’m not saying that AI tools aren’t helpful or that job seekers should stop using them altogether.
If you’re a school leaver or entry-level applicant, you may not want to spend hundreds of dollars to get your resume built. In that case, AI is your best bet.
However, you have to use AI wisely and not rely solely on it to do all the work. If you submit an AI-generated resume without careful revision, it will be obvious to hiring managers and recruiters that you put very little effort into your application. That’s not the way to land a job interview.
AI also struggles with personalising content effectively. Based on our experience, personal narratives are crucial to standing out, especially for highly competitive Government applications. These narratives are often diluted when you use AI tools to write your application documents. While AI can list your qualifications and experience, it’s not able to connect these elements to tell a compelling story that includes your personal brand, aspirations, and fit for the specific role.
