AI for Resumes?

By Soozy G. Miller, CPRW, CDCC, CDP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the new craze. Job seekers are almost obsessed with using AI to make their job search easier.

Please re-read and proof your AI-generated content when writing your resume. I beg of you.

I’ve seen the resumes that come out of these AI systems. AI causes as many problems on the resume as it solves.

If you simply give AI the prompt “Write a resume” or even “Write a resume based on this job description” it will spit out the blandest, most vague, most unappealing content. This is called AI slop. And yet I’ve seen that very similar, bland, vague, unappealing content on resumes!

Some hiring teams are now using AI-scouting software that can flag a resume containing a certain amount of popular AI components. These components include long run-on sentences that don’t make sense, overly complex words used out of context, and way too many m-dashes.

Job seekers seem to think that if AI puts “Increase revenue” as a bullet point on their resume that it will actually draw attention. They seem to think that a vague statement like “Oversee teams” will actually get them the job, or at least an interview. I’ve had job seekers tell me that their bland AI-written resume is fine, that they don’t even need a resume because their vast network will take care of them. And then they come back all frustrated, asking me what’s wrong.

Executives in particular seem to think that if AI puts “Exceptional leader” or “Inspiring leader” on their resume that this will differentiate them and make them attractive. I don’t blame them. Wouldn’t you want think that about yourself?

Even though AI spits out that you are good and kind and talented, it is a data aggregator, so it’s doing that for everyone. Also, and more importantly to the hiring people, how do you prove that you’re good and kind and talented enough to be hired?

I’ve seen what AI suggests that leaders put on their resumes. The content is usually not inspirational or exceptional at all. It’s actually quite underwhelming. As I said, most resumes already reflect what AI spits out.

And yet AI puts those ridiculous statements in your resume, without knowing you. And these ridiculous, bland, vague descriptions are supposed to land you a job. Why, because a machine said so? There’s a reason why “artificial” is half of the acronym AI. At least for resumes, machines simply can’t do what the human element can: Add skills based on actual personal experience, address a specific company’s needs, and put examples of successes to prove your point.

Besides, don’t you think that a hiring team can tell the difference between an AI written resume and a human written resume? I guarantee you that they can.

So go ahead and use AI to create a draft of your resume…and then make it yours. If you never use the word “superfluous” don’t start using it now!

If you are the best person for the job, do you really want a machine to speak for you?

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Better job. More pay. More control.

For a resume review, please go here!