Is using ChatGPT to write your executive resume a game-changer for your job search, or will it lead to your application being tossed to the side? The answer is nuanced.
If you’re in the process of improving your executive resume, you might have considered using an AI tool like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity AI.
While these AI chatbots can make the process of writing your resume less challenging, they’re not without their limitations.
AI cannot replace the strategic thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence that only a human can provide.
Additionally, the resume advice generated by these AI tools is often generic. You also want to be cautious before sharing any sensitive or proprietary information.
However, when used judiciously, AI chatbots can be a powerful resource for improving your resume and may help you stand out in the saturated job market.
How To Use ChatGPT For Your Executive Resume: 4 Modern Ways
Let’s dive into a few of the ways you can effectively use ChatGPT when working on your executive resume and avoid some of its common pitfalls.
1. Gather competitive intelligence on potential applicants.
If you’re looking for a new job, it can be helpful to know who your competition is and how you stack up. Unfortunately, you rarely know who you’re competing against.
Enter ChatGPT. AI chatbots have a vast amount of data at their (digital) fingertips, which allows you to quickly gather competitive intelligence on other potential applicants.
A client recently used generative AI to gather insights from executives in a similar role, collect and summarize their LinkedIn profiles, and compare how his resume stacked up to their qualifications.
This process allowed him to quickly see where he excelled and where he needed to beef up his resume. For instance, he was on the fence regarding whether to pursue an MBA, but quickly discovered few executives in similar roles held a master’s degree.
2. Receive live, line-by-line feedback on your resume.
Speaking of which, AI chatbots are great at analyzing and comparing sets of data, such as checking your resume against a job description. If you have a target role in mind, you can ask ChatGPT how your profile stacks up and receive honest feedback.
Taking it a step further, you can use AI chatbots to provide you live, line-by-line feedback on your document. Many of the executives I work with appreciate their ability to review both the content and the language and then identify gaps, suggest more impactful action verbs, and provide clearer phrasing.
Rather than providing your entire resume to ChatGPT for feedback, consider breaking it into chunks and asking very specific questions, such as:
- Based on the target job description I’ve shared, which of the following 3 bullet variations is most impressive?
- How can I make the following bullet point sound more like a senior product marketing executive at a Series A tech SaaS startup?
Important: An AI chatbot’s feedback is limited to what you share, as it doesn’t know what you haven’t explicitly disclosed. For instance, if you published a best-selling book or secured a coveted teaching position, yet failed to share this info with the chatbot, it’s unlikely the AI chatbot will give you feedback to add them to your resume. Consequently, you must take time to identify your career accomplishments and add them to your resume.
[Read: Free AI Resume Reviews: A Word Of Caution]
3. Quickly pinpoint resume keywords from job descriptions.
You likely know how important it is to tailor your resume for each application you submit. However, it can quickly turn into a time-consuming endeavor if you don’t have a streamlined process in place.
Fortunately, AI chatbots can help you synthesize lengthy job descriptions and extract the most relevant skills to include in your document. For instance, they can help you quickly identify key competencies like “strategic vision development,” “P&L ownership,” and “product lifecycle management” from the job posting and potentially include them in your resume.
Remember: You will still have to apply critical thinking and decide which skills are most relevant to your experience and the role.
[Read: How Do Applicant Tracking Systems Work? 3 ATS Myths Answered]
4. Identify potential networking contacts.
Because networking is crucial when vying for executive positions, you might wish to harness the power of generative AI to identify potential networking contacts.
When AI is combined with LinkedIn, the two can be a powerful combo to network with both warm and cold connections at your target companies and expand your reach. For example, you can use an AI chatbot to review and analyze job descriptions at target companies and then suggest relevant professionals to contact on LinkedIn.
While I advise against sending any networking messages crafted by ChatGPT without heavy editing, you can use it to overcome writer’s block and help you craft a message to an industry colleague or recruiter.
Is It Okay To Use ChatGPT For An Executive Resume?
While AI chatbots continue to increase in sophistication and sound more like humans, you want to avoid submitting a resume that was written entirely or predominantly by ChatGPT or another AI chatbot.
Some companies have systems in place to check whether applications and resumes were written by AI. Additionally, the output from generative AI can lack a unique voice, which is particularly important when vying for leadership roles.
Moreover, generative AI isn’t strategic. It doesn’t know what you might have forgotten to share, lacks the emotion that drives most decisions, and can’t see the larger vision. To put it another way, AI isn’t human and won’t replace your thoughtful decision-making.
This is why it’s so critical that you don’t simply copy and paste the text from ChatGPT directly into your resume. Instead, use it to aid your writing, not replace it.
What Makes An Executive Resume Stand Out?
One of the biggest mistakes executives make when writing their resumes is selling themselves short.
Being qualified for the role simply isn’t enough; it’s table stakes, particularly when vying for senior leadership positions. You must clearly communicate why a prospective employer should hire you over the hundreds, if not thousands, of people applying for the same role as you.
You can make your executive resume stand out by clearly communicating what differentiates you from other applicants. As you do this, be sure to provide relevant examples and concrete numbers that demonstrate your impact on the business.
Using ChatGPT To Write Your Executive Resume
ChatGPT and other AI chatbots should only be one weapon in your arsenal when writing your executive resume. You must also develop a clear strategy for your resume and overall job search, harness the power of networking to stand out in the saturated job market, and not be afraid to stand out from the competition.
If you’re feeling stuck on how to best position yourself during the executive job search, please don’t hesitate to reach out or schedule a consultation. I’m here for you! You’ve got this!
