3 key takeaways
- How to use ChatGPT prompts to write your resume
- The best ChatGPT prompts for every resume section
- Using the AI Resume Builder with ChatGPT AI integration to create your resume even faster
So you've heard about ChatGPT but aren't sure how to use it to your advantage in today's competitive job market. The good news: AI isn't as daunting as it sounds. By the time you finish reading this article (which we wrote with some help from ChatGPT, by the way!), you'll have more confidence in your job search process and know how to use ChatGPT like your own professional resume writer.
Let's dive into the basics: What ChatGPT is, how you can make the most of it as a job seeker, and which prompt examples to use to create a standout resume.
What's ChatGPT?
ChatGPT (which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool making waves for its sophisticated use of natural language processing (NLP) technology—and an AI language model called GPT-3—to help people communicate with computers more naturally and intuitively, and the results produce some incredibly human-like text.
In fact, GPT-3 is such a powerful tool that we've incorporated it into our AI resume creator, so you can create cover letters tailored to particular roles and write bullet points and professional summaries for your resume without having to toggle back and forth between ChatGPT and your Resume Builder. (There are even more GPT-3 integrations coming soon!)
The benefits of using ChatGPT in your job search
The average job search can take quite some time—so it's no wonder job seekers want to do everything they can to speed up the process and land their dream job as quickly as possible.
ChatGPT is a powerful tool, and when used strategically, it can help job seekers in today's competitive job market reach their career goals even faster.
Five key benefits of leveraging artificial intelligence throughout your job search process:
- It saves time. ChatGPT can help you quickly generate quality resumes, cover letters, and other job search materials, saving you hours compared to writing everything from scratch.
- It improves the quality of your job search materials. It's unlikely that materials generated by ChatGPT will be 100% perfect—but they're a great starting point. By providing you with prompts, suggestions, and even relevant keywords to include, ChatGPT can help improve the quality of your job search materials and highlight your strengths and accomplishments in a way that aligns with what recruiters are searching for in applicant tracking systems and catches the attention of hiring managers.
- It increases your chances of getting an interview. One of the best ways to stand out in a crowded job market and impress potential employers is to submit a tailored resume to the role you're applying to—but when you're applying to hundreds of roles, you need a way to do that at scale. You can do it with a purpose-built resume builder (like the Teal Resume Builder) or get similar results from ChatGPT. Either way, customizing your resume so that it highlights the relevant skills for a specific job demonstrates not only your qualifications but also your understanding of what the potential employer is looking for and can increase your chances of getting an interview.
- It helps you stand out from other applicants. We can hear the concern now: "But what if ALL job seekers start to use ChatGPT for the resume-writing process? Won't that make everyone's materials look and sound exactly the same?" Not necessarily. With the right ChatGPT prompts tailored to your specific needs (and to a wide range of job descriptions), you can differentiate yourself and present the most confident version of yourself to recruiters and hiring managers.
- It builds your confidence. This brings us to our next point. The job search process can be stressful, exhausting, and challenging for your mental health—but ChatGPT can help you feel more confident in your job search by providing you with guidance and support, which, in turn, can help you stay motivated and focused on your job search goals. One of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the job application process: Interviews. And the way ChatGPT can help you with preparation is unparalleled (for example, explaining exactly how your work history and professional background tie into the requirements listed in specific job postings).
Can ChatGPT write a resume?
Yep—and so much more.
There are countless ways to use ChatGPT for your resume, whether for core tasks (like crafting bullet points for your resume, writing cover letters, and optimizing your LinkedIn profile) or more complex use cases (like identifying the relevant keywords in a specific job posting so you know exactly what skills to highlight, turning your existing resume into one that better aligns with the job requirements, and even preparing interview questions for your potential employers).
The best part about ChatGPT is that it allows you to automate the more tedious aspects of your job search, which gives you more time to be strategic about your process and submit quality applications to more jobs at scale.
In this article, we'll focus specifically on the best ChatGPT prompts to use for your resume.
What are ChatGPT prompts?
Prompts are suggestions, questions, or ideas for what ChatGPT should write or say next and are based on the context of the conversation or the topic being discussed—something that sets ChatGPT apart from a standard Google search.
The more unique and specific the prompt, the more powerful the output will be. For example, let's say you're job searching but don't have an example resume or resume template to work off of.
You could type into ChatGPT, "I'm a software engineer. Write 5 bullet points for my resume."
Chances are the results would be good—but if you just get a little more specific with your prompt (e.g., "Write 5 bullet points with metrics for a software engineer based on the following job description, and include the keywords machine learning, Python, and Java") and the results will be even more impactful.
Here are five best practices to get the most out of ChatGPT prompts for your resume:
- Be specific: When using ChatGPT for your job search, it's important to choose prompts that are specific to the role you're applying for. This will help you create materials that are tailored to the position and demonstrate your relevant skills and experience.
- Customize the prompts: ChatGPT prompts can be a great starting point, but it's important to customize them for your specific situation. Use the prompts as a guide and adapt them to your own experiences and achievements. You can even specify things like tone of voice and word or character count.
- Use multiple prompts: Don't rely on just one or two prompts to create your job search materials; instead, use multiple prompts to generate a range of responses tailored to your specific career goals.
- Edit and proofread: Just like any other writing, it's important to edit and proofread anything generated by ChatGPT before submitting it. Make sure the content flows well, the wording is typo- and error-free, and the metrics are accurate. You should be able to speak to every bullet point on your resume if asked about it in an interview.
- Use ChatGPT prompts as a supplement, not a replacement: While ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for job applicants in their search, it shouldn't replace your own creativity and perspective. The results are meant to provide suggestions—not be copied and pasted word-for-word. Think of these ChatGPT resume prompts as a supplement to your own ideas and insights, not a replacement entirely.
How to use ChatGPT prompts for resume writing
Now that you understand the basics of ChatGPT and how it can help your resume stand out, let's get into the various ways you can use ChatGPT to write your resume—and the exact ChatGPT prompts to use for the best results.
We'll touch on four main ways to use ChatGPT to write a high-quality resume:
- Create a resume from scratch
- Tailor your existing resume to better match specific job descriptions
- Write effective resume bullet points
- Craft resume summaries and professional summaries
Before we get started, you'll want to grab a copy of your resume. If you haven't already, it's also a good time to create a free Teal account to speed up the steps below.
Teal's Resume Builder now integrates with ChatGPT
If you want to leverage ChatGPT but not enter prompts manually, you can sign up for our AI Resume Builder to generate professional summaries, write resume bullet points, and craft customized cover letters in seconds.
Our latest update allows all members to leverage AI in the job search process in a variety of ways, including:
- Generating professional summaries
- Writing resume achievements
- Crafting highly personalized cover letters in seconds
- Tailoring your resume to specific jobs, based on your experience
Here's what that looks like.
Start taking advantage of ChatGPT for your resume, cover letter, and your job search.
Use these ChatGPT resume prompts if you're starting from scratch
When you ask ChatGPT to write an entirely new resume, you'll need to provide all the relevant information you're comfortable with in as much detail as possible. ChatGPT leverages machine learning—so the more information you feed it, the more it'll tailor responses. That said, be sure you're comfortable with the privacy policy before copying/pasting any personal data or information into ChatGPT.
- Pull up the job description you're interested in. (We recommend doing so in Teal's free Job Application Tracker, which highlights the most important keywords from the job posting and saves you a step when you ask ChatGPT to create a tailored resume. It also saves you from having to toggle back and forth between multiple job boards!)
- You can create your resume in a Word document, Google document, or resume builder tool. For the examples below, we'll use Teal's free AI Resume Builder, which you can sign up for here.
- Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. In ChatGPT, copy and paste each of the following prompts, one at a time, followed by the job description where specified.
- Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.
- Though ChatGPT can provide suggestions, they're not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.
ChatGPT prompts to use:
- Write a resume for a [TITLE] based on this job description. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write a resume based on this [TITLE] position at [COMPANY] and include bullet point achievements that show impact and metrics. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write a tailored resume for this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. Don't include an objective statement or references, but do include a professional summary, my past 10 years of work experience with 3-5 bullet points per role, and incorporate the most important keywords from the job description in those achievements. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Based on this job description for a [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY], write a resume for my past [X] years of work experience with 3-5 bullet points per role that include metrics and the most important 10 keywords from the job description. My past titles and companies were [X, Y, and Z]. No need to include an objective statement. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Rewrite this same resume but add a [RESUME SECTION NAME - e.g, certifications] section.
Use these ChatGPT prompts to tailor your resume to a job description
One of the best ways to stand out to hiring managers and recruiters is tailoring your resume to the job description to showcase not only your qualifications and unique skills but also the key technical skills recruiters might search for in their applicant tracking systems.
But how can you customize your resume writing at scale when you're applying to dozens—or even hundreds—of roles?
Enter artificial intelligence. You can use Teal's AI Resume Builder tool, which leverages GPT-3 technology and capabilities, to write custom resume bullet points tailored to the role you're applying for, or try the following ChatGPT resume prompts. Remember to tweak the results as needed before submitting.
Here's how to tailor with ChatGPT:
- Pull up the role you're interested in. (Again, we suggest using Teal's free Job Application Tracker, which highlights the most important keywords from the job posting.)
- In another tab or window, pull up a copy of your resume (you can create unlimited versions in Teal's free AI Resume Builder tool, but choose the resume that's most relevant to the role you're applying to).
- Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by "Shift" + "Enter" for a line break, and then the job description and/or your existing resume where specified.
- Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.
- Though ChatGPT can make suggestions, they're not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.
ChatGPT prompts to use:
- Tailor my resume to this job description for a [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your current resume and the job description]
- Using the resume and job description below, showcase 10 relevant skills I should highlight. [Copy/paste your current resume and the job description.]
- Take my experience as a [JOB TITLE] and identify which skills I should highlight if I'm looking to pivot into a role as [TITLE] at [COMPANY OR TYPE OF COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your current resume; you can also try with both your resume and the job description.]
- Here's my current resume. How would you rewrite it if you were applying to this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]? Include metrics in the achievements. [Copy/paste your resume and the job description.]
- Update the experience section of my resume to make it sound more actionable. [Copy/paste your resume.]
Check your alignment with Teal
Once you've tailored your resume with ChatGPT, check your alignment with Teal.
Teal's Matching Mode compares your resume to any job description to give you a Match Score. Once you have that number, increase your resume score by adding more of the right keywords.
Use these ChatGPT prompts to write effective resume bullet points
Staring at a blank screen and not sure where to start when it comes to your resume achievements? Here are 1,000+ example resumes with sample bullet points if you need some inspiration!
You can can also use AI to ensure the bullet points in your work history section are as impactful as possible. As a job seeker, it's your responsibility to connect the dots about your past experience for recruiters and hiring managers. Instead of listing out the responsibilities you held in previous roles, focus on showing the impact you had in those positions through strong resume action words and metrics.
Our go-to formula for resume bullet points that show impact: success verb + noun + metric + outcome. To speed up the process, use. Teal's free Achievement Assistant tool within the AI Resume Builder as a guide, or click "Generate with AI" to write achievements based on the job description.
An alternative: Use ChatGPT resume prompts like the ones below. Here's how to do it:
- Pull up the job posting you're interested in.
- In a second tab or window, pull up a copy of the resume most relevant to the role you're interested in. (Store all your versions in Teal's AI Resume Builder so they're organized and easy to access.)
- Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by "Shift" + "Enter" for a line break, and then the job description and/or your existing resume as needed.
- Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume.
- Though ChatGPT can offer suggestions, they're not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.
ChatGPT prompts to use:
- Write a resume bullet for a [TITLE] position that describes impact and uses metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E, F]. [Copy/paste the top 5 hard and/or soft skills highlighted in Teal.]
- Write 3 resume bullet points for a [TITLE] position that describe impact and use metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E]. [Copy/paste the top 5 hard/technical skills and/or soft skills highlighted in Teal.]
- Write 4 resume achievements with metrics based on the following job responsibilities. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write 3 bullet points demonstrating my ability to [RELEVANT SKILL OR ACHIEVEMENT]. [Copy/paste skills highlighted for the role in your Teal Job Tracker.]
- Follow-up prompt: Are there any other action verbs I could use instead of "X" and "Y"?
Use these ChatGPT prompts to write a summary of your experience
Should you include a professional summary at the top of your resume?
Like many other parts of the job search, the answer is nuanced. The short answer: it depends. Some recruiters and HR professionals would argue that resume summaries are a waste of precious space— but we think they can be helpful if you have a longer work history (roughly five-plus years of experience), as they're an opportunity to talk about your career in aggregate.
If you're a job seeker with less than five years of experience, skip the professional summary and jump right into your most recent work experience instead; if you're a recent graduate with no work history, start with your educational qualifications and relevant certifications. No matter what, don't take up valuable resume real estate with an objective statement. (Anyone reading it will know your goal is to get the job!)
Another friendly reminder that although ChatGPT can provide suggestions, they're not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.
Here's how to leverage ChatGPT's ability to summarize and synthesize information and craft a professional summary:
- Pull up the job listing you're interested in in the Teal Job Application Tracker.
- In another tab or window, pull up a copy of your resume in the AI Resume Builder.
- Open ChatGPT in a third tab or window. Copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by "Shift" + "Enter" for a line break, and then the job description and/or your resume as needed.
- Take the summaries generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them back into your resume under the "Professional Summary" section. (You can save multiple versions and then toggle on/off the one you want to use on a particular resume.)
- Though ChatGPT can offer suggestions, they're not always 100% accurate. Edit as needed to make sure the metrics are correct and the tone and voice sound like you.
ChatGPT prompts to use:
- Write a professional summary for my resume and keep it under 100 words. [Copy/paste your existing resume]
- Create a compelling professional summary for a job application using my resume and the job description below as a reference, and keep it to 500 characters or less. [Copy/paste your existing resume and the job description.]
- Based on my resume below, write a professional summary that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 500 characters. [Copy/paste your resume.]
- Based on my resume below, write a professional summary for a [TITLE OR LEVEL]'s resume that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 3 sentences. [Copy/paste your existing resume]
- Create a professional summary under 500 characters that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role in [INDUSTRY]. [Copy/paste your resume.]
- Create a summary that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role. [Copy/paste your resume.]
Full list of ChatGPT resume prompts:
- Write a resume for a [TITLE] based on this job description. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write a resume based on this [TITLE] position at [COMPANY] and include bullet point achievements that show impact and metrics. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write a tailored resume for this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. Don't include an objective statement or references, but do include a professional summary, my past 10 years of work experience with 3-5 bullet points per role, and incorporate the most important keywords from the job description in those achievements. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Based on this job description for a [TITLE] role at [COMPANY], write a resume for my past [X] years of work experience with 3-5 bullet points per role that include metrics and the most important 10 keywords from the job description. My past titles and companies were [X, Y, and Z]. No need to include an objective statement. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Rewrite this same resume but add a [RESUME SECTION NAME - e.g, certifications] section.
- Tailor my resume to this job description for a [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. Here are my resume and the job description. [Copy/paste your resume and the job description]
- Using the resume and job description below, showcase 10 relevant skills I should highlight. [Copy/paste your current resume and the job description.]
- Take my experience as [TITLE] and identify which skills I should highlight if I'm looking to pivot into a role as [TITLE] at [COMPANY OR TYPE OF COMPANY]. [Copy/paste your current resume; you can also try with both your resume and the job description.]
- Here's my resume. How would you rewrite it if you were applying to this [TITLE] role at [COMPANY]? Include metrics in the achievements. [Copy/paste your resume and the job description.]
- Update the experience section of my resume to make it sound more actionable. [Copy/paste your current resume.]
- Write a resume bullet for a [TITLE] position that describes impact and uses metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E, F]. [Copy/paste the top 5 hard and/or soft skills highlighted in Teal.]
- Write 3 resume bullet points for a [TITLE] position that describe impact and use metrics. Include at least 2 of these keywords: [A, B, C, D, E]. [Copy/paste the top 5 hard/technical skills and/or soft skills highlighted in Teal.]
- Write 4 resume achievements with metrics based on the following job responsibilities. [Copy/paste the job description.]
- Write 3 bullet points demonstrating my ability to [RELEVANT SKILL OR ACHIEVEMENT]. [Copy/paste skills highlighted for the role in your Teal Job Tracker.]
- Follow-up prompt: Are there any other action verbs I could use instead of "X" and "Y"?
- Write a professional summary for my resume and keep it under 100 words. [Copy/paste your existing resume]
- Create a compelling professional summary for a job application using my resume and the job description below as a reference, and keep it to 500 characters or less. [Copy/paste your existing resume and the job description.]
- Based on my resume below, write a professional summary that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 500 characters. [Copy/paste your resume.]
- Based on my resume below, write a professional summary for a [TITLE OR LEVEL]'s resume that includes metrics and total years of experience, and keep it shorter than 3 sentences. [Copy/paste your existing resume]
- Create a professional summary under 500 characters that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role in [INDUSTRY]. [Copy/paste your resume.]
- Create a summary that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [TITLE] role. [Copy/paste your resume.]
Final thoughts about using ChatGPT for your resume writing
Using a chatbot to help with your resume can be a huge time-saver—but it shouldn't be a total substitute for doing the work. AI is just that: AI. It doesn't completely replace the human element, and you should always double-check and edit any content generated by ChatGPT before submitting it.
Think of ChatGPT as a supplement for your job search—not a replacement—and you'll be well on your way to landing your dream job in record time.
Head here to learn more on how to use ChatGPT and AI prompts to write a cover letter, and using ChatGPT to write your resume.
Leverage ChatGPT to write your resume
Tools like ChatGPT can help you write a targeted and accurate resume faster.
Using the prompts above, you can leverage the power of AI to take your resume to the next level or try the Teal AI Resume Builder.
Teal's is integrated with ChatGPT, with a range of tools to optimize and tailor your resume, including AI summary, bullet points, and cover letters—without toggling between screens and platforms.
Ready to take control of your resume with AI?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prompt ChatGPT to write a resume?
Ask ChatGPT to write a resume and provide specific details about your work experience, education, skills, and any other relevant information you want included. You can also copy and paste the job description of the role you're applying for to tailor your resume to a specific position. To save time, consider using the Teal AI Resume Builder to write your resume with AI for a faster, more tailored approach—no toggling between platforms or messy file folders.
How do I make sure my resume doesn't read like it's written by ChatGPT?
To ensure your resume doesn't read like it's written by ChatGPT, always review the content. Add personal touches and tailor it to your unique experiences and achievements. Incorporating specific metrics and examples from your work can also help to make it more personalized and impactful.
Can employers tell that my resume was written by ChatGPT?
Nothing says you can't use AI in your job search, just like nothing says you can't use tools like Grammarly to improve your writing, or calculators to do quick math. Though tools exist that can detect AI-generated writing, it's unlikely that employers will spend a ton of time and energy cross-checking every single application.
That said, you still want to make sure the qualifications you present are truthful and accurate, and that you can back up your resume bullet points with real examples from your past experience.