Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been taking over practically every facet of our lives. Many people are now turning to AI to create their resumes and cover letters. I’m all for technology that can ease our burdens, but how good is a resume created by AI?
I decided to give ChatGPT a go, putting myself in the shoes of an imaginary high school student, Tobias Newby, who wants to break into the tech industry. Tobias has a common problem for new graduates: he has little work experience beyond being a babysitter and working at Taco Bell. Let’s see what ChatGPT can do for him. I started with this prompt: Help me create a resume for an entry-level job.
A cheery response came back instantaneously:
ChatGPT: I’d be happy to help! To get started, could you tell me a bit more about your background? Specifically: Name and contact information; Job or industry you’re targeting; Education history; Any work, volunteer or internship experience; Skills (technical, language or soft skills); Certifications, awards or extracurricular activities. Once I have that, I can generate a professional, clean resume tailored to your goals.
I typed in “Name: Tobias Newby” but hit enter too quickly and forgot to put his contact information. I also typed in “Targeting entry-level jobs in high tech.” I added Tobias’s school (but forgot to add his graduation date). I stated that he worked at Taco Bell and as a babysitter. Lastly, I threw in his familiarity with Google Docs.
ChatGPT spit out a resume that, on the surface, looked pretty good.
What I Like/Dislike About the ChatGPT Resume:
• I loved the speed—if you need a resume in five seconds, ChatGPT is the way to go.
• I was relieved to see that it prompted my contact information in the resume, as I had forgotten it.
• I liked that it came up with an objective that wasn’t run of the mill. However, the objective wasn’t targeted to the tech industry; I can’t see a recruiter being wowed by it.
• I liked the Taco Bell bullets that it came up with but would have preferred to see more impactful bullets. I also hope that these bullets are truthful for Tobias.
• I would have liked the bullets to show more personalization and provide the employer with the results of his work.
I was troubled that ChatGPT adds details that may not be accurate. For instance, I forgot to input Tobias’s graduation date, but ChatGPT assumed that he would graduate in May 2025. ChatGPT also stated in the resume that Tobias has skills in Google Slides—not a detail that I included in my prompt.
I can see the limitations of relying solely on AI: ChatGPT does NOT prompt you to add details that would be helpful to include in your resume. For instance, you might not think that playing Fortnite is helpful in a resume, but it can actually be a great detail to add when applying to certain industries, e.g. gaming. You will have to do the work of thinking about which aspects of your life might be helpful to include.
AI used the phrase “willingness to learn” which I dislike for two reasons: 1) it’s overused and 2) few employers want to hire someone to learn. I would ask Tobias to showcase experiences where he has learned quickly instead.
It’s tough to come up with a resume when one does not have much relevant job experience. In this regard, I think ChatGPT can be a useful tool in getting started. ChatGPT provides a draft you can use to leapfrog into a much stronger version.
However, this is NOT a resume that would land you a dream job in the tech industry. In order for you to accomplish this, you would need to:
• Customize your resume to the job ad (ChatGPT may be helpful).
• Provide specifics and impactful results (you will have to do the legwork on this one and reflect on your accomplishments).
• Think deeply about experiences and skills that may not be obvious, but are relevant to the job.
Check each line of the resume to make sure it’s accurate. ChatGPT makes things up, so it’s your responsibility to make sure that your resume is an accurate representation of yourself.
Get feedback from trusted mentors to help polish and strengthen your resume. ChatGPT can’t take their places.
Overall, the ChatGPT resume is presentable, but not outstanding. It doesn’t give a sense of Tobias and his fit for the job. It doesn’t tell me his special qualities. It certainly does not get me excited enough about Tobias to want to interview him, let alone offer him a job. It’s a first pass, but you will still need to use your brain to finish the task.
Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed California psychotherapist. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@***il.com © Anne Chan, 2025
Resume Created by ChatGPT
Tobias Newby
Fremont, CA
📞 (your phone number) | ✉️ (your email address) | LinkedIn (optional)
Objective
Motivated high school senior with strong communication skills and hands-on experience in customer service and childcare. Eager to bring a strong work ethic and growing technical skills to an entry-level role in the tech industry.
Education
American High School – Fremont, CA
High School Diploma (Expected May 2025)
Experience
Taco Bell – Fremont, CA
Crew Member | June 2024 – Present
- Provided excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment
- Operated point-of-sale systems and handled cash transactions accurately
- Maintained cleanliness and organization in kitchen and dining areas
- Collaborated with team members to meet peak-hour demands efficiently
Self-Employed – Fremont, CA
Babysitter | 2023 – Present
- Cared for children ages 3–10 during evenings and weekends
- Communicated regularly with parents and ensured safety at all times
- Developed activities to keep children engaged and entertained
Skills
- Digital Tools: Google Docs, Google Slides
- Soft Skills: Customer Service, Time Management, Communication, Responsibility
- Willingness to Learn: Strong interest in developing technical and coding skills
Extracurriculars & Interests (optional section)
- Passionate about technology and learning new digital tools
- Exploring online resources to develop tech knowledge (e.g., YouTube, tutorials)
