Have you ever used AI to assist you in writing a resume? According to a poll on LinkedIn, 42% of job seekers use AI to generate a resume to apply for a job. These AI-powered resume builders assist job seekers in creating compelling resumes that draw the attention of employers. Combining the features of analysing job descriptions, suggesting relevant content and optimising keywords, tailor-made resumes that match the requirements of specific job descriptions were made in a glimpse without much effort.
Traditional Resume Building Method – Using Resume Templates
Before the invention of AI resume writing tools, resume templates were the main directory for job seekers to build up their resumes. With a pre-designed fixed structure and framework that includes multiple sections, job seekers would need to manually enter all their details into the predefined sections of the templates.
Although these resume template samples are well written, the lack of guidance and specification may mislead job seekers to include a lot of unrelated information in their resume. Hence, the effectiveness of a resume created from a template relies heavily on the user’s ability to present their skills and experiences coherently. Without any keywords and tailor-made suggestions, the resume generation process can be overwhelming and time-consuming.
New Approach – Using AI to generate a resume
Technological advancements, particularly the advent of AI, have significantly simplified our work in job seeking. Platforms like Resume Genius and resume.io help job seekers customise their resumes efficiently, optimising the content without requiring extensive effort, time, or energy investment. Here are the steps of utilising AI resume builder:
Step 1 – Data Input
The first step of building a resume is to provide the user’s detailed information and the job description for the AI-powered resume-writing platform. The more precise the details are, the higher the quality of resumes would be generated.
Step 2 – Comprehensive analysis and content generation
By combining the data input by the user, the AI algorithms will first identify the keywords and phrases relevant to the user’s targeted job or industry. After that, based on the analysis, the system will generate written content for the resume according to the user’s professional background, skills and achievements, highlighting the key points that recruiters are looking for.
Step 3 – Formatting and Personalisation
With most of the content generated by the AI tool, users can then choose the appropriate resume layout, font and design that they prefer using the formatting features. Users could also make some adjustments towards the language, tone or content to make the resume more humanised. These tailor-made options enable the users to customise and minimise the false information written by the AI tool.
Benefits of AI Resume Writing
- Efficiency
Since AI tools draw data from the vast internet, they can quickly identify the required information for the resume efficiently based on specific roles and skill sets. With the robust knowledge database, multiple resumes can be generated for different jobs quickly, reducing the effort one needs to put into tailor-made resumes for various applications.
- Provide Inspirations
AI resume-building tools serve as valuable resources for individuals entering the job market, those re-entering after a hiatus, or those transitioning to a new career. Leveraging algorithms, these tools analyse user input to dynamically generate content, offering automated summaries, work experience details, and skills sections.
In contrast to conventional resume templates, AI tools offer a more personalised and comprehensive starting point, providing users with clarity on resume and cover letter expectations. While AI serves as a resource of inspiration, it should never be a word for word. You are the only one who is clear about what skills you have and what AI could assist you in picking out the keywords that help you stand out from the crowd.
- Keyword Optimization for ATS
AI resume-building tools offer valuable assistance in optimising resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). By analysing job descriptions and industry trends, these tools identify relevant keywords for the targeted position. They provide suggestions to enhance keyword density, placement, and distribution within the resume, ensuring compatibility with both ATS and human recruiters.
- Consistent
AI ensures consistency in formatting and style throughout the resume, addressing time-consuming and error-prone challenges associated with traditional formatting. Tools like Resume Genius and VisualCV streamline the application process by automating the generation of tailored resumes, saving users valuable time and effort.
Drawbacks of AI Resume Writing
- Lack of Human Touch
AI, despite its efficiency, lacks the nuanced and personal touch that a human can bring to resume writing. As resumes and cover letters act as media for recruiters to get to know about an applicant, it is expected that they can deliver the characteristics and skills of a person.
However, since AI does not have any feelings, it cannot inject a sense of personality and warmth into the documents produced. Therefore, while AI resume writing tools are valuable aids, users should complement them with their expertise to ensure a comprehensive and humanised resume creation process.
- Accuracy
Users should meticulously review AI-generated content for accuracy and relevance. As AI technologies are still in their developmental stages, some errors might be made and instructions might often be misinterpreted. Hence, AI tools also tend to over-verbose certain phrases.
We should never solely depend on AI-generated content, especially in contexts requiring concise communication like resumes or cover letters. While AI can identify transferable skills, users should always double-check and supplement the content with additional details, ensuring everything in the resume is accurate and genuinely reflects their work.
- AI detection
Recruiters and hiring managers are increasingly skilled at identifying AI-generated content in resumes and cover letters. Job seekers should be cautious and transparent about using AI tools, ensuring they supplement AI-generated content with individual insights and experiences to create an authentic and comprehensive resume. Plagiarism concerns arising from identical or highly similar materials can be addressed by using tools like Copyscape to verify the originality of content.
In summary, although AI resume-building tools are useful in assisting job seekers in generating a detailed personalised resume efficiently, we should always keep in mind that these tools are aids but not substitutes for us.
While these tools provide us with a framework to fill in the blanks with personal examples highlighting the skills and accomplishments necessary to meet the needs of the role, it is crucial for us to carefully review, humanise and supplement the resume generated. In this tech-driven era, we should not be blindfolded by the advancement of technology, but get to utilise them at the right balance.
