Revolutionize Your Job Search with AI: Learn How to Use ChatGPT to Adapt Your Resume and Cover Letter for Any Job Description

This article will teach you how to use ChatGPT to adapt your resume and cover letter for different job descriptions.

Adjusting your resume and cover letter according to the job description is essential for two reasons:

1) If you apply through a job board, your resume will be parsed by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before it reaches a human being. The ATS will decide where you belong in the pile. People who include the right keywords in their resumes are like cream: they rise to the top.

2) Recruiters will glance over your resume for about 7 seconds. By aligning your resume with the job description, you’re saying, “What you want, baby I got it!” (Thank you, Aretha!)

Here’s the old-school way to adapt your resume for different job descriptions.

Traditionally, these are the steps I’ve recommended for updating a resume to match a new job description:

1) Print out or copy the job description into an editable document and highlight the keywords that stand out.

2) Update the title line of your resume (below your header) to match the job description title.

3) Revise the Key Skills section to match the words you highlighted in the job description.

4) Refine the rest of the document to demonstrate how you’ve used the new Key Skills to create value for the company.

Adapting a resume for different job descriptions is easier than ever due to AI technology.

Now, instead of cutting, pasting, and highlighting, you can quickly adapt your resume by feeding the original document and job description into ChatGPT and then asking the right questions. Here are some prompts I suggest:

⇨ What 12 key skills would you highlight in the resume for this job description?

⇨ Which points should I revise to match the job description better?

⇨ What information on the resume is irrelevant to the job description?

⇨ Is there anything on my current resume that may be a red flag for this particular employer, and if so, how can I address it?

⇨ How would you revise the summary for this job description?

⇨ What might be seen as a deficiency?

⇨ Write me a cover letter based on my resume for this job description.

Here’s the process I followed when I tested out these questions.

First, I said, “This is my resume,” and pasted it in.

ChatGPT thanked me for sharing my client’s work history, underscored her strengths and technical proficiencies, and made her feel good about herself. “Overall, your resume showcases a strong combination of technical and interpersonal skills, which would be valuable assets in a program manager role.” (The title of the resume was “Program Manager.”)

Then, I said, “This is a job description I’d like to apply for,” and I fed it the job description.

ChatGPT told me my client would be a strong candidate for the role. It highlighted where my skills, passion, and traits aligned with the job description. It even told me to apply!

From ChatGPT: “Overall, I believe that your experience and traits make you a strong fit for this position. I encourage you to apply and showcase how your skills align with the responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job description. Good luck!”

Finally, I asked questions.

The insightful answers I received helped me adapt the resume for the new job description. I asked for 12 keywords to include in the skills section, and I received a list that appeared well-aligned with the job description. ChatGPT wasn’t particularly helpful in coming up with ways to align my work history with the new Key Skills, but it was helpful in identifying possible red flags, so I could improve the resume’s relevancy while addressing potential concerns.

ChatGPT wrote a summary for the resume, which I had to refine to remove pronouns (I) and articles (a, the), but overall, it was well-aligned with what the job description wanted. It also produced a reasonably compelling cover letter.

If you’re not using AI to help you with your job search, you’re wasting time.

I think one of the top skills people will need in the future is knowing how to ask AI the right questions to produce the results they’re seeking. It’s a game of trial and error, and the possibilities are endless.

Have you used AI to help you with your resume or cover letter? What questions did you ask? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

“Spray and pray” is not a good strategy for landing a high-quality job aligned with your skills and values.

Whether you use a highlighter or a robot, your job search will be faster and more successful if you adapt your resume and cover letter to the job description each time you apply.