Artificial intelligence is making its mark in career services, and ChatGPT is one of the tools leading the way. But how can it help your career center assist job seekers in crafting resumes that not only look great but also pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)?

This guide walks you through practical ways to use ChatGPT, complete with prompts and tips, to streamline the resume-writing process while ensuring each resume is tailored, impactful, and ATS-friendly.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like text based on the prompts it receives. Think of it as a virtual writing assistant that can help with everything from drafting emails to crafting resumes. For career centers, ChatGPT can be a game-changer in creating resumes that resonate with employers and get past ATS filters.

However, ChatGPT isn’t about replacing the valuable personal touch you bring to career coaching—it’s about enhancing it. By handling some of the more tedious aspects of resume writing, ChatGPT frees you up to focus on what really matters: helping job seekers present their best selves to potential employers.

Why Should Career Centers Use ChatGPT for Resume Writing?

ChatGPT offers practical tools that streamline your services, improve resume quality, and support more successful job placements.

  1. Streamline Your Workflow Without Losing Quality
    Handling a large number of resumes can be time-consuming. With ChatGPT, your team can generate resumes quickly, giving them more time to focus on personalized career counseling.
  2. Personalize Support for Diverse Needs
    No two job seekers are the same. Whether working with recent graduates, career changers, or alumni, your team can use ChatGPT to help craft resumes that highlight each individual’s strengths.
  3. Adaptable Tools for Every Sector
    Whether your students want to pursue a career in Finance, Communications or the Sciences, ChatGPT’s flexibility allows it to meet the unique challenges of their industry, helping job seekers stand out in competitive markets.
  4. Stay Ahead with Market Insights
    The job market changes rapidly, and staying informed is key. ChatGPT keeps your team up-to-date with the latest trends, ensuring the support you provide is always relevant and effective.

How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Standout Resume

Helping students create a resume that truly stands out can be tough. It’s not just about listing skills—it’s about crafting a story that resonates with employers and gets them through the hurdles of ATS systems.

ChatGPT can make this process smoother, turning the daunting, time-consuming task of resume writing into something straightforward and effective.

Once ChatGPT has helped generate the resume sections, you can streamline the process further by using Jobscan’s resume builder. It formats resumes professionally, ensuring they meet ATS standards. Download the final version as a PDF at no cost, ready for your clients’ job applications.

1. Start with Understanding the Job Seeker’s Goals

Before putting pen to paper, it’s essential to understand what the job seeker is aiming for. ChatGPT can help by gathering the necessary information upfront.

Prompt Example:
“I’m working with a student who is a recent graduate in computer science looking to start a career in software development. What information do you need to start creating their resume?”

Career Coach Tip:
Encourage students to provide detailed information about their career goals, relevant skills, and any specific industries or roles they’re targeting. This sets the foundation for a well-tailored resume.

2. Craft a Strong Resume Headline

The resume headline is a one-liner that immediately tells employers what the job seeker brings to the table. It’s the first thing they’ll notice after the contact information, so it needs to be punchy and relevant.

Prompt Example:
“Create a resume headline for a marketing professional with 5 years of experience, specializing in digital marketing and SEO, targeting a digital marketing manager role.”

Career Coach Tip:
The headline should be concise and specific, summarizing the student’s expertise and the role they’re aiming for.

3. Write a Compelling Resume Summary

The resume summary is an elevator pitch. It’s a brief overview of the job seeker’s skills, experience, and what makes them a great fit for the role.

Prompt Example:
“Write a resume summary for a project manager with 8 years of experience in the tech industry, highlighting their skills in cross-functional team leadership and project delivery.”

Career Coach Tip:
Encourage your students to personalize the summary by including unique achievements or goals that align with the job they’re applying for.

4. Develop a Strong Work Experience Section

The work experience section is the heart of the resume. It’s where job seekers can showcase what they’ve accomplished in previous roles, with a focus on measurable achievements.

Prompt Example:
“Help me write the work experience section for a software engineer with these job details: Software Engineer, XYZ Corp, June 2018 – Present, responsible for backend development, led a team to reduce system downtime by 20%, and improved API response times by 30%.”

Tip:
Emphasize the importance of quantifiable results. Employers want to see how the job seeker’s contributions made a difference in their previous roles.

5. Highlight Resume Accomplishments

Accomplishments give the resume its edge. They provide tangible proof of the job seeker’s impact in their previous roles.

Prompt Example:
“Write resume accomplishments with measurements based on the following responsibilities: managed a customer support team, increased customer satisfaction by 25%, and reduced average response time by 15%.”

Career Coach Tip:
Make sure the job seeker edits the generated accomplishments to accurately reflect their achievements. Authenticity is key.

Copy the output generated by ChatGPT into Jobscan’s resume builder under the work experience or resume summary sections. This will ensure that the content is clearly presented and aligns with the overall structure of the resume, making it easier for employers to recognize key achievements.

6. Optimize for ATS with Targeted Keywords

To get past ATS, resumes need to include the right keywords that match the job description. ChatGPT can suggest these keywords, helping job seekers tailor their resumes for each application.

Prompt Example:
“What keywords should be included in a resume for a data analyst position based on this job description?”

Career Coach Tip:
Encourage students to integrate keywords naturally into their resumes. Overloading a resume with keywords can make it sound robotic and hard to read. Make sure to verify with Jobscan if those keywords match the job description of the position they are applying for!

How to Use ChatGPT to Create Industry-Specific Resumes

Different industries often require different approaches to resume writing. ChatGPT can help tailor resumes to meet the specific demands and expectations of various fields.

Industry-Specific Prompts:

  • Tech Industry:
    “Create a resume for a software engineer focusing on skills like coding, problem-solving, and agile methodologies.”
  • Healthcare Industry:
    “Generate a resume for a registered nurse with experience in patient care, medical documentation, and team collaboration.”
  • Education Sector:
    “Help me write a resume for a high school teacher emphasizing classroom management, curriculum development, and student engagement.”

Career Coach Tip: Encourage job seekers to highlight industry-specific certifications, skills, and experiences that align with the expectations of their target field.

While ChatGPT provides a great starting point, Jobscan’s Power Edit is specifically designed for creating professional, ATS-compatible resumes tailored to specific job roles. It’s a more targeted tool for organizations aiming to enhance their clients’ job search success.

Using ChatGPT to Create Multilingual Resumes

For job seekers looking for opportunities in international markets, or for organizations working with multilingual communities, ChatGPT can assist in translating resumes into different languages.

Prompts for Multilingual Resumes:

  • Creating a Resume in Spanish:
    “Translate my resume into Spanish, focusing on my experience in international sales and marketing.”
  • Adapting for Cultural Contexts:
    “Create a resume for a French-speaking market, ensuring it aligns with cultural expectations in terms of format and content.”

Tip: Ensure that translations maintain the original resume’s intent and accurately reflect the job seeker’s qualifications.

Best Practices for Using ChatGPT in Career Centers

Maximize ChatGPT’s potential while steering clear of common pitfalls.

1) Use ChatGPT as a Starting Point, Not the Final Product
The content ChatGPT generates is a foundation. The real value comes when job seekers refine and personalize it to make it their own.

2) Educate Job Seekers on ATS
Many job seekers aren’t aware of how ATS works. Use ChatGPT as a teaching tool to explain the importance of keywords, formatting, and how these systems filter resumes.

3) Encourage Continuous Improvement
ChatGPT can help with initial drafts, but the best resumes come from multiple revisions. Encourage job seekers to keep refining their resumes until they’re polished and ready.

4) Balance Keywords with Readability
It’s crucial to find a balance between ATS compliance and readability. Overloading a resume with keywords can make it difficult to read and less effective.

More Ways Career Centers Can Utilize ChatGPT

1. Write Cover Letters That Stand Out
Cover letters might get overlooked, but they’re your job seekers’ chance to go beyond the resume and really connect with employers. With ChatGPT, you can help craft cover letters that not only complement the resume but also make a strong case for why they’re the right fit for the job.

Prompt Example:
“Write a cover letter for a candidate applying for a project management position, focusing on their ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver projects on time.”

Career Coach Tip:
Encourage students to inject some personality into their cover letters. A little enthusiasm can go a long way in making a strong impression.

Elevate your job seekers’ applications with cover letters that truly stand out. Jobscan’s  cover letter generator crafts personalized, ATS-friendly cover letters using the job seeker’s resume and the actual job listing—no generic templates, just targeted, compelling content that grabs employers’ attention.

2. Optimize LinkedIn Profiles
A well-crafted LinkedIn profile can set job seekers apart—ChatGPT helps create content that captures attention and draws in recruiters.

Prompt Example:
“Create a LinkedIn summary for a software engineer specializing in machine learning and AI applications.”

Career Coach Tip:
Remind students that LinkedIn is more than just an online resume—it’s a platform to showcase their personality and career aspirations.

3. Ensure ATS Compliance with ChatGPT
If a resume can’t pass ATS, it’s as good as unseen—ChatGPT helps optimize keywords and formatting to improve a resume’s chances of making it through these systems.

Prompt Example:
“What keywords should be included in a resume for a financial analyst role?”

Career Coach Tip:
Make sure students understand that while keywords are important, they need to be integrated naturally into the resume.

Do’s and Don’ts for Using ChatGPT in Resume Writing

Do:

  1. Personalize the Content: Customize ChatGPT’s output to reflect the job seeker’s unique experiences and voice.
  2. Highlight Measurable Achievements: Use action-oriented language to showcase specific results, like “increased sales by 20%.”
  3. Incorporate Relevant Keywords: Ensure the resume includes industry-specific keywords that align with the job description.
  4. Use ChatGPT as a Starting Point: Treat AI-generated content as a draft that needs refining and personalization.
  5. Educate on ATS Compliance: Make sure job seekers understand how to optimize their resumes for ATS systems.

Don’t:

  1. Overload with Keywords: Avoid stuffing the resume with keywords, which can make it hard to read and less effective.
  2. Rely Solely on ChatGPT: Balance AI-generated content with the job seeker’s personal input to ensure authenticity.
  3. Ignore the Job Description: Tailor the resume specifically to the job being applied for, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
  4. Skip Proofreading: Even with AI assistance, always manually check for errors or awkward phrasing.
  5. Overlook the Human Element: Ensure the resume reflects the job seeker’s personality, especially in roles where cultural fit is important.

How to Use ChatGPT to Review and Update Resumes

Refreshing a stale resume can be tough, but ChatGPT simplifies the process, ensuring it’s sharp, current, aligned with their career goals, and ready to impress.

1. Refresh Your Resume with Impactful Language

A little polish can turn a good resume into a great one, with more impactful language highlighting key accomplishments.

Prompt Example:
“Help me rewrite the work experience section of my resume to include more impactful language. I was responsible for leading a team of sales representatives, which resulted in a 15% increase in overall sales.”

Career Coach Tip:
Encourage students to use this prompt to breathe new life into outdated descriptions, making their contributions stand out more clearly.

2. Add New Skills to Stay Current

As industries evolve, so do the skills required to succeed. ChatGPT can suggest new skills to add to a resume based on the job seeker’s current role, industry, and the positions they’re targeting.

Prompt Example:
“Suggest new skills for my resume. I have been working as a project manager in the tech industry for the past 8 years, and I’m now looking to move into a senior management role.”

Career Coach Tip:
Advise students to regularly update their skills section to reflect any new competencies they’ve acquired, keeping their resumes relevant and competitive.

3. Proofread and Edit Your Resume

For a flawless finish, let ChatGPT catch any errors and smooth out awkward phrasing and inconsistencies in resumes.

Prompt Example:
“Proofread my resume for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. Here’s the content: [paste resume text].”

Career Coach Tip:
While ChatGPT can help with editing, remind students that it’s up to them to ensure that all information is accurate and reflects their true experience.

4. Update Your Resume for a Career Change

Transitioning to a new career can be challenging, but ChatGPT can help by emphasizing transferable skills and tailoring the resume to the new industry.

Prompt Example:
“Help me create a career change resume. I have 10 years of experience in education and am looking to transition into corporate training. My key skills include curriculum development, public speaking, and team leadership. Please tailor my resume to highlight these transferable skills for a role as a corporate trainer.”

Career Coach Tip:
Ensure that the resume highlights how students’ previous experience can be an asset in their new career path.

FAQs
What is ChatGPT and how can it help with resume writing?

ChatGPT is an advanced AI language model that can assist in generating professional and tailored resumes. For career centers, ChatGPT can streamline the resume creation process by offering customizable prompts that produce content aligned with industry standards, making it easier for job seekers to create resumes that stand out.

Can ChatGPT create ATS-friendly resumes?

Yes, ChatGPT can help generate resumes that are optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). By including relevant keywords and proper formatting, ChatGPT ensures that resumes have a higher chance of passing through ATS filters and getting noticed by employers.

How can career centers use ChatGPT to support job seekers?

Career centers can use ChatGPT to assist job seekers by creating resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles tailored to specific industries and job roles. ChatGPT helps save time while ensuring that each document is professionally crafted and aligned with the latest industry trends.

Is ChatGPT suitable for creating resumes for career changers?

Absolutely. ChatGPT can highlight transferable skills and relevant experiences, helping career changers position themselves effectively in a new industry. By tailoring the resume to the new role, ChatGPT ensures that the job seeker’s previous experience is presented as an asset.

How do I ensure that the content generated by ChatGPT is accurate?

While ChatGPT provides a solid foundation, it’s important to review and edit the output to ensure accuracy. Career centers should encourage job seekers to personalize the content, verify all information, and ensure that the resume reflects their true skills and experiences.

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