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If you've been on the internet in the past 6 months, you've heard about the rise of artificial intelligence. AI brings incredible power to completely transform how we work. As AI continues to expand in reach, more and more AI-powered plug-ins and niches continue to emerge at an incredible rate. I was curious to learn more about AI-powered resume writing tools to better understand how well they craft a narrative, what formatting capabilities look like, and how the final product plays with applicant tracking systems. AI resume writing services promise to revolutionize your job search... Well, I decided to put them to the test so you don't have to.
As the Resume Realist, I believe in the power of a human touch when it comes to crafting resumes that truly represent your unique professional journey. I am 100% pro-AI, and found some of the capabilities to be beneficial, primarily in text generation and intuitively knowing what skills to highlight for certain job titles. But that's where my love ended for these initial versions of AI resume writing. While they can generate a basic resume template, they lack the finesse and personalization that make your application stand out.
The process for the platforms I tried was similar across each of the three I accessed: you enter into a simple chat with the system, answering basic questions like your name, recent title, and which resume format you like best. From there, content is generated based on the algorithms associated with your most recent job title. Each platform pulled in generic profiles and achievements to kick-off content writing.
The pros? Each system emphasized achievements and outcomes for roles, recommending quantifying those achievements as much as possible. You can also explore examples from other users with similar titles to jog your thought process. Having the power of AI-behind content generation is beneficial in pulling what you're thinking together into well-crafted statements.
The cons? Despite the simplicity of dragging and dropping fields to include, the format of the resume came out looking outdated. Most systems automatically included fields for hobbies and a personal photo (both things I would never recommend including). Take a look at the first recommendation for my resume that was fully generated by AI in one platform:
Bottom-line? AI can't capture the essence of your achievements, the nuances of your career progression, or the impact you've made in your previous roles. The outputs tended to read pretty generic and lacked real-world context needed to sell accomplishments to a human. A well-crafted resume requires a really delicate balance of design, optimized content, and ATS-friendly formatting.
At The Resume Realist, I offer personalized resume writing services that take into account your unique skills, experiences, and goals. By working closely with you, I ensure that your resume showcases your achievements, tells your story, and captures the attention of hiring managers.
I maximize the emerging capabilities of generative AI to optimize content, beat applicant tracking systems, and build efficiency in editing. But, for now, AI hasn't advanced far enough yet to beat the human touch. AI resume writing tools may have their place, but they can't replace the expertise and personalization that I bring to the table.
Don't forget, your resume is still going to get in front of a human. At least for now. And that human hiring manager will spend less than 7 seconds before deciding if you move forward or not. Generative AI and applicant tracking systems will continue to build better algorithms to pre-screen candidates out, but at the end of the day, people decide who to hire.
Contact me to create a standout resume that lands your next 9 to 5.
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