Use AI to Supercharge Your Resume and Nail the Interview Without Cheating

Navigating the job market has always been a bit of an anxiety trigger, but throw AI tools like ChatGPT into the mix, and you may have yourself a bit of much-needed help that can ease your stress. Indeed, these tools are shaking things up for everyone, making resume writing slicker and — well, a tad trickier. On one hand, they're a boon for job seekers looking to polish their CVs to a high shine. On the other, they open a Pandora's box of embellishments and, dare I say, outright fibs. And we don’t want that, do we?

Using AI to spice up your resume isn't a bad thing. Who doesn't want to put their best foot forward? But... stretching the truth, regardless of if smart tech does it for you, is a no-go. When applying for a job, integrity and authenticity are non-negotiable. So, before you get too caught up in how good AI can make you look on paper, here’s a quick reminder of how you can use today’s tech shortcuts ethically to enhance your resume and prep for interviews:

Use AI for brainstorming: Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can help with inspiration for bullet points about your experiences and achievements. Input your job duties, and let AI suggest ways to frame these tasks with realistically right-on action verbs and consistent prose.

Customize your current resume to the new position: Input the job description for the position that interests you into AI along with your resume and ask it for suggestions that can enhance your existing language so it matches up with the key skills and experiences the employer is seeking. Of course, make sure you genuinely possess them before adding them. 

Add some polish: Think of AI as an English teacher you may ask for assistance if your strengths in grammar and punctuation still need some work. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion and some polish on a resume, so long as the factual accuracy of the content isn’t altered.

Embark on AI role-play: Yep, AI can serve as a job coach, engaging you in AI-driven mock interviews. Tell your AI tool to reference the job description you already uploaded and output questions that might be asked on your interview. This can help you articulate your experiences with greater confidence — and give you lots of time to practice.

Seize AI insights on company culture and background: Use AI to gather details about a company’s team culture and its core values, two things that can make or break your interview process and determine if you are, in fact, a good fit. Such insight can also lead you to you further optimize your resume and prepare responses to conversation topics that may come up — and give you a well-versed question or two of your own to ask your interviewer. (Bonus points for that!)

Remember, while AI is evolving in its capabilities and can serve up never-before-seen resources, AI is here to lend a hand, not to weave tales. Keep your qualifications and experiences genuine, and let your true talents and expertise do the real land-that-job talking.