AI Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Last Updated on August 1, 2024 by Career Reload Team

ChatGPT, Gemini, and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing the world of resume creation. These AI resume builders are emerging as potential game-changers, promising to streamline the process of writing resumes and cover letters. While there are several benefits of using AI to make resumes, it is critical to navigate this new frontier cautiously. In this article, we examine the rise of AI in resume creation, its benefits, and the common mistakes to avoid when using AI to craft resumes.

The benefits of AI resume builders

The conventional resume writing process is not only tedious but also time-consuming. Leveraging NLP (Natural Language Processing) to assess job descriptions and generate personalized resumes quickly, AI has revolutionized the way people create resumes. By using ChatGPT to make a resume, you enjoy the following benefits:

• Save your precious time because the resume is auto-formatted with clear sections and a professional layout.
• Quick identification of relevant keywords from job descriptions and their seamless incorporation throughout the resume. This augments the chances of your resume passing the Applicant Tracking System that most companies use. What’s more? You don’t have to waste resources and effort in conducting keyword research.
• A resume with strong action verbs and powerful languages is created by AI to ensure that the impact is enhanced. Also, the resume is error-free because the AI tool thoroughly checks the grammar and spelling.

However, ChatGPT and other AI tools are still under development. They don’t always provide accurate information, so relying solely on ChatGPT or Gemini might lead to unintended consequences.

Instead of using ChatGPT and AI you should consider using a traditional resume builder to create your resume. Traditional resume builders come with templates and have many other features that make them superior to AI resume writers.

The pitfalls of over-reliance on AI resume builders

AI is a valuable tool in streamlining the resume-making process. However, it is critical to consider these potential pitfalls:

Lacks personalization

A one-size-fits-all approach does not work in resumes. AI-generated resumes usually lack specific examples and the personal touch that demonstrates a candidate’s unique experience and skills. They also contain generic statements like improved teamwork or increased efficiency without any quantifiable, specific data.

Cliches and unnatural language

As mentioned, AI tools are still evolving. Hence, their outputs may contain unnatural language and cliches. ChatGPT and other AI resume builders struggle to capture the nuances of human language, which raises red flags for hiring managers. Furthermore, the heavy use of generic buzzwords and cliches makes resumes sound generic and insincere.

AI detectability by hiring managers

Many hiring managers or recruiters are becoming increasingly adept at spotting AI-generated resumes. Repetitive structure, cliched language, generic sentences, overuse of industry buzzwords, and irrelevant keywords can easily explore your reliance on AI. This might potentially lead to your application being discarded.

Common AI resume mistakes, and how do we avoid them?

AI is a useful tool for creating resumes, but when using AI, you must avoid the following common mistakes to ensure your resume is not discarded by hiring managers:

• Generic language – Do not let AI replace your unique voice. You can use AI to create your resume but you must tailor the resume to ensure it highlights your specific accomplishments and mentions the quantifiable results you have achieved. Be sure to customize your resume for your industry.
• Keyword stuffing – In most cases, AI suggests using all the keywords from the job description. But if you follow this, your resume will become overloaded with keywords and this might make your resume appear impersonal and inauthentic. Instead of stuffing your resume with every keyword mentioned in the job description, focus on only using those keywords that are relevant and can be used naturally in your content.
• Lack of proofreading and editing – AI can help you generate a basic resume, but it can never replace human editing. Hence, you must not submit your AI-generated resume without proofreading it. Proofreading will help you pinpoint the grammatical errors and typos that AI may have missed. Then, you must edit those mistakes and send an error-free resume.
• Inaccurate information – AI tools do not take responsibility for accuracy. This rests solely on you. You must double-check employment details, all dates, and skills listed by AI against your own records. Make changes wherever necessary.

Should you use AI tools to create your resume?

Using AI tools like ChatGPT to create your cover letter or resume can be highly beneficial, yet it’s essential to ensure these tools complement rather than replace your personal input and critical thinking. When using AI tools to generate a resume, maintaining a balanced approach is crucial. Start by leveraging AI to draft a resume that includes relevant keywords and a solid structure. This draft serves as a foundation, which you should then personalize to reflect your unique experiences, skills, and accomplishments.

While AI can help organize your resume, it cannot emphasize your achievements with quantifiable data. It is important to proofread the AI-generated content and make necessary additions and changes to highlight your accomplishments effectively. Using specific data and numbers to showcase your impact in previous roles is key to making your resume stand out.

In conclusion, while AI tools can save you time and effort in creating resumes, they can also make your resume appear generic and dull. Striking a balance between utilizing AI and infusing your unique touch is crucial to making your resume truly shine.

Sara Duerr

Sara has been in the career development field for over 10 years and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She covers topics such as resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, career planning, and more. You can connect with her on LinkedIn. She has curated our free downloadable resume templates for Word and resume templates for Google Docs.