Should You Use AI To Write Your CV In 2024?
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way into many aspects of daily life, from virtual assistants such as Alexa to facial recognition on mobiles to chatbots in customer service.
One interesting development in this landscape of rapid AI evolution is job seekers using these powerful tools to aid their job search, with reportedly 42% of applicants open to using AI applications to create, edit and update their CVs. However, this hasn’t come without its drawbacks, as AI writing tools still struggle to imitate professional human writers, despite their advanced technology.
In this article we’ll explore what AI CV writing is, the benefits and limitations of using AI for CV writing and the value of professional CV writing services.
What is AI CV Writing?
AI CV writing refers to the use of AI technology to assist in creating, formatting and optimising CVs. One of the most popular AI CV writing tools is ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT works by using algorithms, machine learning and natural language processing to generate human-like responses to prompts.
Job seekers can use these AI writing tools by submitting prompts in return for answers, which essentially mimic a conversation. For example, if a job seeker inputted a simple prompt such as “please write me a CV for a paralegal role”, ChatGPT would then create a generic answer based on similar information it could draw from the internet, along with previously learnt information from other users.
What are the Benefits of Using AI for CV Writing?
There are a couple of benefits when using AI for CV writing, from its speedy responses to its ability to pull keywords.
Efficiency
AI CV writing tools take a matter of minutes, if not seconds, to generate a response. As a result, if you are a job seeker looking to edit your CV on a tight deadline, this could be an effective solution in a pinch.
Keyword Targeting
Many AI tools now have semantic capabilities, meaning that if you input a job description, these applications can pull important keywords to use in your CV. This can be a helpful tool for crafting a human written CV that’s more likely to pass applicant tracking systems.
What are the Limitations of AI CV Writing?
There are a number of limitations when relying solely on AI for CV writing. These include its lack of personalisation, its limited understanding of context and its heavy reliance on user input quality.
Lack of Personalisation
Due to AI lacking personalisation capabilities, AI CVs will usually use generic language and include broad sweeping statements. This means your strengths and experience aren’t portrayed in an interesting and detailed way. Not only does this make it increasingly difficult to stand out to recruiters but many recruiters are becoming more aware of key phrases used by AI and can now recognise them in your CV.
Limited Understanding of Context
AI CV writing tools are unable to understand your personal qualities and the specific role you’re applying for. As a result, it can misinterpret the job role, leading to a CV that shows a mismatch between your skills and what the recruiter is looking for.
Non-Traditional Career Paths
Each year gives rise to new job titles and some of these can be as interesting as “Happiness Hero” (yes, that’s a real job title). No set CV format will work for all jobs, meaning AI can struggle to understand the specific requirements of roles that encompass a diverse skill set.
Dependence on Input Quality
A big downside to AI is the level of user input needed. The best results are yielded from in-depth prompts, which can sometimes take just as much time as writing the CV yourself. So unless you are a prompt writing professional, you will likely receive a lacklustre response.
Why Should You Use Professional CV Writing Services?
Professional CV writing services offer a level of personalisation that you won’t find with AI tools. By using professionals, you have access to industry specific knowledge, a personalised experience and a quality assurance guarantee.
Personalised Consultation
Professional CV writing services allow you to talk in-depth with an expert about your personality, experience and career goals. This collaborative approach ensures you receive tailored advice so your CV captures your achievements in a unique and engaging style.
Keyword Optimisation
Using the help of a professional can give you the extra edge you need to stop your CV getting lost in the mass of applications. Professional CV writers have an expert knowledge of applicant tracking systems, meaning they can create a keyword optimised CV that appeals to both these systems and recruiters.
Quality Assurance
Many professional CV writers offer quality assurance guarantees. This means that if you’re not receiving more applications after their assistance, they’ll continue to help by either rewriting your CV again or suggesting further changes until you’ve secured a job.
Industry-Specific Knowledge
These services ensure you’re matched with an expert in the industry you’re applying to. These experts can provide insights based on industry standards and trends that will make your CV that little bit stronger than other applicants.
Which Option is Best For Me?
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal needs. If you’re looking for a fast and basic option, AI may be the avenue you’d like to explore as a starting point. For example, if you need to reword a single sentence, AI is a great option for these quick fixes.
It’s important to remember that all AI generated content must be edited by yourself or a professional to add the level of personalisation needed to stand out to recruiters.
On the other hand, if you have an adequate amount of time, using a professional service can create a detailed and well thought out CV. Human writers provide a level of creativity and originality that AI tools cannot. Although some professional CV writing services can incur a cost, you can access various free review services. These services usually offer a comprehensive review of your CV, along with tailored recommendations on how to improve it. Making the most of this expert input takes some of the stress and hard work out of crafting the perfect CV.
Start Your Career Today
Looking for help with your CV? At TotallyLegal, we've partnered with TopCV, who offer a free professional CV review service with an expert consultant. Get in touch with them today to find out more.
Once you’ve perfected your CV, you can apply for the latest paralegal, solicitor and in-house counsel positions on TotallyLegal. Alternatively, you can upload your CV to get headhunted for the latest advertised and non-advertised roles.
