4 Pitfalls of the ChatGPT Written Resume (and What to Do Instead)
Hands on iPhone with ChatGPT
Hey ChatGPT, fold and put away my laundry. 👕 (*sighs wishfully)
Okay, we’re not quite there yet, but a girl can dream.
We are, however, definitely in our ChatGPT era.
From…
🏖️ Creating vacation must-do itineraries
🥙 Swiftly concocting recipes from what’s left in our fridge
👩🏽 To generating eerily accurate LinkedIn headshots
AI is kind of out here doing the most.
Even though it can’t take on my least favorite house chore (*yet), there’s no denying the power and convenience—not to mention disruption—of the continuously evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
But when it comes to the AI-generated resume—specifically ChatGPT—is it friend or foe?
My name’s Tessa. Recruiting and resume strategist. And professional copywriter for career coaches.
For over a decade, I worked in corporate recruiting (five years in Tech)—
✔️ Building, scaling, and designing highly successful talent programs
✔️ Partnered with dozens of leaders—from new managers to C-level executives
✔️ Wrote even more resumes
✔️ Banked over 7,000 hours of interviews (plus designing interview processes)
✔️ And hired hundreds of employees
I’ve seen A LOT of resumes. Like thousands of resumes—I know a strong one when I see it.
And I love sharing what I've learned throughout my career to help professionals like you on your career journey.
| Let’s team up! |
|---|
| No idea where to start with all this resume stuff? Haven’t updated yours in 5 years? Changing career paths altogether? I got you. Book your FREE Discovery Call today! |
First, let me say: ChatGPT is a huge timesaver. Like you, I use it for stuff, too. And totally get the appeal. It’s a super useful tool when used ethically and responsibly.
I’m not here to take away ChatGPT’s flowers. Instead, I want to ensure you get yours. 💐
(for more on my ChatGPT and writing philosophy, 👀 my LinkedIn post where we square off in a writing challenge)
And with:
⭕ Layoffs abundant
⭕ A tight job market, and
⭕ The reality of triple-digit job applications
Efficiency and speed are essential. So asking ChatGPT to throw you an AI-generated lifeline isn’t just logical...
It’s understandable.
But when it comes to the ChatGPT-written resume, it may not be all the sunshine, roses, interviews, and dream job offers you hoped for. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet, babe, and every tool and system we use has pros and cons.
(you knew that already, it’s why you’re here)
In a world of “Easy Apply” buttons and AI on the rise, it’s even more important to stand out.
| “The most impactful resumes tell a story with your voice, personality, and perspective.” - Tessa Grashuis |
So, with that in mind, let’s, uh…chat about the potential limitations and common pitfalls of your ChatGPT-resume and what you can do to avoid them. (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun 😅)
Pitfall #1: It’s Generic
Vanilla ice cream cone
One of the biggest issues with ChatGPT-written resumes is the boilerplate, generic language, and how little personalization they have.
AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful. Combing the internet in mere moments to deliver simple answers to complex—and sometimes ridiculous requests. (ie. How do you build a magical potato?)1
But it misses the HOW of it all—the good stuff. So your at-face-value ChatGPT resume is devoid of…
🔸 Your specific accomplishments
🔸 Milestones you’ve hit
🔸 Lessons you’ve learned
🔸 Team members you partnered up with
🔸 And challenges you’ve overcome in your career
All of which are impressive and unique to you and your experience. ChatGPT won’t understand that level of detail about you.
Because it still doesn’t know you.
So your resume falls a bit flat.
| What to Do Instead: |
|---|
| Use the resume ChatGPT generates as a guide. A framework. A prompt, if you will. Expanding where necessary. Go through it with a fine-tooth comb to ensure the information: ✅ Is accurate and not misleading ✅ Highlights your unique accomplishments, skills, experience, etc. ✅ Is relevant to the role and company you’re applying to. Doing this still saves you time, plus it accounts for the lack of customization of the AI resume. |
Pitfall #2: It Misses Parts of YOUR Story
Missing puzzle piece
In school, did you ever get a math problem wrong, despite using a calculator? (so annoying, btw).
After checking your work again, you realize you missed something, and the calculator didn’t have enough information. It didn’t know the whole story without you telling it the whole story.
Sure, the calculator is primitive compared to the power and capacity of today’s AI tools. But it turns out, ChatGPT needs more of the story too.
It’s a super sophisticated (to say the least) tool — trained on roughly 570GB of datasets. And is intuitive and brilliant at filling in the blanks. Crawling and scanning data to answer “more than 10 million queries per day”.2
But it has its limits.
ChatGPT isn’t scanning you and your career and it overlooks key details of both. In a way—like the calculator—you get what you give.
When fed insufficient or fragmented information, your ChatGPT resume misses the mark.
It’s incomplete…unless you tell it:
1️⃣ What and how you did something
2️⃣ Why it mattered to your company or team
3️⃣ How each phase of your career builds upon the next
4️⃣ And why you’re perfect for this job
The combination of all FOUR is what recruiters and hiring managers WANT to see.
After all, they’re looking at your resume to determine how your unique skills, experience, and qualifications match up with the job. That’s what makes you stand out.
When your resume weaves together your career narrative and highlights the value of your experience, it shows them how you’ll impact their company and team.
| “Ultimately, people aren’t great at writing resumes… but I would advise any job seeker that using a genuine voice and language that tells a true story will always help you stand out in a crowd of other resumes more than something that is produced by extracting data from the sea of resumes that AI can pull from.” Allegra Highsmith Vice President of Recruiting at the Exeter, N.H.-based Goodwin Recruiting3 |
Don’t worry. I’m not talking about writing a whole novel here.
The strongest resumes I’ve ever reviewed were:
👍🏽 Clear
👍🏽 Concise
👍🏽 And balanced across the what, why, and how.
| What to Do Instead: | |
|---|---|
| 1. Get *really* specific | Be as detailed as possible with your ChatGPT prompt. Spend time reviewing your previous jobs and current position. Jot down your specific responsibilities and accomplishments for each. Why it matters: If you’re a sales executive applying for a sales manager position, chances are other professionals with a similar background are doing the same. And if you’re all using ChatGPT resumes, chances are higher you’ll blend in with the sea of applicants Being specific with your ChatGPT prompt helps your resume stand out. |
| 2. Write a rough draft | Use that information to create a solid first draft of your resume. Without one ChatGPT will pull generic, common, and buzzwordy language from the web. Why it matters: Creating a first draft gives it a frame of reference and parameters around your experience. |
| 3. Do your research | Know which job(s) you want to apply for. Paste the link in your prompt so ChatGPT can tailor the resume you provided to match it. Why it matters: Each resume should be relevant to the job. |
| 4. Edit and tweak as you go | Go through and fine-tune the bullet points to ensure they accurately reflect your true story. Why it matters: ChatGPT makes mistakes and is guilty of sporadic plagiarism, so it’s important to make sure your resume is right. |
| 🪻Added Bonus: Writing your resume this way prepares you for more in-depth interview questions. Your interviewers will ask you about your accomplishments, mistakes, and lessons learned. Now you’re ready to answer them! |
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Pitfall #3: It Gets Buried
Man shoveling dirt into a big hole
The TLDR? Your ChatGPT resume allows you to apply to more jobs faster— and so can everyone else.
Meaning your resume is at a higher risk of getting buried.
In a weird “chicken and egg” style turn of events, by making applying to jobs easier, ChatGPT has become part of the problem.
From job hunters like you, I hear stories of BOTH…
| Ease | …And Frustration |
|---|---|
| ◾ There’s so much competition out there, why not just use ChatGPT to write my resume so I can apply to dozens of jobs at a time? ◾ I have responsibilities, and ChatGPT writes a resume so quickly that I hardly have to spend any time on it. ◾ I’m not a great writer, I hate writing resumes and don’t have a lot of time: ChatGPT solves that for me. |
◾ This job posting has 200+ applications. No one will see mine. ◾ I’m perfect for this job but didn’t even get an interview. Is a real person even looking at my resume? ◾ Why put a lot of time and effort into a resume that’ll be thrown out anyway? ◾ It’s a lot of energy to dedicate. They’re just going to ghost me. |
Recruiters and recruiting teams are getting overrun—met with more resumes than ever before. And it’s partially because of AI.4
Because of how much *easier it is to apply, job seekers are applying to more jobs now than in the past. Unfortunately, this leads to more unqualified applicants for those teams to sift through.5
(*Notice I said easiER, not easy. Many processes are still infuriatingly inefficient—if you’ve ever had to attach a resume, re-enter that information manually, then do it again for another job at the same company. YOU KNOW.)
And because ChatGPT notoriously recycles language and phrases—pulling from other resumes and data out there—your resume looks, sounds, and feels like everyone else in the pile. Putting you at risk for a watered-down resume that doesn’t articulate the breadth of talent and wealth of experience you actually have.
You’re not like everyone else.
Check out my tips below to ensure your resume shows that.
| What to Do Instead: |
|---|
| ◾Stay strategic about the jobs you apply for to make the most of your time and effort. And I’m not talking about being overly picky when times are desperate. We’ve all been in spots where we have to take what we can get right now. Instead, think: Would I accept this job if they offered it to me? ◾Read the job posting carefully and make note of the areas you have experience ◾ Use those keywords in your resume copy ◾ Utilize action-oriented and outcome-focused language—led, implemented, optimized, etc. ◾ Quantify your specific achievements whenever you can— “Increased sales by 20% over X time, resulting in Y outcome.” This approach clearly conveys your impact and value in the same language the hiring manager or recruiter is looking for. |
⚖️A Note on Bias:
Biased language—especially gender-biased—is a thing. Underrepresented groups are far less likely to apply when job postings are stuffed with unnecessary or irrelevant requirements. And women are less likely to apply for jobs if they believe they don’t meet 100% of the qualifications. I encourage you to reject that imposter syndrome.6
As a biracial woman, I’m all too familiar with these insecurities and struggles. I’m here to hype and encourage you—book a free 1:1 discovery call with me here.
Pitfall #4: Recycled words...with No Follow-up Guidance
Dead end road sign
Bullet points, data, formatting, oh my—How do I know if my resume is good?
It’s a question I’ve been asked A LOT over the years and I understand why. When resumes aren’t your forte and your job hasn’t been to review and critique hundreds in a sitting, it’s tough to know.
(Fortunately, I’ve logged the time so you don’t have to and have some tips to share.)
Your resume is your first impression.
And a well-formatted resume is crucial to making it memorable.
ChatGPT generates the words on the page and fills in the blanks…but how do you know if your resume is strong OR if it’s just like every other resume ChatGPT created for others with similar experience?
Besides not understanding your multifaceted and complex career history, it doesn’t offer:
❌ Diverse and impactful statements, essential to showcase your achievements and value you’ll bring to an organization and team
❌ Clean, professional templates with desirable formatting that clearly articulates your experience without overcomplicating
❌ Strategic deep dives into who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and your goals for the future
❌ A service and guidance that’s unique to you, beyond surface-level words on a page
Which are the things that help you stand out.
Hiring managers and recruiters have limited time—on average, spending only 3-5 seconds reviewing a resume before moving on….that’s a big deal. Make sure yours makes an impression AND isn’t thrown out because of technicalities like formatting, typos, inaccuracies, or unreadable file types.
Here’s what I recommend to make the most of their time—and yours—and help keep your resume out of the application black hole 🕳
| What to Do Instead: |
|---|
| ✔️ Customize your resume for each position you apply to ✔️ Place the most relevant stuff at the top ✔️ Keep it clean—basic fonts, bullet points, headings, and consistent formatting ✔️ Be specific about your responsibilities, skills, and achievements. Backing them up with data when you can. ✔️ When you apply, submit your resume as a PDF—it’s easy to download and ensures original formatting ✔️ Always review your resume before hitting “Submit” — once it’s sent, it’s gone, so check for inaccurate or inconsistent info ✔️ Partner with a professional, industry-experienced resume writer to make sure your resume fires on all cylinders |
If it sounds overwhelming, that’s understandable. You’ve done A LOT in your career. And knowing exactly how to string these accomplishments together in a compelling way isn’t easy.
As a resume revisionist and professional copywriter with over 10 years of recruiting experience, I understand:
✨ How the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) work
✨ What’s Recruiters and Hiring Managers look for (and what they don’t like)
✨ And exactly how to highlight the key details that make your resume stand out
I rewrite your resume and take you through a full exercise to identify your accomplishments, strengths, what you like and dislike, and what you want in your next career step.
Check out what my client Michelle had to say!
| Client Testimonial |
|---|
| “[Tessa’s] ability to capture my unique voice and personality while effectively conveying my professional brand is truly commendable. Overall, I cannot recommend Tessa highly enough. If you're looking to elevate your resume and stand out in today's competitive job market, look no further. With her unparalleled expertise, personalized service, and unwavering commitment to excellence, she is truly a gem in resume updating and copywriting services. This beauty [resume] has already led me to one interview, so thank you!” - Michelle, Customer Experience Lead |
Final Thoughts
There’s no harder person to write about than yourself.
Creating your resume is a personal thing—you’re basically quantifying your professional worth and sending it to strangers, hoping it resonates.
It’s understandable to need help.
That’s what makes ChatGPT so appealing. It cuts through analysis paralysis, jump-starts your resume, and gets you moving toward a (*hopefully) more fulfilling career and life.
But let’s be honest: it’s not perfect. If not used strategically, the results are subpar and disappointing—a generic resume, that doesn’t tell your unique story, highlight what makes you uniquely qualified, or give you professional, personalized guidance along the way.
You might even end up spending hours crafting what you think is a stellar resume, only to hit formatting issues, generic content with impersonal language, or worse, unexpected costs.
You’re anything but subpar and generic. And you deserve a resume AND job strategy that shows that.
That’s why I designed The Career Strategy PROgram™. A 4-Module, self-paced, digital course to help you nail down—and execute—your job strategy.
In The Career Strategy PROgram™ you get:
Plus, I’m here to support you. Each step of the way.
With my decade of experience in corporate recruiting, hiring hundreds of employees, viewing thousands of resumes, and designing successful interviewing and hiring programs, I’ll lead you through a job strategy to stand out in a crowded job market.
Book your FREE 15-minute Consultation Call with me today!
End Notes
1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2023/03/04/chatgpt-the-weirdest-things-people-ask-ai-to-solve/
2. https://blog.invgate.com/chatgpt-statistics#:~:text=ChatGPT%20receives%20more%20than%2010,%2C%20books%2C%20and%20other%20sources.
3. https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/technology/how-to-spot-ai-generated-lies-on-a-resume
4. https://www.wired.com/story/recruiters-ai-application-overload/#:~:text=It's%20not%20uncommon%20for%20tech,to%20bulk%20apply%20to%20roles.
5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmylucas/2023/12/11/armed-with-ai-workers-are-applying-to-more-jobs-its-upping-the-competition/
6. https://textio.com/blog/the-5cs-framework-for-inclusive-job-descriptions
