Writing a job-winning resume takes a lot of time and effort.
You must determine what to include, make the content stand out, and keep your resume presentable.
Fortunately, there's a way to make this process much easier.
With artificial intelligence on the rise, there's no shortage of ways you can use AI-powered tools to up your resume writing game. Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced professional, AI can help streamline your job application process and catch the hiring manager's attention.
In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to do that. We're going to explore:
- What an AI Resume Looks Like
- 10 Easy Steps to Writing a Resume with AI
- 7 Best AI Tools to Help Write Your Resume
...and more!
Let's dive right in.
Want to create your AI resume without missing a beat? Use our AI-backed resume builder and one of our professional resume templates!
Just follow the instructions in our article while using the resume builder.
Plug & Play AI Resume Example
Resume Template Text
[Your Full Name][Your Job Title][A brief summary about yourself, your mission, and a highlight of your career achievements. Keep it concise and impactful.][Your Email] | [Your Phone Number] | [Your Location] | [Your LinkedIn Profile]WORK EXPERIENCE[Job Title][Company Name][Start Date] - [End Date or Present][Describe your primary responsibilities and achievements in this role. Use specific numbers to quantify impact where possible.][Highlight notable accomplishments, projects, or improvements made during this time.]
10 Easy Steps to Writing a Resume with AI
Now you have a plug-and-play resume template, so it’s time to fill it in with your AI tool of choice!
Just follow the steps we’ve outlined, and you’ll be done in no time:
#1. Choose Your Resume Format
Before using AI to write your resume, you need to pick the right format.
Artificial intelligence can do a lot, but choosing the right resume format is a decision that’s best left to a human.
There are three main resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse Chronological. Sometimes simply referred to as “chronological,” this format lists your work experience from most recent to oldest.
- Functional. Also known as the “skills-based” resume format, it focuses on your skills rather than your work history.
- Combination. If you want to blend elements of both the reverse chronological and functional formats, this “hybrid” resume format is the right choice.
In 99% of cases, we suggest you pick the reverse chronological resume format.
It's by far the most popular resume format, and for good reason. The reverse chronological format is what hiring managers expect to see and what applicant tracking systems are typically programmed to process.
This format works perfectly because it places your most recent and relevant experiences first. By clearly highlighting your career progression, you let hiring managers quickly see your professional growth and current capabilities.
You should only consider a different format if you have significant employment gaps or are changing careers. In that case, a functional or combination format could help emphasize your transferable skills over your work timeline.
Knowing this, you can see why you should choose a resume format for yourself instead of automatically going with whatever the AI suggests.
Here’s what the reverse chronological resume format looks like in action:
#2. Add Contact Information Separately
While AI can help you write most of your resume, you should always write your contact information section manually.
After all, this section needs to be 100% accurate. If there's even a single typo in your email address or phone number, the hiring manager won't be able to reach out for an interview.
Your contact information section should include:
- Full Name. This should be the name you go by professionally, as opposed to a nickname, written in a larger font size than the rest of your resume.
- Job Title. Either add your current title (e.g.: “Business graduate”) or the one you're applying for (e.g.: “Junior Data Analyst”).
- Email Address. Use a professional email address, ideally a combination of your first and last names. (E.g.: “jessica.jameson@email.com” is great, but “jessisthebest@email.com” isn’t.)
- Phone Number. Double-check that this is correct. Include your country’s dial code at the front if you’re applying for a work-from-home position or somewhere abroad.
- Location. Your city and state/country are enough information, so don’t add your full address.
- LinkedIn Profile. It’s always good to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, so long as it’s neat and optimized to match your resume.
- Other links. If applicable to your field, you can include links to a personal website, portfolio, or anything else you think is relevant to your job application.
That being said, you can still use AI here if you need help making up a new, professional email address, instead of using the nerdy one you used in high school. Here’s an example with ChatGPT:
Now, let’s look at what your completed contact information section should look like:
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Quick Tip
Wondering whether to include a photo on your resume? Check out our full guide to find out!
#3. Expand on Your Work Experience
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers what you've accomplished and convince them you're the right person for the job.
This section should always list your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your current (or most recent) position. For each role, include:
- Your job title
- Company name and location
- Employment dates
- Key responsibilities and achievements
Here’s what this would look like on your resume:
Now, writing about your work experience can be challenging. This is where AI tools can come in and help you create great descriptions of your work experience so far.
Novorésumé's AI resume builder can instantly generate relevant achievements and responsibilities based on your job title, helping you brainstorm ideas and easily highlight your most impressive accomplishments.
Now, let's look at three specific ways AI can help you perfect your work experience section.
List Achievements Using AI
The key to mastering your work experience section is to focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just listing day-to-day tasks. This is something AI can give you a ton of leverage with - you can transform basic job duties into compelling statements that catch the hiring manager's attention in no time!
For example, instead of writing generic statements like "Managed social media accounts" or "Led team projects," AI can help you create achievement-focused bullet points that showcase your impact.
Here's what makes a great achievement:
- Specific numbers and metrics
- Clear results
- Strong action verbs
- Problem-solution statements
Let’s look at an example with Claude AI:
And here’s what Claude had to say:
That’s a great start! Now, let’s look at examples of how one of these responsibilities could look on your resume.
Basic Responsibility
- Responsible for social media management.
AI-Optimized Example
- Increased social media engagement by 65% in 6 months by implementing data-driven content strategy and leading a team of 3 content creators.
The Novorésumé AI resume builder can give you examples of achievements based on your field and level of experience and even help you phrase achievements more effectively.
Just make sure that everything is truthful and accurately represents your experience. Never include fake metrics or exaggerated results just because they sound impressive; believe us, the hiring manager will find out, and things will get awkward.
Instead, you can provide the AI with specific metrics and numbers so it can naturally incorporate them into your content. The more detailed information you give the AI, the better it can help phrase your greatest accomplishments.
Use AI to Tailor Your Resume
Sending the same generic resume to every job opening won’t help you stand out from the crowd. Each application needs to be tailored to the specific role you're applying for if you want the hiring manager to see what you can bring to the table.
Here's how to effectively use AI to tailor your resume:
- Analyze the Job Description. Let the AI identify the job’s key requirements, skills, and qualifications the employer is looking for.
- Matches Your Experience. Have AI help you rephrase your work experience to emphasize the skills and achievements that are most relevant to the role.
- Highlights Keywords. The AI will suggest industry-specific terms and keywords from the job posting that you should naturally incorporate into your resume.
- Prioritizes Content. AI can help you determine which achievements to emphasize based on the job's requirements.
Let’s look at an example of how AI can help you prioritize your resume’s contents:
Here, we were looking at a role as a nanny, and this is what ChatGPT suggested:
Not bad! But ChatGPT is far from the only tool that can lend you a hand here.
Novorésumé's AI resume builder can help you do this in seconds. Copy and paste the job description into our platform, and the AI will analyze it to help you optimize your resume's content. It highlights the key requirements and skills from the job ad, along with suggestions on how to emphasize relevant experiences from your background.
Here’s an example of what the AI might identify from a job ad:
Include Industry-Specific Language
Another thing AI can help with is getting your resume past the applicant tracking system (ATS).
If you want to ATS-proof your resume, you need to use the right industry terminology, and AI can help you identify and incorporate these crucial keywords and phrases.
Every industry has its own jargon and preferred terminology. For example, a marketing manager position might use terms like "B2B," "CPC," or "CRM implementation," while a DevOps engineer role might require knowledge of "k8s deployment," "IAC tools," or "ELK stack." Using these specific abbreviations and technical terms shows you're fluent in your industry's language.
The great thing about AI is that it can automatically suggest a lot of these terms while you’re creating the content for your resume. Just double-check what each term means and include it both in its abbreviated form and spelled out. (E.g.: “SEO (search engine optimization)”)
Here’s an example:
Once again, AI is a very helpful assistant.
However, you should only include industry terms you're familiar with and can confidently discuss in an interview. The goal here is to demonstrate your expertise as much as it is to get past the ATS.
#4. Mention Your Education
If you already have some professional experience, keep this section brief - your degree, school, and graduation year are usually enough. However, if you're a recent graduate or your education is particularly relevant to the role, you can use AI to expand on relevant coursework and academic achievements.
Here's what your education section should include:
- Degree Name. Your major and degree type (e.g., "BA in Psychology," or "Master's in Business Administration").
- Institution Name. The full name of your university or college (e.g.: “Columbia University”).
- Location (Optional). You can specify where your school is if it’s not evident from the name (e.g.: “New York City, USA”).
- Graduation Date. Include the year you graduated or your expected graduation date (e.g.: “2024 - present”).
- Academic Honors (Optional). If it’s impressive, it’s usually worth including it (e.g., "Magna Cum Laude," or "Dean's List").
- GPA (Optional). Only include this if it's 3.5 or higher; otherwise, it might undermine you.
- Relevant Coursework (Optional). This can be useful if you recently graduated or your coursework is relevant to the job.
With this in mind, your education section is another part of your resume where AI assistance needs to be used carefully. While AI can help format and phrase your educational background, all the details - dates, degree names, and institutions - need to be completely accurate, and that responsibility falls solely on you.
Here's what a well-formatted education section made using AI can look like:
#5. Address Your Relevant Skills
AI can be the best tool for identifying and articulating your relevant skills, especially when you're unsure which ones to highlight on your resume.
Start by sharing your work history and the job description with AI. This shouldn’t be difficult if you’ve already used the same tool to create your work experience section.
The AI can analyze all the data provided and suggest skills that match employers' expectations. For example, suppose you're applying for a digital marketing position. In that case, AI might identify relevant technical skills like "SEO" and "Google Analytics," along with soft skills like "project management" and "cross-functional collaboration."
Here's how to effectively use AI for your skills section:
- Analyze the Job Description. Ask AI to extract key skills and requirements from the job posting so you know what to target.
- Match Your Experience. Have the AI identify skills from your work history that align with the job requirements.
- Find Hidden Skills. AI can suggest skills you might have overlooked or help you identify transferable skills from previous roles.
- Group Skills Logically. Use AI to organize your skills into categories like hard skills, soft skills, and industry-specific skills.
Here’s how you can leverage ChatGPT here:
In this case, we presented a sales resume and a job ad in the same field.
Here’s what ChatGPT had to say:
Keep in mind that the AI might suggest skills you don’t have. So, it’s your job to verify each skill and only include the ones that you have. It's better to list fewer skills you can confidently discuss in an interview than to include skills you're not familiar with at all but listed to fluff up your resume with.
Now, here’s an example of what your AI-optimized skill section might look like as a software engineer:
#6. Generate a Resume Summary or Objective
When using AI to write your resume, it's best to leave your resume headline for last.
The way AI works is that it can analyze all the content you've already written and create a more focused, impactful opening statement that ties everything together. So, just let the AI help you with this part of your resume’s header once the bulk of your resume is done.
Don’t underestimate how important this part of your resume is, though. On average, hiring managers spend less than six seconds skimming a resume before deciding if it’s worth reading in depth. This gives you a very brief window to impress them, and this paragraph, which is among the first things hiring managers read, is your chance to do that!
There are two approaches you can choose from here:
- Resume Summary. A two-to-three-sentence paragraph that highlights your years of experience, most relevant skills, and key achievements. This is ideal if you have some work experience in your field.
- Resume Objective. This paragraph focuses on your career goals and how they align with the job you're applying for while emphasizing your top skills and qualifications. It's better suited for students, career changers, or people with no work experience.
To write the perfect resume headline for you, the AI needs:
- The job description.
- Your work experience.
- Some of your most impressive achievements.
- Specific skills you want to highlight.
Here’s an example of how you can ask ChatGPT to do this for you:
In this case, we’ve cut the prompt short because our candidate’s resume is quite long. Just paste everything you already have from your resume so far, and then include the job ad.
Here’s the result:
The AI will help you craft a compelling opening to your resume, but you still need to personalize its suggestions to ensure they don’t miss the mark. Your resume summary or objective should sound natural and reflect your authentic voice, not sound like something written by a robot.
Here’s an example of a perfect resume header, complete with an AI-written resume summary and contact information:
#7. Pick Optional Resume Sections
Once you've covered the essential parts of your resume, AI can help you determine which additional sections might make your application stronger and help you perfect them.
Some optional resume sections you might want to consider include:
- Certifications. Professional certifications and licenses that prove your expertise in specific areas.
- Awards. Recognition you've received for your work or academic achievements.
- Languages. Any languages you speak, along with your proficiency level.
- Projects. Personal or professional projects that showcase relevant abilities.
- Publications. Academic papers, articles, or other published work.
- Conferences. Speaking engagements or significant events you've attended.
- Hobbies and Interests. Some companies encourage candidates to share this side of themselves, and the right hobbies or interests can show you’re a perfect culture fit for their team.
AI can help you decide which optional sections would add the most value to your resume by analyzing the job description and your background. Just ask it to suggest relevant sections based on your experience and the role you're targeting, and you’ll be done in no time.
But keep in mind that when it comes to your resume, less is more. You should only include optional sections if you have the space for them and if they genuinely contribute to your overall application.
Here’s an example of how one of these optional sections can be formatted:
#8. Perfect Your Resume’s Layout
You can write amazing content with AI, but the way you present your resume is just as important. A well-formatted resume is how you can guarantee that both hiring managers and the ATS can easily find what they’re looking for, and it increases your chances of landing an interview.
So, here are the key resume layout elements you need to consider:
- Length. Aim to keep your resume to one page. The only exception is if you have more than a decade of extremely relevant work experience.
- Margins. Keep them at one inch on all sides. This creates enough white space to make your resume readable without wasting space.
- Line Spacing. You don’t want your resume to look cramped or too stretched out. Use a 1.0 to 1.15 spacing to keep things optimal.
- Font Choice. Stick to professional, easy-to-read fonts like Roboto, Arial, or Lora in sizes 10-12 pt for the main text.
- Section Headers. Make them stand out with a slightly larger font size (14-16 pt) and consistent formatting throughout your resume.
- Bullet Points. Instead of paragraphs, use bullet points to break down your content into lines that are easy to skim and nail the 30-second resume rule.
- File Format. Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting across different devices.
Getting your resume layout just right can be a drag, but with the right AI tool, it doesn’t have to be.
Our AI resume builder is intuitive, easy to use, and automatically adjusts your resume’s formatting, so you don’t have to waste precious time tweaking each element.
Just choose a template that matches your industry’s requirements, start filling in your content with our AI helper, and toggle the various layout settings at the click of a button.
Here’s an example of what some of our different professional resume templates look like in action:
#9. Evaluate Your Resume with AI
Once you've written your resume, it’s time to use AI to make sure it's optimized for both hiring managers and the ATS.
Here are some ways AI can evaluate your resume:
- Keyword Analysis. AI can check if you've included the most important keywords from the job description.
- Content Assessment. The AI can review your achievements and experiences to ensure they're relevant to the role.
- Format Check. It can verify that your resume follows an ATS-friendly structure.
- Clarity Score. AI can also evaluate whether your content is clear and readable.
- Skills Match. You can see how well your listed skills align with the job requirements.
Here’s an example of a prompt for ChatGPT:
The prompt is pretty long since we need to feed ChatGPT the full job ad. Here’s the next part:
Phew! Now, let’s look at what ChatGPT suggests:
That’s pretty good feedback!
As you can see, AI tools can be a great way to review your resume. But there are other, more effective ways to do it!
Novorésumé's AI resume builder includes a powerful evaluation feature that gives your resume a score based on how well it matches the job description. This helps you understand exactly how competitive your application is and what you might need to improve before applying.
Just run your resume through the evaluation process each time you make significant changes to keep it optimized for your target role.
#10. Transform Your Resume Into a Cover Letter
Now that your resume is all set, it’s time to include a matching cover letter.
But why start from scratch when you already have great content in your resume? AI can help transform your resume's achievements and experiences into a compelling cover letter in seconds.
Here's how AI can help you repurpose your resume content:
- Expands on Achievements. AI can take your resume's bullet points and transform them into detailed paragraphs that tell your professional story.
- Matches the Tone. The AI ensures your cover letter's language can complement your resume, so it can sound natural and engaging.
- Maintains Consistency. Key information like your contact details, professional experience, and any quantified metrics in your achievements match across both documents.
- Highlights Key Skills. The AI can emphasize the most relevant skills from your resume in a narrative format.
Our one-click cover letter generator makes this process incredibly simple.
Just select the "Generate Cover Letter" option once your resume is all set, and our AI will create a matching cover letter using the information from your resume, all while maintaining consistent formatting and matching the cover letter template to your resume.
Once it’s ready, take a few minutes to personalize the final product. Add specific details about what you know about the company, why you’re interested in the role, and how you gained certain skills. All these elements can make your application that much more compelling to the hiring manager.
6 AI Tools to Help Write Your Resume
You know how to write your resume with AI. Now, all you need is to choose the right tool to help you.
Here are some of the best AI tools we recommend:
- Novorésumé AI Resume Builder. Our intuitive AI-powered platform combines professional templates with smart content suggestions to help you create the perfect resume in minutes. The builder guides you through each section while ensuring your resume maintains proper formatting and compatibility with any ATS out there.
- ChatGPT. This versatile AI chatbot is almost synonymous with artificial intelligence. It can help you brainstorm content, rephrase achievements, and tailor your resume to specific job descriptions. It’s perfect for generating ideas and improving your writing, but it’s lacking when it comes to resume formatting and template design.
- Claude AI. Similar to ChatGPT, Claude is a chatbot-based AI platform that can understand the context of your resume and help you create detailed, professional content. It uses a more natural tone by default, so the generated writing might need less editing than what ChatGPT produces.
- Grammarly. While not strictly an AI resume writer, Grammarly’s AI-powered features can help perfect your resume's grammar, clarity, and tone, and all around make sure that your application is error-free.
- QuillBot. Primarily known for its AI paraphrasing tool, QuillBot can help you rephrase your experiences and achievements impactfully and keep it all professional.
- Hemingway Editor. This AI-enhanced helper can ensure that your resume content is clear and concise. It’s great for identifying complex sentences and suggesting simpler alternatives, as well as swapping out passive voice in favor of verbs that show initiative.
Each tool has its strengths, but for the most comprehensive resume-building experience, we recommend our AI resume builder, since it combines all the essential features you need in one platform.
Just look at how a resume made with our AI resume builder compares to one made with a standard text editor:
7 Tips to Write Your Resume with Novo’s AI Resume Builder
You’re all set to write your resume using our professional AI resume builder!
To make the process smoother for you, we’ve compiled a list of helpful resume writing tips:
- Start with a Clear Goal. Before you jump into the resume builder, think about the job you're targeting. Providing the AI with the specific job ad can help it make more relevant suggestions and content tailored to the job you’re aiming for.
- Use the Right Template. Choose a resume template that matches your industry and experience level. The AI builder works great with any of our ATS-friendly resume templates, and you can easily switch between templates mid-writing, too.
- Be Specific with Details. When you input your work experience and achievements, always provide specific numbers and metrics. The AI can help phrase them more effectively when it has concrete details to work with.
- Review AI Suggestions. The AI helper can provide helpful content recommendations, but you still need to double-check and personalize each of them to ensure they reflect your experience and unique voice.
- Keep the Keywords Natural. You can identify relevant keywords from your industry with AI, but it’s up to you to integrate them naturally into your resume instead of randomly stuffing them left and right. After all, you want a hiring manager to be impressed with your resume, so that means it has to make sense.
- Update Section by Section. Instead of trying to do everything all at once, work through each section methodically and let the AI guide you through the process.
- Double-Check Everything. Our AI resume builder is great with formatting and phrasing, but you should always verify that the dates, company names, and other specific details are 100% accurate before you download the finalized version of your resume.
FREE AI Resume Checklist
It’s time to check that your AI resume covers all the bases, and we’re here to make it easy for you.
Just check out our free resume checklist and see if the resume you made with AI holds up to the standard:
So, what do you do if something isn’t quite right? Just go back to the AI tool, give it a bit of feedback, and ask it to fix that part of your resume.
Once your AI resume meets all the requirements in the checklist, you’re all set! It’s time to apply for that job you’ve got your sights set on.
FAQs on How to Make a Resume with AI
Do you still have some questions on how to make a resume with AI? Check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below:
Key Takeaways
And that's a wrap on our guide to writing a resume with AI!
Now you know exactly how to leverage artificial intelligence to create a compelling resume that lands interviews.
But before you go, let's quickly recap the main points:
- AI tools can help streamline your resume writing process, but some sections, like contact information, should always be written manually for total accuracy.
- The reverse chronological format remains the best choice for most job seekers across any field, regardless of what any AI tool might suggest.
- You can use AI to transform basic job descriptions into impressive, metrics-driven achievements that catch the hiring manager's attention.
- Take advantage of Novorésumé's AI resume builder to easily tailor your resume to specific job descriptions and make it ATS-ready.
- While AI can help with industry-specific language and keywords, only include terms you're familiar with and can discuss in interviews.
- Remember that AI is just a tool to enhance your resume writing process. It can’t replace your unique experiences and voice, nor the need for your input. You always have to review and personalize any AI-generated content you use.
- Make use of professional resume templates and proper formatting to present your AI-enhanced content as effectively as possible.
