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When it's time to create a new CV, there are countless online services available to help you. Many of these tools rely heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) to guide you through the process. As fast as AI has improved, relying solely on it to write a resume could be a mistake. There is always a human element in the process that must be embraced.
Rather than relying on AI alone to create your next resume, it's better to combine the two, as one is often better at performing specific tasks.
When you search for "resume writing" online, you'll find a long list of services available. Some, like TopResume(Opens in a new tab), have a team of experienced writers ready to help you create the perfect resume. Others, like Kickresume - opens in a new tab, are powered by AI. In this case, the OpenAI GPT-3 NLP model.
Here's an overview of when you should use AI to write a resume and when you should hire a human expert.
You may also be interested in the best professional resume builders and the best job boards.
Advantages and disadvantages of AI in resume writing
When you choose a heavily AI-powered resume writing solution, you're putting your professional life in the hands of computers X and O. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as AI can do a lot to streamline the process.
Most AI-Power services work the same way. After you add personal information, the AI tool will ask questions focused on your work experience, education, skills, and hobbies. It will then show you a CV based on this information. From there, you can customize the final layout by editing the template, adding or removing personal details, rearranging sections, and more.
If you don't feel like having a bot build your entire resume, that's fine too. Some sites focus on creating the best bullet points for each job listed on your resume work experience and leave the creative work up to you.
On a pure micro level, there are a few things that AI does better than humans when creating a resume, including:
Use an industry-appropriate template – Document templates sometimes get a bad rap. However, in terms of resume writing, templates are indeed your friend. AI not only has the ability to create hundreds of high-quality resume templates, but it can also identify which ones are best for which industries. It's probably not the kind of information you're an expert on, so it's nice that AI can get you past that point quickly.
All About Keywords: You can create the perfect resume, but it won't make much sense if no one can find it online. This is where keywords come in. Just like businesses want to rank at the top of a Google search page, so do job seekers. AI is very good at identifying the most important keywords for the appropriate job or industry, and then makes resume writing recommendations based on that data.
The proof in words: If you've ever received resumes, you probably already know how bad it is when a resume contains a typo. While the actual editors do a great job of finding these annoyances, the AI is even better. He can check his CV carefully before sending it.
Time is valuable – AI powered resume writing services are also beneficial as they can save you time to do other things. For example, instead of spending hours creating a new draft resume, the AI can create one (or more) in seconds once it has your personal information.
However, working with AI-powered resume services alone presents some challenges and weaknesses, including:
Flawed collection system: Today's AI can spit out information in seconds. However, if the website collecting this information is cumbersome, you could quickly find yourself in a garbage-in-out scenario. So, make sure you select one of the best AI resume builders.
Limitations: It's also important to understand that the resume writing solutions powered by Al are only as good as the layouts, templates, and fonts they can recommend. Options at all levels are improving almost every month. And yes, the customization tools are still much more limited than if you were working with an actual copywriter.
Where's my tone? Depending on the type of position you are applying for; its general tone should filter into the digital page. Al might have a problem doing that. Yes, it will correct the grammar, but the result may be too boring for some.
How humans can (and can't) help with resume writing
As you can see above, AI achieves a lot when it comes to resuming typing. And yet, there are some aspects of the process where it's still important to trust a real person. Some of the benefits of using a human include:
Understanding: At least for now, artificial intelligence programs have been unable to understand the nuances that ultimately come with human language. As such, they cannot recommend subtle details that might be useful to you when placed on your resume. Only humans can do that.
He shines creatively through AI-powered shows that still lack a creative side. As such, they may present language for your resume that may seem repetitive or generic. Professional resume writers, on the other hand, can make your resume text unique and human-sounding.
Best Foot Forward: Human writers can dig deep and ask the right questions to highlight their best qualities.
There are downsides to using a real person to fill out your resume.
It takes time: Meeting someone in person or online takes time. This includes preparation time and the meeting itself. Then you have to wait for the person to contact you with their recommendations.
Higher cost: Real resume writers typically charge more than solutions powered by Al. Whether that cost difference is significant will depend on the size of your wallet.
What trends? Resume needs have changed dramatically in recent years with the rise of job search tools that use algorithms and keywords to match potential candidates with employers. A true writer could put you at a disadvantage if he is not computer literate or aware of the latest trends.
Unique Requirements: The writer you hire may also not be an expert in your specific industry, and that could be reflected in the finished product. Where AI-powered solutions can produce dry content, they can still identify the resume templates and design that best suit your job search.
Take a blended approach
As you can see, there are pros and cons to AI-powered solutions and real resume writers. This means that your best bet might be to use both types of resources. Get started with an online Al solution and find the perfect templates for the job you're looking for. Add lots of personal data so Al can make location recommendations for the text. Once you've created an impressive resume, ask an expert to review it. Let them learn more about you so they can put a creative spin on the finished product.
You might also be interested in 12 Great Resume Examples to Inspire Your Job Search and 6 Essential Characteristics Shared by Major Job Search Engines.