How to write a CV (or résumé) with ChatGPT and other AI

To write a CV with ChatGPT or any other AI, give it your full work history and the job advert, then ask it to draft each section using only the facts you provide. You keep control of the content, fill in any gaps yourself, and check every date, title, and figure stays true.

A CV and a résumé are the same idea with different names: the UK, Ireland, and much of the world say CV, while the US and Canada say résumé. The one real difference is length, as a US résumé is usually kept to a single page, so if you are applying there, ask the AI to fit everything on one page.

By the end of this, you will have a strong, tailored draft of your CV, written in your own voice and aimed at a particular job rather than sent out as a one-size-fits-all document.

What you will need

• Any AI chat tool: Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini all work well.
• Your basic details: past roles, dates, responsibilities, and a few things you are proud of.
• The job advert you are applying for, if you have one to hand.
• About 25 to 35 minutes.

Step 1: Give the AI your raw material

Start by telling the AI everything about your experience, even if it is rough and unordered. The more you give it up front, the more your CV will sound like you and not a generic template.

I'm writing a CV and would like your help. Here's what I've done so far, in no
particular order:

- Roles and dates: [list each job, the dates, and the employer]
- What I did in each: [a few lines per role, however messy]
- Things I'm proud of: [projects, results, moments that went well]
- My skills: [anything you can think of]

Please don't write the CV yet. First, ask me any questions that would help you
present this well.

What to expect: the AI will ask a few questions, often about results you achieved or gaps in your history. Answering them is where a lot of the value is.

If it does not work: if it starts writing your CV straight away, reply with “Please hold off and ask me your questions first.”

Step 2: Tailor it to the job

A CV works far better when it speaks to one specific role. Paste the job advert and ask the AI to line your experience up against what the employer is asking for.

Here's the job I'm applying for:

[paste the job advert]

Which of my experiences and skills matter most for this role? List them in order
of relevance, and tell me if there's anything the advert asks for that I haven't
mentioned yet.

What to expect: a ranked list showing which parts of your background to lead with, and any gaps worth addressing. Fill in anything you forgot before moving on.

If it does not work: if the matches feel vague, reply with “Be specific: quote the exact phrases from the advert and match each to something I’ve told you.”

Step 3: Draft the CV, section by section

Now ask for a full draft. Working from the priorities you agreed keeps it focused on this job, and asking for gaps to be flagged keeps it honest.

Draft my CV for this role. Use a clear structure: a short personal summary, key
skills, then work history with a few bullet points per role. Write in plain,
confident English. Base everything only on what I've told you. If you need a
detail I haven't given, leave a clearly marked gap like [NEED: start date]
rather than inventing anything.

What to expect: a tidy draft with any missing facts flagged instead of made up. Read every line and fill the gaps yourself.

If it does not work: if a section reads as padded or bland, reply with “This feels generic. Rewrite it using only the specific details I’ve given, with real results where I’ve mentioned them.”

Step 4: Sharpen the achievements

Bland duties (“responsible for the team”) are easy to skim past. Strong achievements (“led a team of six and cut delivery time by a fifth”) stick. Ask the AI to help you turn one into the other.

Rewrite my work-history bullet points to focus on results and impact rather than
duties. Where a number would strengthen a point, mark it as [ADD: figure] so I
can fill it in. Don't invent any numbers.

What to expect: punchier bullet points, with prompts for figures only you can supply. Add the real numbers, and leave out any point you cannot back up.

Wrapping up

You now have a tailored CV draft, written in your voice and aimed at a specific role. Read it end to end before you send it anywhere, because AI can occasionally state something with confidence that is not quite right, so check every date, title, and figure against the truth. From here you can ask the AI to write a matching cover letter, or to help you prepare for the interview.

A tip before you apply: save this tailored version separately and keep your full, messy master list too. Next time a job comes up, you can adapt the master list to that advert in minutes rather than starting from scratch.