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By now you've probably heard about ChatGPT and wild chats and the impressive results it generates. While for some it is a fun pastime in the middle of a boring day, others use itChatGPT job search- especially to write themcover lettersIresumes.
ChatGPT results are exciting. Recruitingtry documents generated by ChatGPTand it turned out that the documents offered interviews. ANDtryfound that out of 1,000 job seekers, 46% say they use ChatGPT to write cover letters and resumes. Of these, 78% say they have been interviewed and 59% say they have been hired. Additionally, nearly 70% of job seekers report a higher response rate from companies when they use ChatGPT to help them search. On the other hand, 11% say they turned down a job offer when the company found out they were using a chatbot.
So should you use ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters? As our tests show, the documents generated by ChatGPT are well written, but they may not be enough to help you get an interview. However, ChatGPT can be a useful tool to help you draft and prepare cover letters and CVs.
>> MERE: Should you use ChatGPT for interview tips?
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPTwill be a major leap forward in artificial intelligence (AI).
It usesnatural language processing, which makes it easier to ask questions and get relatively realistic answers. For example, you can ask ChatGPT, "Why do you think the sky is blue?" and we will try to answer your question fairly as a friend. This is different from other chatbots or search engines where you may have to phrase the question "just like that" to get an answer.
You can also ask ChatGPT to repeat and possibly improve the response by asking it to "try again" with the same input.
Our ChatGPT Experiment: Resumes and Cover Letters
We wondered if ChatGPT could be used to save time when looking for a job. How about asking him to write resumes and cover letters for us?
Examples of GPT CV in chat
We started with a few CVs.
Deck of a pirate ship:

Entry level programmer:

Entry Level Financial Analyst:

The interesting thing about these AI-generated resumes is that they are relatively unique in prompting. For example, only the entry levelResume includes GPA.
>> MERE:How to write a CV
However, these resumes also cover things that areIt is no longer necessary. They have an address and the prospect's resume includes a reference section.
Examples of cover letters for GPT interview
We gave ChatGPT many cover letters to test its capabilities. Here are some of the best examples:
Key position in investment banking:

Accounting internship:

When you have no work experience:

The main deck of a pirate ship:

It's safe to say that these are well-written cover letters. They follow general cover letter conventions, are polite, and explain why the writer is applying for the role. It also lists a few skills that may be necessary for success in the role, although we have not listed any skills as an incentive.
What went wrong with ChatGPT
While resumes and cover letters generated by ChatGPT aren't half bad, they're just the kind of resumes and cover letters you havewould notsubmit as an application.
Why;
Let's take a look at the primary cover letter, specifically the two middle paragraphs.
The second paragraph talks about "the author's many years of experience, including time as a craftsman in management positions." The third paragraph also states: "I have shown strong leadership skills."
Although the author should mention his leadership skills, especially since the transition to seaman is probably a milestone in his career, there is noHowthe author used their leadership skills.
The same applies to the pirate deck's CV. It lists specific skills such as swordsmanship, raiding, and treasure hunting, but nowhere does it say thatHowthe sailor used these skills orWhyit means something to the captain or the rest of the crew.
Here's exactly what recruiters tell job seekers to avoid. "ChatGPT can give you a good foundation, but you need to provide guidance and plan to use 80% to 100% yourself," says Bonnie Dilber, Recruiter at Zapier. "For example, when I initially asked ChatGPT to write bulleted resume points, it contained no data."
It's fine to say you have leadership skills, but if you don't explain how you used them, the sentence is meaningless. You must include an example of your leadership skills as a measurable result that has had a positive impact on the team.
"Job seekers should use ChatGPT as a starting point to break through a blank space on a blank page, not as a way to build a comprehensive resume," advises Miles Jennings, founder of Recruiter.com. "For example, if you're trying to become a graphic designer, ask him to write a great resume about the graphic designer who started his career. But it goes from there. Paste the result into a Google Doc and edit it as much as possible."
Dilber notes that after ChatGPT provided her first resume bulletins, she asked her to "rewrite those bullet points with examples of performance and metrics" and got a better response. But it also warns that even with a "better answer" you should take the time to review and rewrite the ChatGPT result.
"You always want to edit for accuracy to make sure you don't misinterpret your work and to make sure it sounds like you. As a candidate you want to stand out from the crowd. Lots of people use ChatGPT so if you just upload , what it generates is the chances that your resume and cover letter will be the same as everyone else's.
For example, in the second paragraph of your cover letter to seafarers, you might say:
I have several years of experience working on ships, including time as a captain and in senior positions. For example, I was once asked to lead a raid on a village said to have huge gold reserves. I selected a group of eight decks, made a raid plan and successfully led my crew under the cover of darkness. Not only were none of my colleagues killed, captured, or seriously injured, but we also recovered nearly 10,000 gold pieces.
The rewrite is a clear and compelling example of how you use your leadership skills and more importantly, the positive impact it has had on the entire crew.
>> MERE: How to use the STAR method for interview questions
Co ma ChatGPTReallyOnd
Of course, part of the problem with the cabin crew cover letter is that it wasn't specific. We just asked him to write a cover letter. This is a fairly general question, so we probably got a generic answer.
In the next test, we asked ChatGPT to write a cover letter for a job at Forage and included text from the post describing some of the experiences our team is looking for. Here is the prompt:

Here's what ChatGPT has done:

Once again, the cover letter is decent. However, it referred to what we inserted in the introduction, without any explanation or context.
For example, the second paragraph talks about the writer's ability to plan ahead of the phone call (a key word in the job description). While ChatGPT tries to explain why pre-chat planning is important, the explanation is not specific. It doesn't help a job applicant stand out from the crowd because it doesn't describe how to do itOfThe writer conducts planning before the interview.
It is a problem similar to the third and fourth paragraphs. The cover letter mentions specific skills from the post, but does not explain how the author uses them or provide an example of when he used his skills to "increase sales."
>> MERE:Resume Keywords: What They Are and How to Use Them
The fifth paragraph also adds keywords to practically plagiarize the job ad: "I have a solid track record of achieving measurable internal sales goals in a sales environment that requires accurate lead data entry and management in a CRM system.". Even worse, the cover letter does not include examples of measurable internal sales goals that the writer has achieved.
And that's why job seekers should consider the first ChatGPT result as a very rough draft. "Remember that ChatGPT is designed for conversations and conversations," notes Jennings. "Make sure you're constantly processing the output. Experiment until you're happy with the results, but never rely on initial performance."
And this advice is critical. It seems ChatGPT has compensated to fill in the gaps in the generic prompts we provided. The cover letter for an accounting internship states that the applicant is proficient in QuickBooks, although we did not include this information in the message. It's possible that because the prompt was vague, ChatGPT took this information as an example of what to include in a cover letter, but again, it's something to keep in mind.
Your changes should also keep ChatGPT consistent. It doesn't seem to recycle what it produces itself. For example, in the Prices section of a software engineer resume, one price was formatted with a hyphen and the other with a comma. While this may be the correct way to structure these prices, it shows that the program can be inconsistent.
Should you use ChatGPT to write your cover letter and CV?
To be fair, ChatGPT says some results may be inaccurate. As mentioned above, the more specific the prompt, the more specific the result. When we asked ChatGPT to write a cover letter that included "the fact that my high confidence has increased 20% year-over-year," it produced a slightly better cover letter:
That said, while it's nice to ask ChatGPT to create a cover letter and resume for you to enter the hacker life if you use AI toFROMcover letter and CV?
As the results show, what ChatGPT produces is often general and broad, which may not be enough to get an interview. Copying and pasting parts of the job description is not helpful as ChatGPT returns keywords without explaining why or how you do it.
"Nothing ChatGPT writes will be as powerful and persuasive as what a human can come up with," notes Dilber. "For example, if you're looking for a role as a content writer, you're missing out if you don't create your own work." And Jennings agrees. "You should never let ChatGPT write the final document for you."
If you can't get started, struggle with writer's block, or just can't find the right words, ChatGPT can help with your rough draft. It creates clear contours that are an excellent starting point for creating application materials. However, don't rely on it to create the perfect app.
"I think ChatGPT can help you customize your content quickly," says Dilber. "[You can] take a cover letter and ask ChatGPT to turn it into a cover letter for, say, another role or company. It will definitely speed up your ability to apply for multiple roles with a custom application. And it can do things faster if you're trying to upload a lot of apps. But that doesn't mean the quality of the work done will be better than what you can create yourself."
And Jennings agrees. “He is a creative editor, guide and (very) wise friend. But understand that it's up to you to personalize your own writing, especially for a highly personal document like a resume or cover letter."
Want to learn how to write a resume without AI? Consider signing up for a free resume writing workshop at Forage.
Resume writing master class
Learn how to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, showcases your skills and wins interviews.
Register today
December time:5-6 timer
Skills you will build:Keep writing, build your professional brand, write an overview of how you measure your achievements
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Frequently asked questions
Is using ChatGPT to write a cover letter considered a scam?
Not really. Most recruiters say this is no different than going to a resume writer and asking them for help.
Will employers fire me for using ChatGPT?
It really depends on the employer! Just remember that a study found that 11% of people who used ChatGPT turned down a job offer when the employer found out.
Can companies tell when I've used ChatGPT on my resume or cover letter?
There isChatGPT detection toolsso anything is possible but not always accurate. This may change as detection tools become more sophisticated.
Is ChatGPT considered plagiarism?
This is technically not considered plagiarism as the result is original.
Should I tell the caller that I used ChatGPT if they ask?
While it's not illegal to lie during an interview, consider the consequences if you don't tell the interviewer and find out after you've been hired.
If multiple candidates use ChatGPT to write a cover letter for the same position, will all cover letters be identical?
It's possible that the cover letters are very similar, so you should edit and rewrite the ChatGPT output to make sure it's unique to you.
Should I use ChatGPT to prepare for job interviews?
Using ChatGPT to give interview advice can be fine, but be careful as advice can be out of date and inaccurate.
Scenario
Rachel Pelta →
Lead author
Read more from Rachel Pelta
Rachel Pelta is the lead writer at Forage. Previously, she was a content specialist at FlexJobs, where she wrote articles for job seekers and employers. Her work has been featured in Fast Company, The Ladders, MSN and Money Talks News.
FAQs
Is it okay to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter? ›
Everybody's talking about ChatGPT, the new artificial intelligence tool that can generate unique content – including cover letters! This is excellent news for job seekers, who often struggle to write the perfect cover letter.
Is it wrong to use ChatGPT for a cover letter? ›Using Chat GPT to write a cover letter can save you time and effort while still producing a high-quality result, but definitely, this is part of your process as an applicant. Give it a try and see how it can improve your job application process.
What makes a good CV and cover letter? ›use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent. make sure the company name and recruiter's details are correct. use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert. show you've done your research into the job and the company.
How do I ask ChatGPT to write my resume? ›'The ultimate resume-writing cheat code'
Here are specific prompts you can ask ChatGPT to supercharge your resume: “I am going to send you a job description and resume. Can you optimize my resume for this job?” “Write resume bullet points for [insert job title here] and include metric-based achievements.”
Can teachers tell if you use ChatGPT? Yes, AI-detecting tools can help teachers determine whether your submitted content was human-written or AI-generated.
Is it bad if I dont write a cover letter? ›In 98% of cases, you should include a cover letter in your job application. Although recruiters might not always read it, they expect candidates to submit one. A cover letter will considerably boost your chances and set you apart from other candidates with similar backgrounds and resumes.
Do employers prefer cover letters? ›A cover letter is important as about 26% of recruiters read cover letters and consider them critical in their decision to hire. Another study on employer preference suggests that 56% want applicants to attach a cover letter to the resume.
Are cover letters worthless? ›58% of workers say cover letters are unnecessary—you might want to write one anyway. For decades, cover letters have been used by hiring managers to gauge whether or not someone is right for a role. However, many of today's job applicants find cover letters to be unnecessary and time-consuming.
What makes a CV more attractive? ›Start strong. Start with a summary of your skills and key accomplishments. This will attract the recruiter and grab their attention from the outset. This personal profile is an important part of your CV and tells the recruiter exactly who you are, so you want to make the right impression.
What do employers look for in a good CV? ›Your CV spells out you have the skills required for the job. Your CV demonstrates you understand the employer's objectives and are motivated to deliver them. Your CV highlights you have a track record of delivering results for your employers. Your CV indicates you're a pleasant and interesting person.
What makes a CV look good? ›
Usually placed at the beginning of a CV it picks out a few relevant achievements and skills, while expressing your career aims. A good CV profile focuses on the sector you're applying to, as your cover letter will be job-specific. Keep CV personal statements short and snappy - 100 words is the perfect length.
Can chatbot write my resume? ›ChatGPT can generate text for different parts of your resume including your professional summary and individual bullet points for each experience. The chatbot can also help enhance your current resume by optimizing your current text.
What is the job description of a ChatGPT? ›In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing software solutions for our products. You should have strong programming skills and the ability to work collaboratively with other team members. Responsibilities: Design, develop, and test software solutions for our products.
What is the description of ChatGPT? ›ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue. The language model can respond to questions and compose various written content, including articles, social media posts, essays, code and emails.
Can professors tell if you use ChatGPT? ›A lot of people have been wondering if teachers and professors can find out if a student is using ChatGPT and the short answer to that is yes.
Does ChatGPT give the same answer to everyone? ›Does ChatGPT give everyone the same answer? ChatGPT can generate essays, write code, and more from user queries. Most of the time, when different people ask ChatGPT the same question, they will get the same answer. There may be a few word variations, but they will be almost identical.
How accurate are ChatGPT detectors? ›Turnitin claims its detector is 98 percent accurate overall.
Is cover letter necessary for CV? ›A cover letter accompanies your CV as part of most job applications. It provides the hiring manager with further detail on how your skill set aligns with the role, what you can bring to the team and why you want the position.
What 5 things should a cover letter include? ›- Information about you.
- Date.
- Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address.
- Salutation.
- Opening Paragraph.
- Middle Paragraph.
- Second Middle Paragraph.
- Contact Information and Closing.
The stakes are high — a bad cover letter can hurt your chances just as much as a good one can help. That's why three words can stop you cold while you're searching for jobs: “Cover letter optional.”
What hiring managers look for in a cover letter? ›
- Show how your achievements relate to the role.
- Highlight how your skills and work experience are what the employer needs.
- Show genuine excitement and enthusiasm for the role.
- List your most significant achievements from previous roles.
A well-written cover letter gives recruiters a better idea of who an applicant is as a person. Recruiters are more likely to select candidates to interview based on a cover letter if their experience matches the job requirements. This article is for job applicants who want to write cover letters that stand out.
Should you avoid using I in a cover letter? ›Mistake #1: Don't Overuse "I" Your cover letter is not your autobiography. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. Avoid the perception of being self-centered by minimizing your use of the word "I," especially at the beginning of your sentences.
What is a common mistake made on resumes? ›1. Having spelling errors and bad grammar. Whether you proofread it yourself, or get somebody else to, checking over your CV from start to finish can be the difference between being accepted and being rejected.
How long to write a cover letter? ›A cover letter can be anything between half a page and a full-page long. Generally, you should aim for a cover letter word count of 250 to 400 words and about three to six paragraphs.
Why do people hate cover letters? ›To you, the worst part about writing cover letters is how formulaic they feel. You're tired of writing the same letter over and over, slightly tailored for each position, and you're tired of sounding like a robot. Especially if you're working off of a template, things can get dull fast.
Are cover letters still relevant 2023? ›A cover letter is still an essential part of any job application in 2023 and you should include one with your resume. So, as you can imagine, your cover letter should be on par with your resume. Before you start writing your cover letter, here are a few tips to make the process easier for you: Keep it short.
What matters most in CV? ›Work Experience
Arguably, the most crucial section of your whole job application. According to a Jobvite report, 67% of recruiters consider relevant work experience the most important thing they look for on a CV.
Conclusion: Best Colors on a Resume
A black, white, and blue color scheme will appear modern, trustworthy, and grab the reader's attention without being distracting. Beyond blue, other good choices include green, red, and orange.
Standing out often comes from hard, consistent work. Attitude. There's no denying that positive people have better relationships. Keeping an upbeat attitude and being pleasant to be around can really make you stand out from everyone around you, especially if you're surrounded by toxic people.
What are the top 3 qualities employers look for? ›
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Teamwork and collaboration.
- Professionalism and strong work ethic.
- Oral and written communications skills.
- Leadership.
There are five essential elements to include in your CV. Your name and contact details, a personal statement, work experience, education and qualifications and key skills.
What makes a poor CV? ›A bad CV will be hard to read, both for hiring managers and the applicant tracking system (ATS) they often use to scan CV. This can be caused by improper fonts or font sizes, a bad layout, typos or a blend of these issues. A bad CV will be hard to read, and this often leads to it being discarded.
What is an impressive CV? ›Make it easy on the eyes: When it comes to your CV, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Graphs and bar charts that show your language, computer and other skills will make it easier for recruiters to get to know you. Your layout should also be easy to read, with columns, sections and colours.
How do I know if my CV is good enough? ›- Is it tailored to the job role? Take a little time to compare your CV to the job you're applying for. ...
- Is it brief and clear? ...
- Is it free of common CV mistakes? ...
- Are work history gaps and/or job-hopping explained? ...
- Have numbers and examples been used to illustrate your skills and competencies?
- Don't make your resume unnecessarily long. ...
- Don't leave it to the reader to figure out what you do. ...
- Don't forget to make your resume searchable. ...
- Don't be vague. ...
- Don't use a list of tasks. ...
- Don't be passive. ...
- Don't use pronouns. ...
- Don't miss typos and grammatical mistakes.
Once an employee has been found to have lied on their resume, the employer has the right to terminate the employment contract. The employee and employer relationship is one that's built upon trust. Finding out that the job was granted based on fictitious information causes this trust to be breached.
Can I put my face on my resume? ›Along with details such as your nationality, marital status, political or religious beliefs, photos of yourself should not be added to your resume. When it comes to your resume, always consider whether the information you're adding is relevant or beneficial to your job application.
What is 8219 job description? ›Job Description: Assemblers not elsewhere classified assemble, according to strictly laid down procedures various products that do not include electronic, electrical, or mechanical components. (e) rejecting faulty products.
What are job duties? ›What are job responsibilities? Job responsibilities are the duties an employee completes at work based on their specific role. Organizations include responsibilities on job listings so they can communicate the type of skills and experience they're seeking from candidates.
What is the job specification? ›
A job specification is an official document which describes the duties, required knowledge, skills and abilities, and minimum qualifications of State jobs.
What is ChatGPT best at? ›- Generate ideas and brainstorm. ...
- Get personalized recommendations. ...
- Understand complicated topics. ...
- Bring in a writing assistant. ...
- Summarize the latest research. ...
- Get assistance with coding and debugging. ...
- Translate text. ...
- Create multiple-choice questions.
ChatGPT can deliver some mind-blowingly accurate responses to questions. It can understand long, complex requests and then generate succinctly summarized responses that perfectly address the question. That is the real magic of ChatGPT.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of ChatGPT? ›It has a variety of strengths such as its ability to generate very human-like responses and its advanced competency in long-form conversations. However, like any technology, it has its weaknesses such as a limited understanding of context and the tendency to generate non-sensical answers.
What words should not be used in a cover letter? ›- “I'm confident I'm the perfect person for the job.” ...
- “I need this job because … ” ...
- “I would like to know the salary range for this job … ” or “I'm requesting a salary of … ” ...
- “I think … ” ...
- “I would be a good fit.” ...
- “To whom it may concern:” ...
- “Good” ...
- “Best”
- Spelling mistakes. For any job position you may be applying for, this is a cardinal sin. ...
- Personal information. Employers are not interested in your personal life. ...
- Salary expectations. ...
- Too much information. ...
- Negative comments. ...
- Lies or exaggerations. ...
- Empty claims.
- 1- Content creation. ChatGPT can be used to generate high-quality content for websites, blogs, or social media platforms in a few seconds. ...
- 2- Translation. ...
- 3- Conversational AI. ...
- 4- Writing code. ...
- 5- Debugging. ...
- 6- Code completion. ...
- 7- Code refactoring. ...
- 8- Code documentation.