09 Aug 6 Vital Reasons to NOT Use an AI Resume Builder
With the rise of AI—particularly ChatGPT—people have been utilizing this technology to do many things. Particularly, people have been turning to an AI resume builder to construct a market-ready resume instead of paying for the service from a certified career coach or resume writer. While it might seem advantageous to utilize the AI tool, there are still a lot more downfalls than you realize.
What is an AI-Generated Resume and an AI Resume Builder?
In recent years, there has been an explosion of programs advertising an AI-generated resume. Generally, an AI resume builder is a program where you can input your information and it will construct a supposedly market-ready document for you to start using on applications. A quick Google search will pull up hundreds of results.
But what does it mean to have an AI-generated resume?
As the name suggests, an AI-generated resume is just a resume that an AI built. They’re typically clean-cut documents with all of the standard things you find in a resume: summary paragraphs, past experiences, education, etc.
Depending on the program you choose, there can be more or less work on your end. Sometimes you need to input your information very meticulously—including the exact work you did at your past jobs, common programs you have used, etc. Other AI resume builder programs only need you to list the bare minimum before forming a resume.
With anything, there are pros and cons of using AI to generate your resume. However, the current state of AI leaves us with more cons than anything. Here are some points to think about:
Pros of Using an AI Resume Builder:
1. Cost Effective
Above everything, most turn to AI when they’re trying to save some money. Not only do they work quicker (because they’re robots), but they are far cheaper than a certified resume writer—who can sometimes charge up to hundreds of dollars to construct a resume.
If you’re an entry-level worker, then you may not want to drop that kind of money to get your resume built. So, AI is your best bet.
2. Easier to Pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Bot
One of the hardest things people find when constructing a resume is making one that will easily pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The ATS bot is something companies use to filter through the applications and remove resumes that do not fit the job description. Companies receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications per job posting. The ATS is specifically designed to lower the amount of resumes a hiring manager has to shuffle through themselves.
If you use an AI resume builder to construct your resume, it will be a bit easier to surpass the ATS bot. As a bot, AI speaks the bot language. Some AI resume builder programs even allow you to input the description for the job you are targeting to create a resume specifically for that position. It helps guarantee your resume surpasses any ATS bot and into the hands of a hiring manager.
3. Consistent Tone & Writing Style
One of the biggest factors needed for resumes is consistency—including in formatting, tenses, tone, etc. While professional resume writers are trained to keep resumes consistent, there is always a chance for mishaps.
However, AI doesn’t have issues with that. AI resume builder programs speak one tone throughout everything they do and catch tense changes a lot easier than humans do. You won’t have to worry about any inconsistencies or changing tones on an AI-generated resume.
Cons of Using an AI Resume Builder:
Now that we’ve gone through a few pros of using an AI resume builder, there are some cons we should discuss.
1. They’re Generic
As we mentioned in the pros section, AIs are really great at keeping a consistent tone and writing style. Most AIs are programmed to filter through a set of data and pull results from that set each time. These results are not specific, as they are a combination of all sorts of things.
Many times, an AI-generated resume will come across as generic and bland. They lack that “human” aspect in their writing and could sound odd.
And while the AI might have some tools to “tailor” to a specific job application, it’s not always the most accurate in doing this. The language comes across flatter and more of a keyword-filled resume than a smooth and natural inclusion.
2. May Contain Inaccuracies or Unrelated Information
The sudden surge of AI resume builder programs caused quite a lag in information. ChatGPT, for instance, only just now updated some of its data. Until a few months ago, most of the information ChatGPT was pulling up came from 2021 and before. Even with its recent update, there is still a chance the AI program pulls information from older data.
The same can be said for AI resume builder programs. If you are expecting the program to pull information from its own database, make sure to double-check the facts it uses and ensure the resume is up to date.
3. Still Needs Human Collaboration
AI-generated resumes still require a lot of work on your end to create a completed resume. You may need to include background on your education, past experiences (any of the responsibilities you held and accomplishments you attained), descriptions for the jobs you are targeting, and more. Each AI resume builder program has its own set of requirements, so the level of involvement on your end may vary.
Further, the less interaction a program has, the more work you have to do once the resume is “complete.” If you’re not putting in specific information on what you have and have not done throughout your career, then you need to double-check everything the resume builder is creating. It could contain information that doesn’t pertain to your experience—because, again, AIs create generic documents based off of a group of data—or not match your skill level.
This is why you need to double and triple-check any final document that comes from an AI.
4. Plagiarism is Highly Likely
While AIs are strong at pulling together information, it’s not so strong about rewording that information. Unfortunately, AIs won’t make things unique for each resume it builds. Instead, it is more likely that the AI resume builder will construct similar documents for each industry/job description with the same wording throughout.
This is where the issue of plagiarism comes into play. If too many applicants are turning to an AI to build their resume, then hiring managers will essentially read through the same resume multiple times. This makes it obvious to hiring managers that you went to an AI resume builder. Which could cause more issues for you.
5. AI Does Not Understand Industry-Specific Jargon
No matter how much information we feed to AI, it simply cannot follow the lingo we use for work. Our language changes constantly, we use more and more acronyms, and we sometimes change stuff to mean something completely different than it was to begin with.
The basic phrasing AI uses won’t be able to keep up with industry-specific jargon, so you will need to input this information on your own after receiving the final document.
6. No Human Personality
Probably the biggest issue with using an AI resume builder is the fact that it’s not a human creating your resume—though, that is technically the point of using AI. There is always a very distinct difference between something written by a human and something written with AI. The human touch, as people say.
This human touch is very important for your resume.
Hiring managers want to see that you care about your career and care about the way you present yourself. If you use an AI, it seems like you do not want to put as much effort into building the perfect resume. This could be a major factor in the decision to or to not hire you.
So… Should You Use an AI Resume Builder to Construct the “Perfect” Resume?
Truth be told, there are a few advantages to using an AI resume builder. But these advantages only appear in specific circumstances. It is highly unlikely that an AI-generated resume will be beneficial on your career journey. It may even hinder your chances of landing a job.
If you’re looking to update your resume or tailor it for a specific job application, then it would be best to work with a certified career coach or professional resume writer. While they may cost more to utilize, the chances of landing a job are far higher and they can explain the proper ways to elevate your resume during the job search. The outcome of working with a professional will be worth more than the initial cost.
Further, career coaches offer far more than just a resume service. From career coaching to interview support, a career coach can assist you throughout any point of your career. An AI program can’t do that for you.
At The Jonus Group, we offer a wide range of career services you can utilize. Feel free to check out the services we offer on our page here. And if you would like to discuss this more in a free consultation, you can sign up for one here.