Should you use AI to create your executive resume?

There are certain things that AI is great for. Coming up with your weekly meal plan. Yes. Planning your travel itinerary. Sure. Writing your resume. No, absolutely not.

Using AI to churn out your resume removes the very thing that search consultants and hiring managers want to see, which is authenticity.

Here, Executive Interview Coaching founder Richard Elstone explains why using AI may be tempting, especially when you’re applying for several different positions, but will likely backfire.

Your resume has to pass multiple gatekeepers

When you apply for an executive appointment, your resume will likely need to get past multiple different gatekeepers.

The first is usually the talent acquisition agent or search partner. In some instances, AI may be used to filter resumes based on keywords and other criteria, but that’s less common for executive roles.

Next comes the hiring manager within the organisation. Again, your resume needs to pique their interest and make a lasting impression.

Last is the hiring manager’s boss, who will likely have the final say as to whether you are the right candidate for the job. Once you understand this hiring process, it becomes clear why using AI to generate your resume is a no-no.

Your resume is the door-opener

Depending on the organisation and the position, an executive role might typically attract anywhere from 120 to 150+ applicants. Of those individuals, only 10 may be selected for an interview.

With those kinds of odds, it becomes especially important for you to put forward a resume that stands out from the crowd. One that will effectively get your foot in the door and land with all of the gatekeepers mentioned above.

The problem with AI

The biggest issue with using AI to create a resume is that they become too generic. Even with the right prompts, Richard says it’s quite obvious to executive search consultants when candidates have used AI to create their resume.

“You can see through an AI-generated resume straight away, based on the language, dashes, ticks, and the sentence structure being too long or too generic,” he says.

“They all start looking the same.”

The other issue is that if the search consultants are using AI to sift through resumes, it will flag that AI has been used.

“If they discover it’s completely AI generated, it’s not a great way of presenting yourself and making a lasting impact,” Richard says.

Standing out is key

If you want your resume to stand out and get traction, you need to write it yourself and finetune it with a professional like Richard. As a search consultant and executive coach, Richard has vetted more than a million resumes throughout his longstanding career. He understands what executive search consultants are looking for.

Richard will run through your professional experience and help you tailor your resume to the job description and criteria. He’ll also ensure you don’t waste prime resume real estate with pointless buzz words like “analytical skills” or “stakeholder engagement”, instead drawing on your experience to make an impact.

Lastly, Richard will help you get the layout and structure right. An executive resume should be 3 to 4 pages long, starting with an overview about yourself, your career summary, education, professional memberships, then your employment history and key achievements.

“Search consultants tend to scan resumes, so getting the numbers right and the measurable results you have achieved is paramount,” says Richard.

“You want the search partner to do the mental ticks. This person has led a team of 50 people. Tick. Under their leadership, the department generated $10 million in sales. Tick.

“If you want to differentiate yourself and stand out from everyone else, you need an expert to help you write a resume that cuts through.”

The bottom line

Your resume is your initial sales pitch and the door opener. Hiring teams want to see that you’ve put the time and effort into creating a resume that showcases who you are and what you do. That’s where Richard can help.

With Executive Interview Coaching, you’ll work alongside a highly experienced executive search partner to give you the insights you need to build a resume that stands out. Richard can also ensure you have the right keywords in your resume so that you pass any AI gatekeepers.

“Don’t use AI to put your CV together,” says Richard. “At the end of the day, your career is on the line.”

To discuss your executive interview coaching needs, get in touch today.