how to write resumes reddit

10 Awesome Resume Tips From The People of Reddit

Depending on what you’re visiting the site to find, Reddit can be…a mixed bag. The best part of Reddit: anyone can weigh in on any topic. The worst part of Reddit: anyone can weigh in on any topic. That means you get great information and advice mixed in with people who don’t know what they’re talking about, or are just there to stir up problems. If you’re looking for resume tips, we’ve reviewed some of the burning questions on /r/resumes , and found some awesome advice there. Let’s look at some of the greatest hits:

1. How can I make my resume pop?

Three words: simplify, simplify, simplify . Making your resume easy to read (set headers, brief explanations, clear bullet points) can help get you in the “to interview” pile and out of the “tl;dr” pile.

2. What should I include in a resume when I’ve never had a job before?

This Redditor suggests emphasizing academic accomplishments (GPA, relevant classes, degree), volunteering experience (after all, it is experience), and technical skills.

3. How do I list multiple positions at the same company?

If the jobs were dramatically different, you can separate them out and treat them like separate jobs. If they’re similar positions, concentrate more on the top-line accomplishments and skills.

4. Should I include a cover letter even when it’s not requested?

This Redditor recommends going for it. It’s a way to give more information about yourself, and can help you stand out in a very crowded applicant pool.

5. Should I use a traditional resume format or a creative one?

It can be tempting to want to use a fun new format, but realistically, traditional is best . The creativity points you score for using something unorthodox might be canceled out by the disruption to the reader’s usual evaluation process.

6. All of my experience so far is from working at my family’s business—will this help or hurt?

Basically, experience is experience , and as long as you have the skills and experience you need for the new job, you should be good to go.

7. I have 20 years of experience. Should I do a two-pager?

Not if you can help it. If you can, condense the most important highlights into one resume page . The one-page rule is about readability and the reader, not about the writer’s experience.

8. How do I list colleges when I didn’t graduate?

This can be tricky—people don’t graduate for a variety of reasons, but you still want to include that you attended college on your resume. Try using words like “attended,” or “took X credits toward a Bachelor’s degree.” Just don’t suggest that you have a specific degree if you don’t, because that can land you in very hot water. Spin is okay. Lying isn’t.

9. In this digital age, do I still need to include my physical address in the header?

Short answer: yes . It’s tradition, but it also might be a factor for resume scanning programs to see whether candidates are local.

10. Do I mention why I quit my last job?

One Redditor puts it very succinctly: “First you get the date, then you tell them you’re divorced.” You don’t want to set off any red flags before you even get an interview. It’s fine to keep it vague in a resume or cover letter, though you should be prepared to talk about it in an interview if necessary. (And always, always keep it opinion-neutral. An interview for a new job is not a venting exercise for the last one.)

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About the author.

Kate Lopaze

Kate Lopaze is a writer, editor, and digital publishing professional based in New York City. A graduate of the University of Connecticut and Emerson College with degrees in English and publishing, she is passionate about books, baseball, and pop culture (though not necessarily in that order), and lives in Brooklyn with her dog.

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Best Resume Advice According to Reddit: 6 Tips That Actually Work

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated January 29, 2024 9 min read

Do you often turn to Reddit for answers to your burning questions? And, have you considered exploring this popular online forum to uncover what the best resume advice according to Reddit is?

Of course, Reddit can be notoriously difficult to navigate and not all of its users actually know what they're talking about.

Still, Reddit and other public forums can be valuable sources of first-hand experience in all things resume. 

We've painstakingly sifted through countless subreddits, all dedicated to resume writing and career tips, to save you the trouble.

Now, we present to you the crème-de-la-crème of Reddit resume advice. 

In this article, you'll find:

• 6 best resume advice according to Reddit;
• What we think about them; 
• And, of course, examples. 

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TL;DR: 5 Best resume advice according to reddit

1. use a single column layout to pass the ats.

• 2. Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'

3. Keep your job descriptions short. Use bullet points and action verbs

4. use numbers to quantify your achievements, 5. less is more for both word count & job applications per day, 6. use resume builders to make your life easier, key takeaways: best resume advice according to reddit.

First, for those in a hurry, here's the TL;DR version of our top five resume advice gathered from Reddit:

• Use a single column layout to pass the ATS.
• Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'.
• Keep you job descriptions short. Use bullet points and action verbs.
• Use numbers to quantify your achievements.
• Less is more for both word count & job applications per day.
• Use resume builders to make your life easier.

Now, let's look at the best resume advice according to Reddit users more closely. Here's what we think:

If you thought that layout doesn't play any significant role in the success rate of your resume, you thought wrong!

In case the company you're applying to uses an Applicant Tracking System, always opt for a single column layout . 

The reason? ATS compatibility. 

Even though all ATSs are designed to read text from top to bottom, left to right , not every ATS is programmed to distinguish between columns. 

And you just can't know with certainty which software you'll encounter. Therefore, reduce the risk of your resume being incorrectly processed or rejected by picking a one-column ATS friendly resume template . This will make the process of parsing and interpreting information easier and safer.

HOWEVER. That doesn't mean you should discard the two-column resume all-together. Here are some reasons why a two-column layout can still be beneficial :

• Non-ATS employers . Many companies still don't use ATS systems, making the ATS compatibility argument less relevant in these cases. For these employers, the visual and organizational benefits of a two-column layout could be more advantageous.
• Aesthetics . A two-column format can be more visually engaging, making your resume stand out.
• Ease of reading . Smaller chunks of information can make the resume easier for the human eye to navigate.
• Space management . For those with less experience, a two-column layout can help evenly distribute text and avoid large empty spaces.
• Strategic organization . It allows for a more strategic presentation of information, guiding the recruiter's eyes through your resume efficiently.

Moreover, if you're just entering the workforce with no experience , your resume is probably still quite sparse. 

Because of this, you may end up with a large, unattractive empty space at the bottom of your document. And with one-column structure resumes, this is often the case. 

There' s an easy fix! Organizing your resume sections into a two-column structure can help spread the text more evenly.  

2. Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'

Indeed, putting together a good resume is quite a tedious process.

There're so many rules and principles to think about, for instance:

• Every single resume section, whether it be the resume summary , work experience section, education section, skills section, or any other optional section, requires your full and undivided attention. 
• You must remember to always tailor your resume to fit a specific job description . 
• Not to mention the subsequent formatting and proofreading!

By the time you've finished writing your resume, you're likely mentally drained. 

It's at this time that errors creep out from the most unexpected places.

One such error is not naming your resume file appropriately .

How to name your resume file: step-by-step.

When naming your resume file for submission, it's important to consider clarity, professionalism, and the likelihood of it being easily found by the recruiters.  

Here are our recommendations for naming your resume file:

• Use your name. Start with your full name. This is the most crucial piece of information because it clearly identifies the document as yours. For example, "PeterStones" .
• Specify the document type. Make it clear that the document is a resume . This helps distinguish your resume from other documents like a cover letter . For example, " Resume ".
• Add the job title. This can be particularly helpful if you are sending the resume directly to a hiring manager. For example, " ProductManager ".
• Use a professional format. Avoid using any unnecessary symbols or fancy formatting. Underscores (_) or hyphens (-) are acceptable to separate words.

A good file name for your resume could look like this: "PeterStones_Resume_ProductManager.pdf".

Finally, before hitting send, consider carefully what to write in an email when sending a resume . Of course, when you're applying for a job, every detail matters. Don't neglect the content of your email – it's also responsible for making a positive first impression.

Undoubtedly, you know that the work experience section is the heart and soul of your resume.  

The recruiters always pay it the most attention, and so you need to be extra diligent and patient while writing about your past employment. 

Consequently, many will try to fit in as much information as humanly possible, disregarding the readability and quality of their entries. To steer clear from such mistake, follow these two simple principles:

• Organize your work descriptions into bullet points . Under each work experience entry, list 4-5 bullet points underlining your most notable responsibilities and achievements. That is to say, you should focus on demonstrating the impact your presence had on your former employment, rather than just stating your daily duties. 
• Open the said bullet points with action verbs . The recruiters don't care about long winding sentences! That's why it's a good idea to start each bullet point with an action verb . This will not only make your writing more concise, but it'll also depict you as a proactive, and therefore valuable, employee.

For example, a well conceptualized work entry description can look like this:

Work experience entry example:

Senior Product Manager XYZ Tech Solutions, New York, NY | June 2019 – Present

• Led a team of 8 in the development of an innovative mobile application, increasing user retention by 35% within six months.
• Collaborated with cross-departmental teams to streamline product delivery, reducing time-to-market by 20%.
• Managed product lifecycle from concept to launch, including market analysis, positioning, and rollout strategy.
• Oversaw a budget of $1M, optimizing resource allocation and cutting costs by 15% without impacting product quality.

This is another great resume advice according to a Reddit user!

The recruiters adore to see numbers in your resume! Why, you ask?

It makes life a bit easier for them. By quantifying your accomplishments, you simultaneously allow recruiters to better gauge your abilities ; and add more weight to your words . 

Be as specific as you can - numbers are universal. 

Struggling to figure out how to incorporate numbers into your resume? Here are few examples of what you can quantify:

• Revenue and sales increases. If you contributed to growing revenue or sales, specify the percentage or dollar amount of the increase. For example: " Boosted sales by 20% within a six-month period. "
• Cost reduction. Similarly, if you implemented strategies that reduced costs, mention the amount or percentage saved. For example: " Cut operational costs by 15% through process optimization ."
• Time efficiency. If you streamlined processes, indicate how much time was saved. For example: " Reduced project turnaround time by 30% ."
• Team management. If you manage a team, you can specify the number of people you supervise. For example: " Led a team of 12 sales professionals ."
• Project scope and delivery. Quantify the size or value of the projects you managed, then mention if you delivered them under budget or ahead of schedule. For example:  " Managed projects worth $2M, consistently delivering 10% under budget ."
• Training and development. If you were involved in training, mention the number of people you trained or the improvement in performance post-training. For example: " Trained over 30 employees, leading to a 40% increase in overall team efficiency. "

Resume advice two-in-one!

As this Reddit user rightly pointed out, less is sometimes more . 

This is especially true when it comes to the content of your resume as well as the amount of job applications you send out each day .

When crafting your resume, keep in mind that you must show the recruiters that you have everything they're looking for . Chances are, you actually have much more – more diverse job experience; more interesting hobbies; or more fulfilling volunteer work you'd like to share with them. 

Obviously, resumes have their length limitations . Once you've started to write yours, you'll soon learn that you have to be picky! 

Recruiters prefer resumes that are focused, relevant, and straight-to-the-point. In other words, don't make them read information they didn't ask for. 

The same applies to applying for jobs.

Many in this situation start panic-applying to every single job posting they find. Because they assume that the more applications they send, the bigger their chances at landing a job will be. 

Makes sense right?

In theory, maybe. In practice? Hardly!

Believe it or not, there's such a thing as sending too many applications. Basically, if your solely focus on the quantity of applications, you're running the risk of sacrificing their quality . 

And that is a problem. If you'd like to learn how to go about this problem, including tips on how to manage the pressure of job hunting, take a look at what research says about the ideal number of job applications .

Now, hand over your heart!

Would you prefer to sit in front of your computer for hours, battling with Microsoft Word and its many settings? Trying to create a perfect resume design from scratch? 

Admit it, even the thought of setting margins and spacing makes you roll your eyes. 

Hence, arguably the best resume advice according to reddit is to make a resume with an online resume builder to avoid these inconveniences (politely said).

No need to scratch your head over a layout or the best colour palette! Instead, simply pick a resume template that best suits your needs (both aesthetic and practical), fill in all your information, and watch your resume come to life in seconds. 

Additionally, resume builders can proofread and correct any misspellings or typos you might've otherwise missed. 

Sounds good? If so, your perfect resume is one click away.

Resume template by Kickresume

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

In conclusion, Reddit and other public forums can serve as a good starting point for seeking resume advice.

Apart from first-hand applicant experience, many posts are sumbitted by actual hiring managers.

However, there's a lot to weed out first to find the best resume advice according to reddit.

Plus, you should always compare your findings with reputable sources. Which is exactly what we did.

• Don't forget to name your resume file appropriately.
• Keep your job descriptions short with bullet points and action verbs.
• Keep your resume concise and the number of daily applications reasonable. 
• Use online tools (like Kickresume) to build your resume.

Ready to create the perfect resume?

Create a beautiful resume quickly with the help of AI and our customizable templates.

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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11 Brilliant Copywriter Resume Examples + A Guide to Create Yours

There are two things you need to have, or hiring managers won’t even look at your application. Can you guess what they are? Your copywriter resume and portfolio.

Although it’s your copywriting portfolio that truly shows your skills and presents them with your best work, you shouldn’t neglect your CV either. We’ll show you 7 excellent copywriter resumes so you can see how it’s done. Then we’ll take you through the resume writing process step by step.

Looking for a quick and easy way to build your portfolio? Try Copyfolio and create a stunning website that’ll look good on every device. It’s free, no credit card required.

Copywriter resume examples

If you search for copywriter resume examples, there’s a good chance you’ve found pages upon pages of templates. And even though resume templates can be helpful, real examples give you a better idea of what is expected for your resume.

Ádám Mattyasovszky - Lead Creative / Kraftwork

Ádám, who's the lead creative of the advertising agency Kraftwork combined the about page of his portfolio and his copywriter resume. That gave him the space to get started with a short summary of himself, followed by his work history, clients he's worked with, and info about his educational background.

Choosing to make his CV a page on his website, he didn't have to worry about "trying to fit it into one page" as most people do, when they go with the traditional PDF format. He created his portfolio website and resume with Copyfolio .

Karly Nelson - Copywriter / ATI Physical Therapy

Similar to Ádám, Karly also hosts her resume on her portfolio website. But the difference is that Karly first designed hers as a one-pager, and then added the image of it to her site. It's clearly readable, fun, and totally on-brand, following a more traditional CV structure.

You can find all the important info about her, including her contact information, skills, work experience, education, and even some of her extracurricular activities. Interestingly, she didn't add it to her about page but placed it on her contact page instead.

Karly also created her website with Copyfolio, using the "Letterpress" template .

Katie Rivard - Associate Creative Director / SapientRazorfish

Not your boring CV. That’s the first thought that comes to mind when you see Katie’s copywriter resume. Even though it’s just one page and simple in a way that it lacks descriptions, it has all the information you could possibly need.

In the header, she has her phone number, email address, a link to her portfolio, and her LinkedIn profile link.

Right underneath is her name in big bold letters, followed by her position. All the resume-specific information is organized into four straightforward columns:

• Brands she’s worked with,
• The types of projects she has experience with,
• Her educational background and
• The agencies she’s worked for in reverse chronological order.

Her resume is great, as it stands out from the crowd with its design -and it’s informative, yet concise. You’d be surprised how little time hiring managers spend looking at each resume. So presenting the necessary information in the briefest way possible is crucial.

Graham Bowlin - Senior Copywriter / Cashmere Agency

Graham’s copywriter resume is not a stand-alone PDF, but a page hosted on his writing portfolio website . At first glance, the design already grabs your attention –but so does the copy. He starts out with a professional header, immediately showcasing his excellent copywriting skills:

“I know what you're thinking. Professional stuff? Aw, man. Can't anyone just get to know each other anymore? Work is so boring. Wrong. You're wrong.”

Underneath you find two sections: one for his work experience and another for his education. Then right at the bottom, you’ll find his email address and Twitter account, should you want to reach out to him.

Yet again: short and sweet, straightforward but grabs your attention. Exactly what you need for a resume.

Jessica Urgo - ACD, Copywriter / Freelance

Jessica decided to combine the traditional one-pager PDF format with the “hosting it on my website” approach. On the left, there is a little introduction and facts about her: the books she’s been reading and what she’s studying at the moment.

Then on the right, you have the neatly designed and colorful CV itself. It’s interesting to note that she didn’t include her education and instead decided to focus on her experience, dividing it into three main categories.

Apart from that and her contact information, she features her awards and social media links as well.

Andrew Burke - Senior Copywriter / Bravvura

You’d expect a CV to be a little boring, right? Not when it comes to resumes like the one Andrew has. Instead of a single sentence summary, he starts out with a whole section of copy.

You’ll learn that he’s a copywriter, cinephile, and three-item list lover. Then you’ll see a three-item list right underneath that statement. See what he did there? This section is great for showing off his personality and writing skills, warming you up for checking out his CV.

The actual copywriter resume is fairly simple and has the usual sections: experience, education, and awards. Plus, he also added freelance and projects to show his work beyond his full-time positions.

And just to make sure you still won’t get bored, he ends with “an incomplete list of personal achievements” with hilarious items such as being the world’s youngest person.

And in case you’d need it, Andrew gives you an option to download his resume as a PDF at the end.

Stephanie Alkhoury - Creative Copywriter

Stephanie created a visually perfectly balanced resume page that gives you the whole picture. You'll see her name and photo, which helps you build a more personal connection. That's followed by a short introduction to her background, and the actual resume itself.

She follows a work experience - skills - education order, leading the reader through the CV in the order she thinks is most important. She created her copywriter resume using Copyfolio .

Dušan Koutský - Senior Copywriter / WMLY&R

If you want to see a creative copywriter resume, you need to check out what Dušan has done. It’s another website-based resume, made unique by the icons and animations he’s using.

Going against the standard, he lists his experiences in chronological order, marking his first junior position with a stroller, the second with a baby icon. As you scroll down, the animation takes you through these job life stages, right to his current senior copywriter position.

Underneath in sections that you can open up, you can check his awards and education too, if you’re interested.

David Oswald - Creative Director / TBWA\Media Arts Lab

Similarly to Jessica, David also didn’t include education in his CV -and frankly, he doesn’t need to. His awards and experience speak for themselves.

After his short summary, he features the logos of clients he worked with. Impressive in itself, this section includes logos of companies like Apple, Netflix, Facebook, Google, Adidas, Nike, and more.

Next, he goes on to list his awards and only then writes about his work history. The design of his CV is simple, but the structure of the resume leads the viewer nicely and gives a clear overview of David’s experience.

Juliana Paracencio - Global Creative Director / Ogilvy London

The resume page of Juliana Paracencio is a more typical example of how copywriter resumes usually look. Many copywriters have their CVs as a page on their website, with a very simple text-based, black and white design.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the sections. As long as the different sections are separated clearly and there’s enough white space on the page so that the text won’t feel overwhelming… It’s perfect.

Note how Juliana also decided not to list her educational background. With such a long list of awards, including not one but three golden Cannes Lions, there’s not really a need for it anymore, right?

Nicholas Berson - Copywriter / Hylink Digital Solutions

Clear, concise, easy to browse through. That's probably the best way to describe the about page and resume of Nicholas Berson. He uses the formatting and generous white space to draw the eye to each section and outlines his experience and skills with no fluff in-between. And all he used to create it was Copyfolio .

How to write a copywriter resume

Now that you’ve seen some examples and got some inspiration, let’s get into the theory behind. Don’t worry, it’s going to be pretty easy! We’ll outline how to write your copywriter resume in 5 quick steps.

The header of your resume is probably what people will look at first. It’s the place for your most important information:

• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn page
• And a link to your portfolio.

Your CV and writing portfolio go hand in hand, you cannot have a copywriter resume without a portfolio accompanying it. And as recruiters spend maybe 10 seconds browsing through your resume and 10 minutes checking out your portfolio, make sure the link to it is easily accessible.

After all, your CV only has the hard facts, but it’s your portfolio that will really show off your skills and blow everyone away.

2. Copywriter resume summary or objectives

This section is not absolutely necessary, but still good to have. Originally, this is supposed to be a blurb summarizing your experience or outlining your career objectives: where you’re heading and what your goals are.

What it really is though, is a chance for you to show off your copywriting skills, add a dash of personality, and catch the viewer’s attention.

And as a copywriter, people will expect this part to be really damn good. So if you decide to include it, don’t be afraid to spend more time on it.

3. Work experience

When it comes to listing your previous work experiences, there are three different approaches you can follow, based on whether you’ve been working mostly freelance or in-house. Let’s review them quickly!

Chronological for experienced in-house copywriters

For copywriters who have spent their working years at advertising agencies or working in-house, listing experiences in reverse chronological order is the best way to go.

What this means is that you start from your current or most recent position and work your way back in time. This format is easy to overview and one that hiring managers expect.

Functional resume format for freelancers or beginners

Reverse chronological resumes don’t really work for freelancers or beginners with not much work experience. But that’s okay because you can go with a functional resume instead.

What is a functional resume? Exactly as it sounds: you list your experiences, not by company (or client), but by skills or project types you’re expert at.

And at the end, you can still list some longer collaborations or positions you deem worthy.

Separate projects section for a mix

If you have a good amount of experience both freelancing and working in-house, you can easily create a CV with a mix of the two formats above. First write down your in-house or agency positions in a regular, reverse chronological order. Then add a projects section to detail your freelance work.

Pro tip: use power words!

As a copywriter, you must know that choosing the words carefully is always important. It’s not any different in your resume either. Make sure to use actionable words to make your resume more impactful. Words like these:

4. Education and awards

As you could see from the examples above, there are different approaches when it comes to including education and awards. Some people do both, some just one or the other.

The general rule of thumb is that if your list of awards and experiences speak for themselves, you don’t need the education there. But if you’re somewhat lacking in those departments and have relevant education, it’s best to include it.

If you’re at the very beginning of your career with not much work experience, feel free to elaborate on it too. You can beef up your copywriter resume in those early years by writing about relevant coursework and extracurriculars that you did.

5. Skills and other personal touches

The ones above are the most common and most needed sections for a copywriter resume. But you can always take it one step further and include your skills, or add some personal touches.

We compiled a list of skills that often appear in copywriter resumes to give you some ideas:

• User-focused copywriting
• Brand research and target audience analysis
• Creative problem solving and conceptualization
• Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
• HTML, CSS, Javascript
• SEO-friendly editing and keyword research
• Good communication and listening skills
• And goes without saying, but outstanding English skills (grammar, spelling, and punctuation)

But if you like to think outside of the box, you can come up with additional ideas to add to your resume. Just like Andrew Burke did with his list of personal achievements.

How to create your copywriter resume

There are two main ways where you can go with this:

• You can either create a standalone PDF, or
• Add a page to your personal website and write up your resume there.

When you’re browsing copywriter websites and portfolios, it’s common to either see a menu item titled “Resume”, or their CV added or embedded into their about page.

To give you a little more idea about how that’s supposed to look like, we’re adding five more copywriter resume examples:

Amanda Brencys - Creative Director / Grey New York

John Friedman - Senior Copywriter / 215 McCann

Benji Shaw - Senior Copywriter / DDB

C.J Thomas - Senior Copywriter / Saatchi & Saatchi

Scott Muska - Senior Copywriter / Huge

For these examples, we chose simpler designs that you can easily recreate yourself. What’s common in them is that they:

• Use a simple white background, black text and only one font. This keeps the design minimal and coherent. If you follow along, it will be hard to mess it up.
• Have very clear sections. They all use either columns, lots of white space, or big headers to separate each resume section. It makes the whole resume easy to overview and avoids the text to be overwhelming.
• Are brief but have the most important information : work experience, awards, education, and client names.

Alternatively, you can create a PDF using one of the following ways.

• The most basic method: use Microsoft Word. Especially if you don’t mind a minimalistic design, you can just open up a new document and type your information in there. Then when you’re done, save it as a PDF. There are multiple free resume templates that work with Word that can make the process even easier.
• A bit more advanced: use a design tool. Adobe InDesign in an industry-standard tool for creating publications and similar materials, so many people use it to design their resumes. Or you can choose a free alternative like Canva if you’re not comfortable with a professional software.
• The easy but costly way: hire someone. If you have all the information written down but have neither the time nor the desire to do it yourself, you can always hire a designer to do it for you. It might cost a little bit, but you can save lots of time and end up with a CV that looks amazing.

It’s worth mentioning that even if you decide to write your resume as a page on your website, some people might still expect a button to download it as a PDF. Also, if you’re applying for a job and they ask for your copywriter resume as an attachment, they might not be happy to get a link instead.

How to write a copywriter cover letter

Although in most cases your resume-portfolio combo should do the job, for some positions they specifically ask for a cover letter as well. A copywriter cover letter is not much different from any others - except that they might expect it to be entertaining and fun to read.

There are some general rules you should follow to write a convincing copywriter cover letter:

• Write a specific cover letter for each application

It goes without saying, but you should always tailor your cover letter to the job you’re applying for.

Start out by carefully reading the job description. What is their dream candidate like? Write a list of the keywords of skills and past experiences they’re looking for and reflect on them in your cover letter.

• It should be about them, not you

That sounds a bit contradictory, considering we’re talking about cover letters, right? But if you think about it... Your cover letter is so much more powerful if you talk about how their company could benefit from having you and what they could achieve with your help.

If you’re just telling them how amazing you are in general, they might feel like you’re just trying to make yourself look good. But approaching it from their perspective, you’re creating a vision for them. And if it’s written well, you can really make an impact.

• Let your motivation shine through

Of course, the whole point of the cover letter is to show them you want to work there. But sometimes it can still come out a little bland.

Do you have any personal connection to the company or their industry? Any anecdotes you can share? Include them so they see that for you it’s not “just another position”.

Convince them that being a skilled copywriter and an overall good fit is not the only reason why they should hire you. Show them that with you they will gain a determined and motivated employee that will fight for their vision with them.

• Make sure your grammar is impeccable

Another thing you probably already know, but we’ll say it anyway. Make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are perfect.

Making mistakes in these regards will tell hiring managers that it’s either your English skills or your attention to detail that’s lacking. Needless to say, for a copywriter position, either of these would be a reason for immediate rejection.

Attaching your copywriter portfolio

Your copywriter resume cannot exist without a portfolio. Sure, it nicely lists the companies you worked for and the schools you studied at.

But what about your skills in practice? Your writing style? The types of copy you’re best at? And the niches you write most comfortably in? Here’s where your portfolio comes into play.

When you’re applying for a copywriter job, they will expect you to hand in a portfolio alongside your resume. And if you’re not linking to it in your application email, they will be looking for it in your CV. It’s just as necessary, if not more important, than the resume itself.

As hiring managers have a limited time to look at your CV, they also don’t have hours to spend on your portfolio. But the difference is that while they look at your resume for about 10 seconds only, they can spend 5-10 minutes looking through your portfolio.

That says a lot about the importance and where you should focus your resources, right?

What makes a good portfolio?

• Lots of visuals to catch your eye. While it’s more common for resumes to have a minimal black and white design, a good portfolio goes further than that. You should bring some color into the picture, if not with the design of the page, then with screenshots and big project thumbnails.
• Brief explanations. While the centerpiece of the portfolio is the finished copy, it’s important to include information on how it came to be. Speaking about the challenge and your problem-solving process is crucial, but you have to do it briefly. Lack of time, remember?
• Personality. Your portfolio is a great way for others to get to know you a little better. Through the projects you chose to display and how you decided to present them. With the copy you include and the about page you put together. It gives you a chance to show who’s behind all this amazing copy, so don’t miss out on it!

How to create a copywriting portfolio?

There are multiple ways to create a copywriting portfolio , but the fastest and easiest way is by using a portfolio builder tool that was designed for copywriters. One that will…

• Let you create a stunning personal website in a matter of minutes
• Require no design or coding skills to do so
• Help you with visuals so you can focus on what you’re best at, and
• Guide you through building your case studies to create a portfolio that will get you hired

If you like how that sounds, you’ll love our new tool. Copyfolio is now live, so sign up and create your copywriting portfolio today!

Dorka Kardos-Latif

Digital marketer & portfolio expert, the face behind all content on Copyfolio 👋

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Here’s how to apply for a job using AI

I long for the day when I’ll wake up in the morning and get my AI ready to go to work for me . Until that time comes, the least AI could do for me today is to help me land a job I like.

Not everyone is a fan of resume and cover letters, but they remain staples in many recruitment processes.

For years, employers have also been using forms of AI to filter through these documents in order to narrow down the pool of applications they receive for any given vacancy. 

The latest advances in generative AI mean that right now employees can leverage AI tools at their disposal to empower themselves in the job-hunting process.

I wanted to see how powerful these tools are. To find out, I created a shortlist of AI resume and cover letter builders that I wanted to try. Tom’s Guide believes in fair fights, so I used each of them as though I was applying for the same job with the same profile.

A target was required and I found a LinkedIn ad for a real job as a remote Software Engineer with generative AI responsibilities at Meta (formerly Facebook) that looked promising.

The role asked for a candidate with over two years of coding experience and over two years of building large-scale applications. More experience was required in designing and completing medium to large features without guidance. Meta was looking for a candidate with, or in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent practical experience. In exchange, the company was offering a salary between $116k and $168k per year.

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I created a fictitious aspiring Meta software engineer, Tamsin Smith, in order to have some kind of profile I could submit to the AI. Smith holds two Stanford University degrees in computing science, completed an internship with Twitter and has been working at Google as a software engineer since 2019. 

If that’s not enough for Mark Zuckerberg to give her an offer, she also leads a local scouting group in her free time.

With an actual job ad and an alter ego in hand, I was ready to start reviewing AI tools. Read on to find out which tools I used, what they produced and my thoughts on their performance.

My first attempt was with Rezi.ai since it offers a free basic service and I wanted to check if the way I designed the review could work in principle. And it did!

Right after confirming my email, I was creating Tamsin Smith’s first resume.

I was presented with a choice between a “Job-Tailored Resume” and a “General Purpose Resume”; I went with the first choice as it was exactly what this test was about. It asked me for the role and company I’m targeting but I was blindsided when Rezi asked me to insert a job application I’d written for the role. Isn’t this something the AI should be doing for me?

I finished this side quest and then added basic details like my name and email, followed by my previous work experience. Here’s when I first encountered signs of AI life in the form of a bullet point generator to further explain my role. 

Rezi went on to ask me to add details on projects I’d worked on, my education history, certifications, coursework, involvement in other organizations, and my skills.

The next exciting step was the summary section, where I gladly let the AI take control. It was nothing I couldn’t have come up with myself if I simply wanted to summarize my resume, but it at least merits a pass mark. (I wanted to ask the AI to write a cover letter for me based on the finished resume but that feature requires a subscription.)

Overall Rezi marked the resume it produced at 87 out of 100, which I think is a bit too generous. If you have a rough idea of what you want your resume to look like, by all means, use Rezi so you don’t have to worry about the formatting. It might also provide a helpful AI-generated bullet point or two along the way.

If you were worried that not using Rezi’s AI was the one thing stopping you from getting your dream job, rest assured that (at least with its free version) this is not the case.

My score: 3/5

Resumaker.ai

“Designed templates that will get you hired at the world's leading companies,” Resumaker proudly displayed on its homepage. I also had to pay ($0.99) to download my resume and cover letter. Surely, I was on the verge of getting Tamsin hired?

By now I’d gotten the hang of inserting details like my education and work history. In this regard, little separates the resume builders tested here.

The AI kicked in to provide me with text I could insert as accomplishments in my jobs and as the headline summary. The latter left much to be desired but at least it was presentable. Resumaker didn’t offer to beef up my volunteering section so I had to write that part manually. As a whole, the resume felt a bit dry but at least it was presentable.

However, it’s a good thing this service isn’t called Coverlettermaker. Every sentence it generated started with either an “I am” or “I have”. When you’re working with such a structure, there’s only so much you can do to make the rest more exciting. Furthermore, it left the [Company Name] field for me to fill in. AI that’s supposed to help me land a job in a highly competitive market should come with higher standards. 

Resumaker.ai claims that thousands of applications it created landed people jobs. If there’s any truth to that, then on the bright side we really shouldn’t be overthinking what we’re sending to hiring managers.

The main question I asked myself before deciding whether each AI builder deserved a pass mark was: Can I send out the résumé as is? 

Teal didn’t quite make the cut here.

It asked me to connect the specific job I was applying for from LinkedIn to the resume and it started analyzing the job ad for keywords I should include. Fantastic! I was ready for a made-to-measure summary, past accomplishments, and cover letter — the areas where I wanted the AI to work its magic.

Unfortunately, this is where I felt let down. In the headline summary, Teal ended up giving me a compilation of the achievements it had previously generated but also prominently added that I had expertise in “work authorization”. The AI thought the right to work in the U.S. requirement from Meta’s job description was a hard skill. 

It scored its own resume at 79%.

As far as its cover letter goes, I appreciated that I could generate it for free without having to spend time adding more details than I already had. However, the result was something I could have just as easily written myself.

My score: 2/5

Kickresume.com

The last AI resume maker I wanted to test was Kickresume, which had the highest monthly fee out of the lot at $19 per month. You can bring that down by paying an annual lump sum that brings the pricing down to $9 a month or, as I did, utilize the free trial version. 

Right when I was losing hope in the resume generators, Kickresume lifted my spirits.

Its helpful AI writer was alongside me from start to finish, offering handy suggestions for work accomplishments, explaining my certifications, and also suggesting skills I should list specifically for a software engineering position. I ended up with a clean-looking CV and I didn’t even have to break a sweat.

Kickresume gave the resume it generated a score of 88/100.

If I’m in a pinch and need a new resume that I don’t have to scan for AI-generated sentences that would land me in the "rejected" pile, Kickresume.com is the first website I’ll be visiting.

I wanted to add a nice cherry to the cake, so I asked Kickresume to create a cover letter using the great resume it made. But this is where I was underwhelmed. 

While devoid of grammatical errors, I felt as though the AI didn’t take the résumé and job description I gave into consideration. It provided me with a few short lines that didn’t even name-drop Tamsin’s fictitious stints at Twitter and Google. You wouldn’t even know she completed two degrees at Stanford. Based on my positive experience with the résumé, I couldn’t believe this was the same AI content generator.

My score: 4/5

No subscriptions. No plugins. I wanted to see how well the free version of OpenAI ’s ChatGPT would do against the four dedicated AI resume and cover letter generators listed above.

I tweaked a prompt that I found online and, in 161 words, I asked the AI for a first draft of my new resume. I then asked the chatbot to refine its work based on the job description I gave it to make my resume less generic. In seconds, I had my second draft.

Since ChatGPT only gave me a plain text version of my resume, I then pasted what it gave me into a template from one of the previous builders.

I’m happy to announce that both myself and Tamsin were very pleased with the results. The resume easily rivals the ones generated from the other services I tested. I wouldn’t have minded some text to beef up the education section to explain what I had learned at Stanford. Also, the line pointing out that Meta was previously called Facebook is something I would never have included in a resume intended for Meta’s eyes. Other than that, ChatGPT gave me decent results in the shortest amount of time.

I was especially impressed with the cover letter I asked ChatGPT to craft for me. It was perhaps a bit too long for some tastes but it was arguably the most well-rounded out of the five.

Honorary score: 4/5

The verdict

There have already been reports of people using AI to write resumes and cover letters who ended up getting hired for the positions they’ve applied for, and I’m not surprised. But as this test has shown, a website’s claim that it uses AI to provide a service is not some kind of guarantee of the level of service you can expect. 

Shop around when looking for AI resume and cover letter writers. Perhaps combine two or more of them to leverage each one’s specific strengths. But add the finishing touches yourself.

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Christoph Schwaiger is a journalist who mainly covers technology, science, and current affairs. His stories have appeared in Tom's Guide, New Scientist, Live Science, and other established publications. Always up for joining a good discussion, Christoph enjoys speaking at events or to other journalists and has appeared on LBC and Times Radio among other outlets. He believes in giving back to the community and has served on different consultative councils. He was also a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global organization founded in the USA. You can follow him on Twitter @cschwaigermt.

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How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 + Examples

After weeks of heavy job search, you’re almost there!

You’ve perfected your resume. 

You’ve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You’ve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.

Now you’re stuck wondering how to write a cover letter ...

Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think. 

In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

• What’s a cover letter & why it’s important for your job search
• How to write a convincing cover letter that gets you the job (step-by-step!)
• How to perfect your cover letter with the Novoresume free checklist
• What excellent cover letter examples look like

New to cover letter writing? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

So, let’s get started with the basics!

What is a Cover Letter? (and Why It’s Important)

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume). 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can spark the HR manager’s interest and get them to read your resume. 

A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, here’s an example:

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, you’re probably not a professional writer.

The thing is, though, you don’t need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:

• Header - Input contact information
• Greeting the hiring manager
• Opening paragraph - Grab the reader’s attention with 2-3 of your top achievements
• Second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job
• Third paragraph - Explain why you’re a good match for the company
• Formal closing

Or, here’s what this looks like in practice:

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, we’re going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step. 

Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what’s a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?

You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in a jiffy!

As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.

Step #2 - Start the Cover Letter with a Header

As with a resume, it’s important to start your cover letter with a Contact Information section:

Here, you want to include all essential information, including:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

In certain cases, you might also consider adding:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your blog.

And here’s what you shouldn’t mention in your header:

• Your Full Address 
• Unprofessional Email - Make sure your email is presentable. It’s pretty hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is “[email protected].” Whenever applying for jobs, stick to the “[first name] + [last name] @ email provider.com” format.

Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.

The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager .

That’s right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular “Dear Sir or Madam.” You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this. 

The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.

So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:

And voila! You have your hiring manager.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of a server. In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager.”

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Here are several other greetings you could use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph .

The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..

• Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say pretty much anything except the fact that you’ve worked the job before.

Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.

Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

So now, let’s make our previous example shine:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.

See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?

Now that we’ve covered the introduction, let’s talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why you’re the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that you’re a good fit for the company.

So, let’s get started...

Step #5 - Explain why you’re the perfect person for the job

This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you’re a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.

But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.

For the sake of the example, let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:

• Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
• Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
• Excellent copywriting skills

Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, here’s how that would look for our example:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy , images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

Are you a student applying for your first internship? You probably don’t have a lot of work experience to show off in this section. Learn how to write an internship cover letter here.

Step #6 - Explain why you’re a good fit for the company

Once you’ve written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - I’m a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? I’ll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.

Well, no. You’re not quite there yet.

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that you’re really passionate about working with them.

How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

So, get to Googling. Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.

Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.

Let’s say, for example, you’re passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.

You’d write something like:

I’ve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative tech I’ve used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device. 

I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.

What you don’t want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Let’s take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):

I’d love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since I’m super creative, I’d be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.

See what’s wrong here? The example doesn’t really say anything about the company. “Culture of Innovation” is something most companies claim to have. 

The same goes for “values of integrity and transparency” - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.

Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.

So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.

Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action

Finally, it’s time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? Any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision? Mention it here.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. It never hurts to be courteous, as long as you don’t come off as too needy.
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. You should ask the hiring manager to take some sort of action.

And now, let’s turn this into a practical example:

So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.

Step #8 - Use the right formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

And we’re finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

• Professional email
• Relevant Social Media Profiles

Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

• Did you mention 2-3 of your top achievements?
• Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?

Do you successfully convey that you’re the right pro for the job?

• Did you identify the core requirements?
• Did you successfully convey how your experiences help you fit the requirements perfectly?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re applying to?

• Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
• Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action?

Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?

5+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples we’ve seen (for different fields).

College Student Cover Letter Example

Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Career Change Cover Letter Example

Management Cover Letter Example

Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples .

Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught. 

After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.

...But don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered on that end, too.

If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume , as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.

Or, if you’re already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

• A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that convinces the hiring manager of your competence
• A cover letter goes in your job application alongside your resume
• Your introduction to the cover letter should grab the hiring manager’s attention and keep it all the way until the conclusion
• There are 2 main topics you need to include in your cover letter: why you’re the perfect candidate for the job & why you’re passionate about working in the company you’re applying to
• Most of the content of your cover letter should be factual , without any fluff or generalizations

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides…

• How to Write a Motivational Letter
• How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience
• Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

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The No. 1 AI mistake job seekers make, from a career expert: So many people use ChatGPT 'in exactly the wrong way'

As a leader at the education nonprofit Khan Academy, I was thrilled when ChatGPT came out in November 2022. It meant we could use generative AI to provide personalized tutoring to more kids than ever.

But as a hiring manager and cofounder of a career development business who's trained first-gen students at CUNY and MBAs at Harvard Business School alike, I was heartbroken to see that so many job seekers were using these tools in exactly the wrong way. 

They forgot that no matter how exciting this new technology is, humans are still in charge of the hiring process. Which is why having a robot write your resume is a recipe for disaster.

But given that I wrote the literal book on using ChatGPT in your job search , I know you can still turn to AI to make your resume shine. Used properly, it can help you land the interview — and ultimately the job. 

The wrong way to use AI for your resume

In my experience, most job seekers using ChatGPT or other AI platforms begin with a prompt like "Generate a marketing resume." This might seem like a great place to start, but it's the biggest mistake you could make. Here's why: 

The results are massively generic 

Take this summary, for instance:

As a hiring manager, the first thing I'm always looking for is evidence of specific accomplishments. When I scan this, though, my first thought is "Wow — this candidate is great at buzzwords, but not so great at actual marketing." 

That's hardly the first impression you want to make when employers spend seven seconds , on average, reviewing your resume!

ChatGPT and other AI tools are going to make stuff up 

As if that wasn't bad enough, check out what comes next under a single job listing under the experience section:

Not only do these bullet points lack specificity (with no clear projects or outcomes), but the sheer range of skills covered is literally unbelievable. As in, I've never met a marketer in my two-decade career who did all of these things in one job.

So my human BS detector immediately assumes the worst: This isn't a resume, this is a hallucination!

The right way to use AI for your resume

OK, you get the picture: Having AI generate your resume from scratch can be a fast track to rejection. But if we know that human reviewers want specificity and credibility, we can actually leverage AI to help us with those exact things.

1. Start with a draft resume written by a human (i.e., you)

Instead of asking AI to generate your resume, start with your own first draft, even if it's in rough shape. That way, you can at least be specific and accurate about what you actually did, even if those accomplishments need a little polishing.

2. Identify and incorporate missing keywords

Go right to the source of truth. The job description was created by the hiring team to spell out the skills they're looking for — and it contains the exact keywords you want to match.

Here's where you turn to AI. Enter the following prompt: 

• Which keywords from the below job description are missing from my resume? 
• Here's the job description: [Paste the job description here] 
• And here's my resume: [Paste the text of your resume here]

Once you've got a list of missing keywords, identify the ones you have experience with and prompt the AI to help you incorporate them: 

Suggest three ways to incorporate [keyword] into my resume.

3. Quantify achievements and demonstrate results

The best predictor of future performance is usually past performance, which means recruiters and hiring managers want to see real results, not just hallucinations.

So get a little nudge in the right direction with a prompt like: 

Suggest three ways to add more quantitative impact to the following bullet point: [Paste your bullet point here]

Now, it's tempting to copy and paste the bullets your AI platform suggests straight into your resume. But make sure you're editing the text to match your actual accomplishments. For instance, maybe you generated $300,000 in donations, not $500,000 like the AI spit out, or your organization actually measures growth quarterly rather than monthly.

4. Review, review, review!

Always proofread your resume before submitting it. If you've used AI, it's all the more important to review every last word and number to make sure everything's 100% accurate. 

The last thing you want is to be sitting in a final-round interview and have your prospective boss's boss's boss ask you about a resume bullet the AI fabricated and you forgot to update!

Jeremy Schifeling is the founder of  The Job Insiders , which provides career technology training for hundreds of top universities and business schools. He is also the author of " Career Coach GPT: The Complete Guide to ChatGPT Resume, Cover Letter, Interview, and Job Search Success " and shares his latest career and AI hacks on LinkedIn .

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take  CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. CNBC Make It readers can save 25% with discount code 25OFF.

Plus,  sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter  to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

The shame of LinkedIn

Why posting on the site feels so embarrassing — and how to overcome the cringe factor

The other day, a friend of mine liked one of my LinkedIn posts. I was mortified. I quickly sent him a text explaining that posting there was a function of my job, not for funsies. While my frantic embarrassment was perhaps a tad of an overcorrection (OK, a lot of an overcorrection), I nonetheless feel deeply self-conscious about what I post on the work-focused website. I don't want to come off as overly earnest, too self-promotional, or dare I say it, cringe.

That LinkedIn is a cringey space is well established. The issue has been dissected on Reddit, in the media , and even by LinkedIn itself . LinkedIn is just a weird place to be in the first place. It's a jobs board with a social network layered on top of it. It's an artificial space where everyone is trying to put on their best face, but one that leaves people feeling quite exposed.

Why does LinkedIn feel so cringe? And is it possible to post there without being cringe yourself? I decided to reach out to some experts to try to find out, which was an embarrassing endeavor on its own.

Why LinkedIn feels so cringe

As much as LinkedIn is a professional platform, something about it feels really personal . Even when you're posting with your real name, other social-media sites like Instagram, Twitter/X, or TikTok have an air of anonymity to them, a sense of removal. A tweet is more fleeting, and Instagram is more private, even if your profile is public. On a lot of these platforms, everyone's sort of doing a bit. On LinkedIn, you wind up putting a lot of yourself out there: your picture, your work history, your education, your professional past, your aspirations. You're there for a specific reason — to advance your career and network. You have a specific audience in mind — prospective employers, potential business leads . That all requires you to be your best, most workiest self.

"The way people position themselves and kind of discuss really anything is filtered through that lens of etiquette and knowing that all eyes are on you all the time," Nathan Allebach, a social-media strategist and creative director, said. "It's just almost like an omni-surveillance state."

On LinkedIn, people face a case of "context collapse," where they communicate with disparate groups of people all at once. In most places, you know exactly who you're talking to — friends in a group chat or your work colleagues on email — but LinkedIn folds all of them together. That leads to a self-presentation conundrum: Which you do you want to be?

"It's hard to think about how to post, what to post, when you have, for example, your bosses there, your former bosses there, maybe your high-school friends are there, with your current colleagues or interns," Sunny Xun Liu, the director of research at the Stanford Social Media Lab, said. "We usually behave differently based on who we talk to. When all those people are there, it's very challenging to find a way that we feel comfortable."

LinkedIn users are trapped in a culture of professionalism and all that comes with it. The person you are with your boss or a client is probably not your truest self. This setting makes posting — or even just creating and maintaining a profile — feel extra high-stakes and, in turn, contrived. On LinkedIn, there is no dancing like no one's watching.

This high-wire performance has helped foster LinkedIn's reputation as a space for content that's a little extra, grimace-inducing, and often insincere. It's known for guys spouting broetry and CEOs crying and wannabe thinkfluencers posing as experts in areas nobody needs their expertise in. There's a reason social-media accounts like Best of LinkedIn , which pokes fun at over-the-top LinkedIn posts, exist. Even the people who run LinkedIn know that when something goes viral there, it's often not a good sign.

LinkedIn has made some efforts to change things — it's adjusted its algorithm to try to elevate more quality content and show people stuff from their networks. And while there are fewer "pure meaningless platitudes" on the platform, as Brendan Gahan, the cofounder of Creator Authority, a LinkedIn influencer marketing agency told me, there's still a "hangover" from how LinkedIn is perceived.

LinkedIn might not be as cringe as it used to be, but it's still awkward. Posting and interacting there, for most people, entails a level of forced positivity and performative professionalism that isn't really matched anywhere else online.

"LinkedIn is an echo chamber," John Hickey, the creator of Best of LinkedIn and a freelance creative director, said. "Everyone's on their best behavior, but in some ways that best behavior is also their worst behavior because they're not being their true selves."

How to be less cringe on LinkedIn

OK, so if LinkedIn comes with a bit of cringe baked in, what's the best way to minimize that impulse as much as possible? LinkedIn declined to comment for this story, but it sent over a couple of links, one to a blog post about how its users want "knowledge-based content" and another to a guide on becoming a LinkedIn creator that includes a fair amount of content but is a little hard to wade through. I am not among the 3,224 people apparently interested in an hourlong webinar on "nailing your niche," nor do I really want to see people share their posts and ask others why they think they underperformed. The goal for most people on LinkedIn is not to be a creator, anyway, it's just to live to fight another day in the working world. Given the weakness of the official advice, I decided to ask a bunch of people for tips on how to post in a non-cringe way on LinkedIn.

Brandon Smithwick, a LinkedIn creator and the head of content at Kickstarter, said it's generally a good idea to keep it short. "A post that's a huge dissertation or paragraphs, I'm scrolling past it, I'm going to bounce, I'm not reading that," he said. Memes do well, but it's also fine to just engage casually — share a blog post you like, comment on other people's posts, or just keep up a decent-looking profile. He schedules his posts and suggests others do the same, especially if it feels daunting to spend a lot of time on LinkedIn and come up with ideas. It may also be helpful for people who dread hitting the "post" button and seeing a message immediately go up.

Natalie Marshall, who goes by Corporate Natalie on social media, told me that since posting anywhere is by its nature cringey, the best approach is just to try to make content that isn't too forced. She tries to add some personal narrative or anecdotes to her posts and will ask followers about their experiences and feedback, but she's cognizant of length. "We're not storytellers here," she told me. She feels like she can "hide behind the written word" on LinkedIn more than on platforms where she's posting videos. It's a tough balancing act — she suggests people use a personal flair on the platform, but at one point in our conversation, she thought I accused her posts of being cringe.

Also, people should remember they can opt out of posting altogether. "If you don't want to post, don't," Marshall said. "Why is there this pressure to build your personal brand and build your LinkedIn and do these things?"

I also asked a pair of social-media managers — one at Business Insider and one at a different company — for their thoughts on LinkedIn posting. They offered up some tips: Try to ask a question at the end of a post, include some extra detail, maybe toss in some hashtags. Both also came to the same conclusion: There's no way to get around the cringe. "I have thought of it as part of the job, but doesn't make it any less cringe!" one told me. "I would say to embrace the cringe," the other said.

None of this is to dunk on LinkedIn as a platform — I like it very much! Of all of the social-media websites, I find it the most useful for my job. I just feel like a complete idiot being there sometimes. A lot of people do. Those are just the rules of the road.

"Eventually, you just kind of give in," Allebach said. "I'll do my best to write this how I would say it in real life, but ultimately I know I'm going to be still using certain line breaks and certain hooks and certain bulleted points or whatever it might be that I know the algorithm and my audience is going to favor, because ultimately I want to get some type of lead through this platform. I'm not just posting for my enjoyment on LinkedIn."

Nor am I. But I'll still be there, posting my stories (including this one), hoping people won't judge me.

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

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