Why the Human Touch Still Trumps AI Tools such as ChatGPT for Executive Resume Writing
In today’s competitive job market, a well-crafted resume can make or break a candidate’s chance of landing their next role – particularly at the executive level, where multiple candidates are often qualified for a given position.
With the emergence of AI technology, job seekers may wonder whether AI tools can replace a traditional resume writing service or deliver a more effective document than a human writer could produce.
However, we argue that the expertise of executive resume writer remains irreplaceable for clients who are seeking a personalized touch and a professional who has a deep understanding of the executive recruitment landscape.
While AI tools can be useful for brainstorming a resume’s structure or providing general suggestions, they lack the nuance that is crucial for executive resume writing.
Because AI-generated often incorporate generic, templated phrasing, they may work for general or junior-level roles, but we find that they fall short at the senior level.
Working with a professional resume writing service provides you with more than just a document.
Working with an executive resume writer can give you a strategic advantage in your career journey, as they:
- Prepare highly personalized documents that differentiate their clients
- Offer a “human touch,” listening carefully and asking pointed questions to draw out key achievements
- Have a strong understanding of the recruitment environment, partnering with executive recruiters
- Help prepare clients for interviews, contributing to added confidence in the job search
- Position a client’s experience for specific industries and roles – particularly for clients looking to make a pivot
- Address complex challenges such as major career transitions or career gaps
- Provide long-term career support
Prepare highly personalized documents that differentiate their clients
The greatest advantage of working with an executive resume writer is that they provide tailored service, leveraging critical insights gathered during a one-on-one consultation to produce documents that dive into specific details to showcase achievements and experiences in a way that resonates with prospective employers.
An executive resume must provide more than just a list of your skills and responsibilities, incorporating storytelling to help recruiters visualize how you make an impact within an organization, which simply cannot be matched by AI.
Executive resume writers focus on the nuances of each client’s unique experience, eliciting information that clients may not have thought to include on their own.
They make a distinct effort to dive into the details, showcasing achievements and experiences in a way that resonates with potential employers.
Resume writers help to:
1. Highlight Your Unique Strengths
A resume writer can dig deeper into your background, identifying your standout achievements and unique value proposition.
They craft your story in a way that highlights your leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and ability to drive change.
2. Tailor Your Messaging to Your Target Roles
Unlike AI, which may produce generic language, an experienced resume writer tailors each resume to align with the client’s goals and the specific requirements of their target roles.
This ensures that the resume is targeted and compelling for hiring managers.
Offer a “human touch,” listening carefully and asking pointed questions to draw out key achievements
A core component of the executive resume writing process is an in-depth consultation, through which clients can reflect on their experiences and identify the achievements that truly matter.
Resume writers guide the conversation, asking the right questions to point clients to valuable skills and accomplishments that might otherwise be overlooked.
During the consultation, resume writers help:
1. Brainstorm Key Achievements
Writers help clients identify and narrow down the achievements worth including on their resume, which can include examples of successful projects, revenue growth, process optimization, or leadership wins.
For clients who do not work in metric-driven roles, they can identify strong ways of positioning qualitative examples as well.
These key differentiators can set candidates apart from other applicants who only provide general descriptions of their roles.
2. Identify Transferable Skills
For executives looking to pivot into new industries or functions, resume writers can translate existing skills into a new context, positioning clients for success in their next roles.
For example, if a client is seeking to transition from a C-suite role to a Board role in the later stages of their career, a resume writer can present their experience from an angle that best highlights the specific attributes an organization is seeking in a board member.
If a client in the early stages of their career is looking to make a pivot from a career in marketing to a finance role, a resume writer will help pinpoint key skills finance recruiters are specifically looking for in a candidate. They can also provide recommendations on professional development opportunities that will provide a distinct advantage.
AI tools simply do not yet have this level of insight.
3. Explain Complex Career Paths
An executive resume writer can help clients present non-linear career paths by weaving together diverse experiences into a cohesive narrative.
For executives who have held varied roles across different industries or taken on consulting projects in addition to their full-time work, this support can be particularly beneficial.
Have a strong understanding of the recruitment environment, partnering with executive recruiters
The job search process for executives is much different from that of more junior positions, and executive resume writers understand this distinction.
Specifically, they have an up-to-date pulse on what recruiters and hiring managers look for in executive candidates, making them valuable partners in the resume development process.
Many professional resume writers also work closely with executive recruiters who trust them to prepare documents for their clients, which equips them with a deeper understanding of market trends and what executive search firms are seeking in candidate resumes.
A seasoned executive resume writer stays current on recruitment trends, ensuring that resumes are not only well-written but also relevant.
Prepare clients for interviews, contributing to added confidence in the job search
An often-overlooked benefit of working with an executive resume writing service is the coaching that naturally comes with the consultation process.
The experience a resume writing firm offers entails much more than just writing a resume: it is thoughtfully designed to prepare clients for the next steps in their career journey.
The added benefits of working with a resume writer include:
1. Interview Preparation
During their one-on-one consultation, clients articulate their achievements and career stories out loud. This process doubles as excellent practice for future interviews, helping candidates refine how they present themselves in a supportive, pressure-free environment
2. Kickstarting the Job Search
When preparing for their consultation, clients are asked to provide examples of their target roles, helping them clarify their career goals.
This step aids in the job search process, allowing clients to start thinking about their next steps more strategically and intentionally.
3. Personalized Feedback
Unlike AI tools that merely generate content, resume writers can provide constructive feedback on how clients present themselves during the consultation, offering insights on how clients can improve storytelling for interviews and other career-related discussions.
Position a client’s experience for specific industries and roles – particularly for clients looking to make a pivot
Another advantage of working with a professional resume writer is their ability to tailor resumes for specific industries and roles.
AI tools typically use generic language that does not adequately address the unique needs of each industry, whereas an executive resume writer understands how to emphasize industry-specific accomplishments.
Industry Expertise
Because executive resume writers have years of experience working with clients – and recruiters - from various sectors, they are skilled at adapting a resume’s phrasing to ensure it speaks the reader’s language.
Whether a client is looking to apply for a competitive role in finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, or engineering an executive resume writer knows how to emphasize relevant skills and accomplishments that resonate with hiring managers in each sector.
Resume writers are skilled consultants who can write for clients even in technical, specialized roles including software engineering, oil and gas engineering, pharmaceutical research and development, quantitative analysis and finance, and biomedical engineering.
Address complex challenges such as major career transitions or career gaps
Many executives face unique challenges such as career gaps, a shift in career direction, or even a perceived lack of certain qualifications.
AI tools often lack the ability to address these challenges.
Resume writers help clients not only address these challenges on their resume but can also provide advice on how to frame them during the interview process to mitigate potential concerns:
1. Career Gaps
Professional resume writers can help turn potential red flags like career gaps into positive aspects of a candidate’s story.
For example, they can emphasize skills gained during a period of consulting work, personal development, or even voluntary sabbaticals in a positive manner that is directly relevant to a client’s target roles.
2. Career Transitions
For executives making a significant change in their career direction—such as moving from corporate to nonprofit leadership—resume writers can reposition their achievements to align with their new direction.
Their approach ensures that the transition appears natural, logical, and intentional to prospective employers.
Provide long-term career support
Working with an executive resume writing service often means having access to ongoing support throughout the job search process.
Such a partnership can make a significant difference when navigating a competitive market.
Added benefits of working with a resume writer include:
1. Ongoing Refinement and Updates
Many clients return to their resume writers on an annual or bi-annual basis to ensure their resume is ready for any job opportunities that may unexpectedly arise.
Clients who have opted for regular updates mention that they alleviate a significant amount of stress, as they do not have to rush to make last-minute updates to their resumes when a recruiter calls.
In addition, going through the process helps them gather data on key achievements while they are still fresh in their minds.
Other clients also return to their resume writers for more minor tweaks and updates to their resumes for specific applications, ensuring that each submission is perfectly tailored.
2. Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile Optimization
Most executive resume writing services also extend their expertise to cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.
While AI tools can generate a standard cover letter, they cannot create a compelling narrative that connects the client’s story to a specific employer’s needs.
3. Encouragement and Motivation
The job search can be a challenging journey, especially at the executive level. Having a professional resume writer as a partner provides moral support and a sense of direction during the process.
This human element is something that AI can never replicate.
In Summary
For executives aiming to move up the ladder or make significant career transitions, partnering with a professional resume writing service offers benefits that AI simply cannot replicate.
From the personalized touch and expert interviewing ability to their understanding of the executive recruiting environment, executive resume writers are invaluable allies in a competitive job market, offering strategic insights and support that can turn a job search from daunting to successful.
About Resume Pilots
Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.
As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.
Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.
Here's how we can help you:
Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.
Executive Resume Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.
To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@resumepilots.com.
About the AuthorMatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years.
He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.