I think the hardest part about writing a resume is, well, writing a resume. I said it. I don’t like writing first drafts of resumes. It feels like an episode of Top Chef where they give the contestants a pile of seemingly unrelated ingredients and ask them to create gastronomical masterpieces. In 30 minutes. So hard! Writing the first draft of a resume is so hard.

While I don’t like writing the first draft of a resume, I love editing resumes!

That’s how I became enamored with ChatGPT, GPT-3 and the new version, GPT-4, as a first-draft helper. To be clear, it has its limitations, but it is a fantastic first-draft shadow (that needs lots of fact checking and personalization).

ChatGPT is the perfect writing tool to start your essay framework, or an outline, or basic sentence architecture. It can also help you fill in the gaps in your existing essay outline. Which is often all you need to get a rolling start to your work.

But it is not a research tool so do go back and make sure to include your own words, metrics, outcomes, and voice.

This article will show you how ChatGPT can help you with your job search, your resume, a cover letter, and your LinkedIn profile with prompts and queries.

But let me backup and tell you more about ChatGPT.

What is ChatGPT?

Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, or ChatGPT, is a promising new artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI, one of the world’s leading AI labs, that uses natural language processing (NLP) technology to help humans communicate with computers more naturally and intuitively.

How ChatGPT works

ChatGPT works with the simple idea that the user gives it a prompt and it responds by generating text that its neural network thinks would be the best answer, or fit, given its training data.

Now that you know what it is, you can create your own free ChatGPT login.

How to create a ChatGPT login

Instead of researching how to do this on my own, I asked ChatGPT! Here’s how it went:

Stacey’s Question: "Can you please write a paragraph explaining how to create a OpenAI login for using your own ChatGPT account"

ChatGPT’s answer:

Sure, I'd be happy to explain how to create an OpenAI account for using your own ChatGPT model. Here's a brief paragraph:

To create an OpenAI account, you'll need to visit the OpenAI website and click on the "Sign Up" button in the top right corner of the page.

From there, you'll be prompted to enter your email address and create a password. Once you've created your account, you can create a new API key by navigating to the "API Keys" section of your account dashboard.

To create a ChatGPT model, you'll need to choose the "GPT-3" option and select the appropriate parameters for your model.

Once your model is created, you can use your API key to authenticate requests to the OpenAI API and access your ChatGPT model.

Now that you have a free ChatGPT account you can start having fun.

How to ask ChatGPT to work for you

Here's how it goes: you ask ChatGPT a question, or give it a task, and it responds. It can be a verbal question or a coding question to solve, or a quantitative (math) question, or more.

1. Be polite - I always like to present a task politely. Seems like good form but probably not necessary.
2. Try again - Once you get the response, you can also ask for another version of a response by selecting, "Try again" or "Regenerate Response."
3. Be specific - Give it parameters to improve its output. If you want it to write just a short and concise Professional Statement on your resume, tell it to write it as such or "in 150 words or less."
4. Review and edit - Always proofread and review the output for accuracy and general readability.
5. Multi-prompt - You can fulfill a writing task in multiple prompts. Your ChatGPT will track your related prompts.
6. Make improvements - You can ask ChatGPT to make improvements or wordsmith your resume (or sections of your resume), such as your experience section with replace ordinary verbs with better action verbs.
7. Proofread - You can take an existing resume, cover letter, or follow up thank you note and ask to proofread. It really works!

Here's how to utilize ChatGPT with specific prompts to help you in your job search.

Prompt to ask ChatGPT to write your Professional Summary on your resume

Prompt formula: “Please write a professional resume summary: [current job title/role at company], [leadership role or achievement], [achievement], [experience], [relevant education], [relevant skill], [next career goal]”

Example: please write a professional resume summary: clinical dietitian at UCSF, enteral formulary chairperson, published author on branched chain amino acid study, seeking to run NICU at large teaching hospital, 5 years of experience, master's degree

Prompt to request proofreading of your resume, your cover letter, or your follow-up thank you note

This is one of my favorite prompts, asking for editing or proofreading. I always seem to get bonus responses as well. In this scenario, I asked for help with an experience section on a resume.

It made the words more appealing as requested, but it also offered bonus suggestions for keywords: "Additional skills/keywords to consider including:" That was thoughtful!

Prompt: Can you proofread my resume to make sure it is grammatically correct and provide feedback. Also let me know additional skills/keywords that I need to include to make it catchy to a recruiter.

Here's how it went:

Prompt to ask ChatGPT to write your resume work experience section

Prompt: Please write an effective job experience section in my resume. Prompt me to add numbers and results where necessary. I have been a clinical dietitian at UCSF for the last 2 years.

ChatGPT: Sure, here's an example job experience section for your resume as a clinical dietitian at UCSF, with prompts to add numbers and results where necessary:

Clinical Dietitian, UCSF

San Francisco, CA

June 2019 - Present

• Provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a 500-bed hospital, specializing in critical care and cardiology units
• Assess patient's nutritional status, develop individualized nutrition care plans, and monitor progress towards goals
• Collaborate with healthcare team members, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, to provide comprehensive care
• Educate patients and families on disease-specific nutrition guidelines, food safety, and other nutrition-related topics
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction

Examples of prompts to add numbers and results:

• Provided medical nutrition therapy to an average of 10 patients per day, resulting in an average of 80% improvement in nutritional status within 3 weeks of admission.
• Developed and implemented a nutrition education program for patients with heart disease, resulting in a 20% increase in patient compliance with dietary guidelines.
• Collaborated with healthcare team members to reduce hospital-acquired infections by 15% through implementation of evidence-based nutrition interventions.
• Conducted monthly audits of the food service department, resulting in a 25% reduction in food waste and a savings of $5,000 annually.
• Participated in research studies on the effects of nutrition on patient outcomes, resulting in 2 published articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Prompt to include more action verbs in resume Experience section

Prompt: Here is the Experience section on my resume. Please re-write it using actionable synonyms. [paste full resume text here]

Here's how it went:

Prompt to ask ChatGPT about dietetic career trends

Prompt: What are the growth trends in a career as a dietitian? How can I grow as the best dietitian?

ChatGPT: The field of dietetics is evolving rapidly, and there are several growth trends that are shaping the industry and creating new opportunities for professionals. Some of these trends include:

1. Focus on Prevention: There is a growing emphasis on preventive care and nutrition as a key component of overall health and wellness. Dietitians are increasingly involved in preventive care initiatives, including corporate wellness programs, public health campaigns, and community-based initiatives.
2. Personalization: With the rise of technology, there is an increasing demand for personalized nutrition and meal planning. Dietitians are using digital tools and platforms to develop personalized nutrition plans for their clients, based on their individual needs, preferences, and health goals.
3. Telehealth: Telehealth is becoming increasingly popular as a way to provide nutrition counseling and support remotely. Dietitians are using telehealth platforms to provide virtual consultations, coaching, and support to their clients.
4. Sustainable Food Systems: There is growing interest in sustainable food systems and the environmental impact of food production. Dietitians are increasingly involved in initiatives related to food waste reduction, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship.

To grow as the best dietitian, here are some tips:

1. Stay Current: Stay up-to-date with the latest research, trends, and developments in the field of dietetics. Attend conferences, read industry publications, and participate in continuing education programs.
2. Specialize: Consider specializing in a specific area of dietetics, such as sports nutrition, eating disorders, or diabetes management. Specializing can help you become an expert in a specific area and differentiate yourself in the job market.
3. Build Relationships: Develop strong relationships with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and physical therapists. Building a strong network can help you get referrals and grow your business.
4. Leverage Technology: Use technology to enhance your practice and provide better service to your clients. Consider using digital tools for meal planning, tracking, and coaching, and use social media to engage with your audience and build your brand.
5. Emphasize Soft Skills: In addition to technical skills, soft skills such as communication, empathy, and active listening are also important for dietitians. Focus on developing your interpersonal skills to build trust and rapport with your clients.

Prompt to generate job interview questions based on performance outcomes for the job

Prompt: List the KPIs of a clinical dietitian at a teaching hospital like UCSF

ChatGPT: Sure, here are some KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that a clinical dietitian at a teaching hospital like UCSF may be evaluated on:

1. Patient Satisfaction: This KPI measures how satisfied patients are with the care they receive from the clinical dietitian. This may be measured through patient surveys or other feedback mechanisms.
2. Nutrition Assessment and Intervention: This KPI measures how effectively the clinical dietitian assesses patient nutritional status and develops and implements individualized nutrition care plans. This may be measured through chart reviews, documentation audits, or other metrics.
3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: This KPI measures how effectively the clinical dietitian collaborates with other members of the healthcare team, such as physicians, nurses, and social workers. This may be measured through feedback from team members or other performance metrics.
4. Clinical Outcomes: This KPI measures the impact of the clinical dietitian's interventions on patient outcomes, such as improvements in nutritional status, reduction in hospital-acquired infections, or reduced length of stay. This may be measured through chart reviews, clinical data analysis, or other metrics.
5. Productivity: This KPI measures how efficiently the clinical dietitian manages their workload and completes their responsibilities. This may be measured through metrics such as patient load, patient visit duration, or case volume.
6. Continuing Education and Professional Development: This KPI measures the clinical dietitian's commitment to ongoing education and professional development. This may be measured through participation in continuing education programs, certification or licensure renewal, or attendance at professional conferences.

Prompt to ask ChatGPT to write your LinkedIn profile About section

This prompt needs a bit more work to get the right outcome. But it’s a helpful start. I would want to add some bullet points and better formatting.

Prompt: can you write my linkedin about section: please write a professional resume summary: clinical dietitian at UCSF, enteral formulary chairperson, published author on branched chain amino acid study, 5 years of experience, master's degree, provide courses and services to other dietitians on how to be TPN experts (https://nutritionjobs.teachable.com/courses), author (TPN Guide for Dietitians 2011)

ChatGPT: As a Clinical Dietitian with 5 years of experience at UCSF, I specialize in providing medical nutrition therapy to patients in critical care and cardiology units. I also serve as the Enteral Formulary Chairperson at UCSF and have published research on a branched-chain amino acid study. With a Master's degree in nutrition, I am dedicated to providing high-quality patient care and staying up-to-date on the latest research and trends in the field of dietetics. In addition to my clinical work, I provide courses and services to other dietitians on how to be TPN (total parenteral nutrition) experts through my Teachable course (https://nutritionjobs.teachable.com/courses) and authored "TPN Guide for Dietitians 2011". I am passionate about helping other dietitians develop their skills and achieve their professional goals.

Prompt to ask ChatGPT to give you feedback on your resume

ChatGPT is really good at tracking multi-part prompts. This becomes helpful when asking a more complicated task, such as getting feedback on the quality of your resume based on the job you are applying for.

Prompt - part 1: I'm writing my resume and I want to make it sound better. Can you go over my Experience section and make it sound more actionable?

ChatGPT: Of course! To help you out, please provide the current Experience section of your resume. Once I have that information, I'll be able to make it sound more actionable and dynamic.

Prompt - part 2:
Here's the Experience section I wrote: [paste resume experience section]

And here's the job ad I'm applying for: [paste job description]

Prompt to ask ChatGPT to summarize a paper you wrote for your LinkedIn profile Featured Section

This prompt is an excellent way to highlight work you have done without including the entire Document. You could include just a brief summary with 100 words or a longer abstract with 250 words. If this was a Search Engine Optimized blog article, you could also include some metrics on its performance to include in the AI request. You can include a link to the URL in your LinkedIn profile for reference.

Prompt: can you summarize in 100 words the body this article and also include that the article is ranked on page 1 of Google for the keyword "dietitian jobs": [paste article here]

Summary of prompts to ask ChatGPT

So I gave you lots of prompts to ask when crafting your modern resume and optimized LinkedIn profile, with examples of responses. Using ChatGPT or AI to work along side you when writing can really help clarify the word structure and formatting. I hope you can share what AI prompt discoveries you make!

Here's a summary of prompts you can use when asking ChatGPT to help you with your resume and LinkedIn profile when job searching.

1. "Write a LinkedIn profile About section using my resume: [paste the contents of your value-optimized resume]"
2. "Write a cover letter using my resume and a job description: [paste the contents of your value-optimized resume]+[paste a copy of the job description, responsibilities, and qualifications]"
3. "Using my resume and this job description, please highlight five relevant skills I should showcase: [paste the contents of your value-optimized resume]+[paste a copy of the job description, responsibilities, and qualifications]"
4. "Write five resume achievements with metrics based on my job description: [paste a copy of your job description, responsibilities, and qualifications]"
5. "Please write an effective job experience section in my resume. Prompt me to add numbers and results where necessary. [paste relevant job duties and accomplishments]."

Takeaways

Your virtual helper has arrived in the form of AI! This is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see how you use ChatGPT in your dietetic job search.

About the Author

Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN, is the Founder Owner of NutritionJobs and an established dietetic career expert. She helps steer dietetic and nutrition professionals to a successful job search process with the top-ranked dietetic job board platform, NutritionJobs.com. Stacey is the author of The Dietetic Resume Guide and numerous dietetic career action-ables. She gives the tools to create a modern standout dietetic resume to land that job interview, help with job interview prep, and with creating Compelling LinkedIn profiles. Stacey has interviewed and hired many dietitians. Since running NutritionJobs in 2000, she has reviewed thousands of dietetic resumes. She works closely with dietetic hiring managers and recruiters to know the standout elements on a resume that land a job interview. Stacey speaks on successful compensation negotiation at professional conferences and frequently consults with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at FNCE and co-created the webinar series, Dietetic Career Hack: The Complete Networking and Resume Guide and Dietetic Career Hack Part II: Interviewing Tips and Tricks. Her previous dietitian jobs have been in clinical, nutrition support, and research.