How to build or improve your CV with AI

Gather your raw material

Open a digital note-taking app, a blank document in a word processor, or even a simple text editor on your device. This is where you'll jot down your work history without worrying about formatting.

You'll see a blank page or a new document ready for you to type. Once you start typing, your text will appear on the screen. If you're more comfortable writing by hand, that's fine too – just make sure it's clear enough to type into the AI later.

2022–2024 Café Manager, Brew House

• Led a team of 8 during peak hours
• Created weekly rosters and handled payroll
• Reduced waste by 15 % through better ordering 2020-2022 Barista, The Daily Grind
• Prepared coffee and served customers
• Managed cash register and end-of-day reports
• Maintained cleanliness and stock levels

You'll know it worked when you have a rough, unformatted list of your work history, including dates, job titles, companies, and 2-3 bullet points of what you did for each role.

Open your AI tool and start a new chat

Navigate to your chosen AI chat tool (like ChatGPT) in your web browser or open its app. Look for the option to start a "New Chat" or "New Conversation," which is typically a button in the top-left or bottom-left corner of the screen.

You'll see the main interface of the AI tool, often with a list of past conversations on one side and a large input box at the bottom. Clicking "New Chat" will clear any previous conversation. If you don't see a clear "New Chat" button, look for a "+" icon or a conversation bubble icon.

You'll know it worked when you see a clear, empty chat space ready for your message, usually with a prompt that says "Message ChatGPT..." or similar in the text box.

Paste your history and ask for a first draft

Now, copy the raw work history list you prepared in Step 1. Go back to your AI chat tool, click into the message input box, and paste your list. Then, add a clear instruction (known as a "prompt") for the AI to follow, asking it to create a professional CV.

You'll see your work history list appear in the chat input box. After you type your instruction and press Enter or click the "Send" button (often a paper plane icon), the AI will begin typing its response below your prompt. If nothing happens, make sure you've clicked the send button after typing.

List: 2022–2024 Café Manager, Brew House

• Led a team of 8 during peak hours
• Created weekly rosters and handled payroll
• Reduced waste by 15 % through better ordering

Turn the list into a clean, professional CV in Australian English. Use a simple reverse-chronological layout. Keep it to one page. Use bullet points, not paragraphs. Do not add any made-up details.

You'll know it worked when the AI starts typing out a formatted CV based on your input, usually presenting it in distinct sections like 'Experience' and 'Education'.

Polish the language

After the AI provides its first draft, you'll want to make the bullet points more impactful. Instruct the AI to refine your descriptions by using strong action verbs and including quantifiable results where appropriate, which makes your achievements stand out more.

You'll see the AI's previous CV draft above, and the current chat input box below it. The AI will then generate a revised version of the CV directly within the same chat window. If the AI seems confused, simply say "Referring to the CV you just wrote, please..." to guide it.

Rewrite every bullet point to start with a strong action verb and include a quantifiable result where possible.

You'll know it worked when the AI presents a new version of your CV, with bullet points starting with words like 'Managed,' 'Developed,' or 'Achieved,' and where numbers (like 'reduced waste by 15%') are clearly highlighted.

Tailor for the job you want

This is where AI truly saves time. Copy the entire job description for the specific role you're applying for. Then, paste it into the AI chat and instruct the AI to adjust your CV to match the keywords and skills mentioned in that job description.

You'll see the text of the job description in your device's clipboard. After you paste it into the chat and send your prompt, the AI will use this new information to adapt your CV. If the job description is an image, you'll need to manually type out the key requirements.

Please rewrite my CV bullet points to specifically match the keywords and skills mentioned in this job description:

[Paste the full job description here, e.g., "Seeking a café manager with proven leadership skills, experience in staff rostering, and a track record of reducing operational costs and food waste."]

You'll know it worked when the AI presents an updated CV where the skills and experiences mentioned closely mirror the language used in the job description, making your application feel more relevant.

Format and export

Finally, ask the AI to give you the finished CV in a plain text format. This makes it easy to copy and paste into any word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, where you can then apply your preferred visual formatting (fonts, spacing, etc.) before saving or printing.

You'll see the complete, tailored CV as the AI's latest response. The AI will then reformat its output, stripping away any complex styling to present the text in a simple, unformatted block. If the text still has too much formatting, just ask it again more directly, for instance, "Just give me the raw text, no special characters or extra lines."

Give me the final CV in plain text so I can easily copy it into Word or Google Docs for final formatting.

You'll know it worked when the AI displays your CV in a simple, unformatted block of text, easy to select and copy directly into your chosen document editor.