30+ ChatGPT Prompts for Resume Writing — The Ultimate 2026 Cheat Sheet

You asked ChatGPT to write your resume. It gave you something that sounds like every LinkedIn influencer's generic advice mashed into five bullet points.

Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: ChatGPT can write an excellent resume—but only if you know how to prompt it. The difference between "created marketing strategies" and "increased conversion rates by 47% through targeted email campaigns" isn't ChatGPT's fault. It's your prompt.

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Why Most ChatGPT Resumes Sound Terrible

The problem isn't AI. It's that most prompts look like this:

ChatGPT has no idea who you are, what you've done, or what job you're targeting. So it writes something generic that applies to no one in particular.

Here's what works instead:

See the difference? Specificity is everything.

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The Prompting Framework That Works

Before we get to the prompts, understand this framework:

Now, let's get to the prompts.

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📝 Professional Summary Prompts

Prompt 1: The Basic Summary

Write a professional resume summary for a [JOB TITLE] with [X] years of experience in [INDUSTRY].

Key skills: [LIST 3-5 SKILLS]
Biggest achievement: [YOUR TOP QUANTIFIED ACHIEVEMENT]
Target role: [TARGET JOB TITLE] at [TYPE OF COMPANY]

Keep it to 3-4 sentences. Start with my title and experience level.

Prompt 2: Summary with Job Alignment

I'm applying for this role: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]

Write a resume summary that positions me as an ideal candidate. My background:
- [X] years as a [CURRENT ROLE]
- Key achievement: [QUANTIFIED RESULT]
- Skills that match: [LIST RELEVANT SKILLS]

Make it 3 sentences. Incorporate keywords from the job posting naturally.

Prompt 3: Executive Summary

Write an executive resume summary for a [VP/Director/C-level] with [X] years of leadership experience.

Industries: [YOUR INDUSTRIES]
Team size managed: [NUMBER]
Revenue/budget responsibility: [$X]
Key transformation: [YOUR BIGGEST LEADERSHIP WIN]

Tone: authoritative but approachable. 4 sentences max.

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💼 Experience & Bullet Point Prompts

Prompt 4: Achievement-Focused Bullets

Write 4 resume bullet points for a [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY TYPE].

Requirements:
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb (avoid "Responsible for")
- Include at least one quantifiable result per bullet
- Focus on achievements, not duties
- Each bullet should be 1-2 lines max

Context: [DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID IN THIS ROLE]

Prompt 5: Transform Duties into Achievements

These are my current resume bullet points:
[PASTE YOUR CURRENT BULLETS]

Rewrite them to:
1. Start with powerful action verbs
2. Include quantifiable results (add placeholders like [X%] where I can insert numbers)
3. Focus on business impact, not just tasks
4. Make them ATS-friendly with industry keywords

Output 4 improved versions for each bullet.

Prompt 6: The STAR Method Bullets

Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), write resume bullets for this experience:

Situation: [DESCRIBE THE CHALLENGE OR CONTEXT]
Task: [WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO]
Action: [WHAT YOU SPECIFICALLY DID]
Result: [THE QUANTIFIABLE OUTCOME]

Create 3 different versions of this bullet, each emphasizing a different aspect.

Prompt 7: Leadership Experience

Write resume bullets for a [MANAGER/DIRECTOR] role that showcase:
- Team size managed: [X]
- Budget responsibility: [$X]
- Key initiative led: [DESCRIBE]
- Team outcome achieved: [RESULT]

Use verbs like "Led," "Drove," "Spearheaded," "Transformed." Include metrics.

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🎯 Job-Tailored Resume Prompts

Prompt 8: Full Resume Tailoring

I'm applying for this job: [PASTE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION]

Here's my current resume: [PASTE YOUR RESUME]

Rewrite my resume to:
1. Mirror the language and keywords from the job posting
2. Prioritize experiences that align with their requirements
3. Add any missing relevant skills I may have overlooked
4. Maintain my authentic voice while optimizing for ATS

Prompt 9: Gap Analysis

Job posting: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]
My resume: [PASTE YOUR RESUME]

Identify:
1. Skills or experiences in the job posting that are missing from my resume
2. Experiences I have that I could reframe to match their requirements better
3. Keywords I should add to increase ATS matching
4. Anything that might be a red flag for this specific role

Provide actionable suggestions for each.

Prompt 10: One Resume, Multiple Formats

I need to tailor this resume for 3 different types of roles:
1. [ROLE TYPE 1 - e.g., Product Manager at a startup]
2. [ROLE TYPE 2 - e.g., Product Manager at an enterprise]
3. [ROLE TYPE 3 - e.g., Head of Product]

My base resume: [PASTE RESUME]

For each role type:
- Suggest which experiences to emphasize
- Rewrite my summary for that specific target
- Identify skills to highlight vs. de-emphasize

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🔧 Skills Section Prompts

Prompt 11: Categorized Skills

Create a skills section for a [JOB TITLE] resume.

My existing skills: [LIST YOUR SKILLS]
Target job description: [PASTE OR SUMMARIZE]

Organize the skills into 3-4 categories (e.g., Technical, Tools, Soft Skills).
Prioritize skills that match the job description.
Remove any that seem irrelevant.

Prompt 12: ATS Keyword Extraction

Here's a job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]

Extract:
1. All hard skills mentioned (tools, technologies, certifications)
2. All soft skills mentioned
3. Industry-specific keywords
4. Action verbs used in the requirements

Format as a checklist I can use to ensure my resume includes these terms.

Prompt 13: Skills for Career Changers

I'm transitioning from [CURRENT INDUSTRY/ROLE] to [TARGET INDUSTRY/ROLE].

My current skills: [LIST YOUR SKILLS]

Identify:
1. Transferable skills that apply to my target role
2. How to reframe industry-specific skills in universal terms
3. New skills I should highlight or develop
4. Skills to remove or de-emphasize

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🔄 Career Change Prompts

Prompt 14: Transferable Experience

Rewrite my resume for a career change from [CURRENT ROLE] to [TARGET ROLE].

My experience: [PASTE RESUME OR SUMMARIZE]
Target job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]

Focus on:
- Transferable skills (leadership, project management, communication, etc.)
- Achievements that demonstrate the abilities they're looking for
- Minimizing industry-specific jargon from my old field
- Adding relevant keywords from the new industry

Prompt 15: Functional Resume Format

I have [X] years of experience across multiple roles/industries: [LIST ROLES]

I'm now targeting: [TARGET ROLE]

Create a functional (skills-based) resume format that:
- Groups my experience by skill area, not chronologically
- Emphasizes capabilities over job titles
- Works for someone with a non-linear career path

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📊 ATS Optimization Prompts

Prompt 16: ATS Compatibility Check

Review this resume for ATS compatibility: [PASTE RESUME]

Check for:
1. Keywords matching the job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]
2. Formatting issues (tables, graphics, unusual fonts)
3. Standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
4. Any content that might confuse an ATS parser

Give me a score out of 10 and specific recommendations.

Prompt 17: Keyword Density

Job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]
My resume: [PASTE RESUME]

Create a keyword match analysis:
- List all required skills from the job description
- Mark which ones appear in my resume
- Suggest where to naturally incorporate missing keywords
- Rate my current keyword match percentage

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🎓 New Graduate & Entry-Level Prompts

Prompt 18: Student Experience

Write resume bullet points for a recent graduate with:
- Internship at [COMPANY] as [ROLE]
- Relevant coursework in [SUBJECTS]
- Student projects: [DESCRIBE PROJECTS]
- Part-time job: [DESCRIBE]

Make each experience sound professional and achievement-oriented.
Quantify where possible, even for academic work.

Prompt 19: Turning Projects into Experience

I'm a recent graduate with limited work experience. Here are my key projects:

[DESCRIBE PROJECT 1]
[DESCRIBE PROJECT 2]
[DESCRIBE CAPSTONE/THESIS]

Rewrite these as professional resume entries that:
- Sound like real work experience
- Include the technologies/skills used
- Quantify impact where possible
- Use industry-standard language

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✍️ Specific Section Prompts

Prompt 20: Education Section

Format my education for a resume:

Degree: [DEGREE]
University: [SCHOOL NAME]
Graduation: [DATE]
GPA: [IF STRONG]
Relevant coursework: [LIST]
Honors: [LIST]
Activities: [LIST]

Should I include GPA? (I have [X] years of experience)
What's the right amount of detail for my experience level?

Prompt 21: Certifications

Format these certifications for my resume:

[LIST ALL CERTIFICATIONS WITH DATES]

For a [JOB TITLE] targeting [INDUSTRY]:
- Which should I feature prominently?
- Which should I list but not emphasize?
- Which are outdated and should be removed?
- What format works best (inline, separate section)?

Prompt 22: Volunteer & Side Projects

Should I include these on my resume for a [JOB TITLE] role?

Volunteer work: [DESCRIBE]
Side projects: [DESCRIBE]
Board positions: [DESCRIBE]

For relevant ones, write professional bullet points that connect to my target role.

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🔁 Iteration & Refinement Prompts

Prompt 23: Alternative Versions

Here's my resume bullet point: [PASTE BULLET]

Give me 5 alternative versions:
1. More quantified
2. More action-oriented
3. Shorter (under 15 words)
4. More focused on leadership
5. More focused on technical skills

Prompt 24: Tone Adjustment

My resume currently sounds too [FORMAL/CASUAL/GENERIC].

Here's a sample: [PASTE SECTION]

Rewrite it to sound more:
- Professional but approachable
- Confident without being arrogant
- Specific without being verbose

Target company culture: [DESCRIBE - startup, corporate, creative, etc.]

Prompt 25: Length Reduction

My resume is [X] pages. I need to get it to [1/2] page(s).

[PASTE RESUME]

Identify:
1. Content that can be cut entirely
2. Bullets that can be combined
3. Sections that can be shortened
4. Filler phrases to remove

Provide a condensed version.

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🚀 Advanced Power Prompts

Prompt 26: The Mega Prompt

You are a professional resume writer with 20 years of experience helping candidates land jobs at top companies.

My goal: Get an interview for [TARGET ROLE] at [COMPANY TYPE]
My experience: [PASTE YOUR RESUME OR SUMMARY]
The job: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]

Create:
1. A tailored professional summary (3 sentences)
2. Rewritten experience bullets (4 per role)
3. A skills section organized by category
4. 3 things I should change about my resume structure

Style: confident, specific, achievement-focused. Use power verbs.

Prompt 27: Competitive Analysis

I'm applying for [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY].

Based on what you know about:
- This company's culture and values
- What top candidates for this role typically have
- What hiring managers look for in [INDUSTRY]

Review my resume: [PASTE RESUME]

Tell me:
1. Where I'm strong compared to typical applicants
2. Where I'm weak or missing key elements
3. How to position myself as a top-tier candidate

Prompt 28: The No-Fluff Rewrite

Rewrite this resume removing all:
- Buzzwords ("passionate," "results-driven," "team player")
- Vague claims ("excellent communication skills")
- Duties that don't show achievement
- Anything that doesn't prove impact

[PASTE RESUME]

Replace weak language with specific, quantified achievements.

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⚠️ What Not to Do

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The Editing Checklist

After using any prompt, always verify:

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Skip the Prompting—Use Our Tools Instead

Building the perfect prompt takes time. Our tools do the heavy lifting:

Or build your full resume with our AI-powered builder—it's trained on what actually gets interviews.

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Related Resources

• Using AI in Resume Writing — How to leverage AI without sounding robotic
• Resume Optimization Guide — The complete playbook
• Resume Bullet Points Examples — Before and after transformations
• Browse Templates — Start with a proven structure