Struggling to craft a resume that actually gets noticed? Well, you’re not alone. In today’s competitive job market, a resume isn’t just a formality; it’s your ticket to landing interviews.
But writing a resume from scratch can feel overwhelming. That’s where AI comes in. With the right AI tools, you can generate polished, ATS-friendly resumes tailored to your skills and the job description in minutes. Plus, you can refine them to highlight what truly makes you stand out.
In this article, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process of how to create a professional resume using AI, along with expert tips to give you an edge. Ready to accelerate your career and land your dream job? Let’s get started!
What is an ATS-Friendly Resume?
ATS stands for applicant tracking system. It’s a software used by professional companies to scan, filter, and rank job applications before a recruiter sees them. An ATS-friendly resume is designed to be easily read and understood by an applicant tracking system.
If your resume isn’t ATS-friendly, it may get rejected by the system even if you have a strong profile. So, how do you ensure your resume gets through the ATS system? Here are a few tips.
- Simple formatting: Keep your resume free from complex layouts, tables, columns, graphics, text boxes, or images.
- Standard fonts: Use simpler fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman with a 10–12 point font size.
- Keyword optimization: Include relevant keywords from the job description.
- Correct headings: Use standard section titles like Work Experience, Education, Skills, etc, instead of creative titles.
- File type: Submit your resume in ATS-compatible formats like .docx or PDF.
- Bullet points: Use simple bullet points (● or -) instead of fancy symbols.
- Avoid using headers or footers for important text, as some ATS systems cannot read them properly.
How to Create a Professional Resume with AI?
A strong resume is not just about creating an ATS-friendly resume. It’s also about making sure your resume aligns with the specific job description you are applying for.
There are a range of AI-powered resume builders to help you create your resume today. But we are going to go with Gemini Pro. Right now, Google is offering Gemini Pro for free to Indian students. All you need is a student ID!
Even if you don’t have access to Google’s Gemini Pro, it would work with the Gemini free plan as well. Let’s dive into the process.
Step 1: Create a Master Database
Your master database is basically a collection of all the information relevant to your job, professional career, and skills. You can create an Excel file with multiple worksheets and include information like:
- Personal Details: Name, age, location, phone, email, portfolio link, LinkedIn profile, resume summary, etc.
- Education: Degree/Certification, Name of Institute, duration, additional notes, etc.
- Skills: Name and category of skill, proficiency score, etc.
- Projects & Portfolios: Name and type of project, description, and URL.
- Work Experience: Job title, company name, location, start and end date, accomplishments, quantifiable results, skills used, etc.
- Accomplishments & Awards: Achievements, year, description, and skill showcased.
- Hobbies: List of your interests
Note: Include all relevant details in your master database, such as education, certifications, skills, and hobbies. Don’t overthink it. Even a hobby like “binge-watching Netflix” could become relevant later when tailoring your resume.
Step 2: Write Your Prompt
Next, we will visit Gemini and select the Canvas mode. Then, we will enter the following prompt in the chat.
Prompt:
Prompt
“Act as an expert resume writer and career expert. Use the following spreadsheet data as a master database and generate a professional one-page resume in ATS-friendly format.
Organize it into sections like contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills, education, and achievements. I’ve attached the master resume spreadsheet data.”
Step 3: Upload Spreadsheet
Finally, upload the master database spreadsheet and run your query. This will create a professional resume for you in ATS format.
How to Create Tailored Resumes with AI?
A single resume won’t work for multiple job profiles. To improve your chances of getting shortlisted, you need to customize your resume according to different job descriptions. Here’s how you can tailor your resume for different profiles.
Step 1: Assign Role and Instructions in Your Prompt
First, we will assign Gemini the role of an expert resume writer and provide it with a clear task, instructions, output, and deliverables. For this, paste the following prompt into Gemini with Canvas mode enabled.
Prompt
Prompt:
Role: Expert resume writer specializing in ATS optimization.
Task: Create tailored, ATS-friendly resumes and cover letters for each job description using my career data.
Instructions:
Analyze each job description for the top 10 critical keywords and requirements.
Generate complete resume (max 2 pages) prioritizing the most relevant experiences.
Write targeted 3-4 line professional summary with quantified achievements.
Integrate 8-12 keywords naturally throughout the resume
Create a 300-word cover letter with company-specific details.
Output requirements:
File naming: “Resume_[JobTitle]_[Company]”Minimum 70% skills alignment with job requirements
Analysis for each position:
Top 3 relevant strengths from my background
Overall recommendation and ranking
Best application strategy
Deliverables: Process all job descriptions and rank them by best fit for my career profile. Then give me resumes and cover letters for ALL the job descriptions mentioned in the sheet.”Step 2: Upload Files
Next, paste your job descriptions into a single document and upload it to the chat. Also, upload the master database we created earlier. Finally, run the query.
This will give you tailored resumes and cover letters for each of the job descriptions provided. It will also rank the job descriptions best suited for your skill set and highlight your strengths and application strategy for each profile.
Under each resume, check the skills and work experience sections to notice the difference. Each resume highlights different skill sets as per the job description. For example, for an SEO content writer profile, it will highlight skills like content strategy and on-page SEO.
For a content writer profile, it will highlight content creation, editing, proofreading, etc. Whereas, for a copywriter profile, it will focus on brand voice management, conversion optimization, etc. This is where the real power of tailored resumes lies.
Similarly, if you wish to apply to a range of job profiles, add them to an Excel sheet and upload it with the same prompt as above. You will get tailored resumes and cover letters for each of them within seconds.
How to Create a Portfolio Website with AI?
Now that we have created a stellar resume and cover letter, it’s time to move on to the next step – Portfolio! A portfolio website helps you showcase your work, skills, expertise, and results rather than just stating them. It actually makes your application seem more credible.
So, in the steps below, let’s look at the process of creating a portfolio website with AI.
Step 1: Assign a Role and Instructions
First, we will assign Gemini the role of an expert web designer and provide it with instructions for the website structure, strategy, tone, goal, etc. Here’s the prompt you can use:
Prompt
You are an expert web designer and portfolio strategist specializing in professional career websites.
Task: Analyze my uploaded resume and career data to create a comprehensive portfolio website with HTML/CSS/JS.
Instructions:
Extract key information: Identify skills, projects, achievements, and career highlights from my resume.
Design structure: Create a modern, professional website layout with optimal user experience
Content strategy: Develop compelling copy for each section
SEO optimization: Integrate relevant keywords for my industry and role
Required website sections:
Hero/Landing section with compelling headline
About me (professional story)
Skills and expertise (categorized)
Projects/Portfolio (with description and outcomes)
Experience timeline
Contact information
Writing tone: Professional yet approachable, highlighting unique value proposition and career achievements
Goal: Create a portfolio website for me that positions me as a top candidate in my field and drives interview opportunities.
Here is my latest resume:
[Paste resume content ]Step 2: Upload Master Database
Next, paste your resume in text format and upload the master database spreadsheet. Finally, run the query. Your portfolio site will be generated within seconds!
Conclusion
Creating your resume can feel overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner. But AI technology can help you save time and give you a professional edge. AI tools make it easy to generate personalized resumes, cover letters, and even portfolio sites for different job profiles.
In this article, we explored how to write a professional resume with the help of AI. I hope this article simplified the process for you. How do you usually make your resume? Do you use AI or manually customize it for every job role? Let me know in the comments section below.
