Let’s face it. Updating your resume ranks right up there with root canals, jury duty, and explaining TikTok to your mother. You know it has to be done, but the second you open that dusty Word file, you suddenly find yourself scrubbing grout or alphabetizing the spice rack. Anything, literally anything, is better than staring at bullet points that make you sound like you spent the last decade “handling correspondence” (translation: answering emails like every other human on the planet).
The truth? Most resumes are a snooze-fest. They’re generic, overstuffed, and read like the candidate hasn’t updated them since fax machines were in vogue. And in today’s job market, where recruiters skim faster than people scrolling Instagram Reels on autopilot, your resume has about six seconds to make its case. Six seconds! That’s less time than it takes to decide whether to swipe left. And let’s be honest: no one really reads anymore. If your resume can’t tell your story at a glance, it’s toast, history, say goodbye, delete.
But here’s the silver lining: with the right AI prompts, you can turn that boring document into a job magnet. ChatGPT, when used correctly, can take a resume from “meh” to “hire me yesterday.” The key is knowing what to ask.
If I lost my job tomorrow, these five AI prompts would be my survival kit. They’ll fix your resume in 30 minutes flat, give or take the time it takes you to wash the dishes from last night’s dinner party.
Prompt 1: The Reality Check
“Please audit this resume from a recruiter’s POV. Identify vague areas that don’t emphasize my skillset as a [your role] with [X] years of experience. Give feedback on structure, tone, and how to better show impact.”
Think of this as your blunt-but-helpful colleague who tells you quietly when you’ve got spinach stuck in your teeth during a client meeting. ChatGPT can channel its inner recruiter and point out exactly where your resume falls flat.
Most legal resumes say things like: “Responsible for reviewing documents.” Which is about as exciting as saying you’re “responsible for showing up to work.” Of course you reviewed documents, You’re a legal professional. But where’s the impact? Where’s the evidence?
With this prompt, AI can flag the fluff and suggest ways to sharpen the language. For example:
“Supervised a team of 12 in high-volume document review for complex litigation, implementing quality-control checks that increased accuracy rates to 98% and reduced partner rework time by 30%.”
Now you’re not just “responsible.” You’re showing leadership, method, and measurable results.
Prompt 2: The Summary Glow-Up
“I’m applying for [specific role] in your firm. Rewrite my summary in 4 sentences to show I’m the best candidate. Include my strengths, relevant skills, and ATS-friendly keywords for the corporate legal department.”
Ah, the summary. The speed-dating bio of your resume. And much like speed dating, most people blow it. They either write something so generic it could apply to anyone (“Results-oriented professional with a proven track record of success”) or they write a novel that recruiters skip after the first line. This prompt forces AI to do two things you can’t: stay concise and slip in the keywords Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are looking for.
For example, instead of: “Experienced paralegal with great organizational skills.” You get:
“Corporate paralegal with 8+ years in Fortune 500 legal departments, specializing in M&A, compliance, and governance. Coordinated board meetings by implementing a standardized agenda and timeline process that reduced prep time by 30% while ensuring compliance with SEC reporting. Known for precision, speed, and the ability to calm panicked attorneys at 11 p.m. when the printer jams.”
The “how” is baked right in. You’re not just saying you’re organized. You’re showing the method and the result.
Prompt 3: The Results Makeover
“Rework my bullet points to focus on measurable accomplishments. Use action verbs, include numbers wherever possible, and de-emphasize older, less relevant roles. Ask questions if needed.”
This is where the magic happens. Resumes live and die by the bullet point. Done wrong, they’re just a laundry list of tasks. Done right, they scream results.
ChatGPT can take a bland statement like: “Handled client billing.”
And turn it into:
“Redesigned client billing workflow by implementing double-check protocols and automated error flags, which cut billing mistakes by 20% and enabled recovery of $150K in outstanding invoices.”
Numbers matter, but numbers with context matter more. This way, when you’re in an interview, you can explain exactly what you did. Not squirm when someone asks, “So how did you get to $150K?”
Prompt 4: The Skills Upgrade
“Based on my resume, create a technical skills section with 10 relevant tools/skills for my industry. Add 2-3 soft skills that matter.”
Let’s face it: most skills sections are either missing entirely or read like a bad BuzzFeed quiz. (“Skills: Microsoft Word, Email, Breathing.”) That’s not going to cut it.
This prompt lets ChatGPT generate a polished, industry-specific list. If you’re in litigation, it might include Relativity, Concordance, Westlaw, LexisNexis, or case management software. And instead of simply writing “communication skills,” you can substantiate:
“Facilitated weekly cross-departmental meetings by introducing a rotating agenda format that improved participation and sped decision-making by 25%.”
That’s how you make even soft skills tangible and credible.
Prompt 5: The Job Match
“Here’s a job description I want. [Paste job description of what you will be applying for.] Rewrite my work history to align with their core skills and qualifications.”
This is the holy grail of resume prompts. Why? Because it customizes your resume for the job you actually want. Not the job you had ten years ago, not the job mom thinks you should apply for. The one in front of you.
ATS systems and recruiters are looking for alignment. If the job posting says “experience with cross-border M&A,” and your resume says:
“Supported international transactions by creating due diligence checklists and coordinating with overseas counsel, ensuring compliance across three jurisdictions.”
Now you’ve connected the dots. Not just what you did, but how you did it, with enough context to match their language and make it interview-proof.
And here’s the kicker: it doesn’t take weeks. It doesn’t even take days. With the right prompts, you can transform your resume in half an hour before your coffee has even cooled enough to drink.
A Few Golden Rules
Before you go running off to AI-fy your resume, let me give you a couple of non-negotiable ground rules:
- Draft your accomplishments first. Don’t hand ChatGPT an empty shell and expect brilliance. AI can polish, but it can’t invent your career. (Well, it can, but unless you want to explain in an interview how you single-handedly negotiated peace in the Middle East, I don’t recommend it.)
- Be the fact-checker. AI loves to exaggerate. If it starts throwing around numbers you can’t verify, cut them. Your resume is not the place for fiction. Recruiters will call you on it faster than opposing counsel calls “objection.”
- Watch the fluff. ChatGPT sometimes gets flowery, vague, or just plain corny. A resume is not the place for phrases like “visionary ninja of organizational synergy.” Keep it sharp, grounded, and professional.
- Skip the silly stuff. Please, please don’t waste space listing things like “Handled correspondence: email, phones, fax, regular mail.” Uh, yeah. Everyone assumes you know how to answer a phone and send an email. That’s like putting “knows how to breathe oxygen” under skills.
- Stay human. ChatGPT can make your resume sharper, but it’s your personality, judgment, and humor (yes, humor counts within reason) that will shine in interviews. Don’t let AI erase the very things that make you, you.
Final Thoughts
Look, nobody wants to job hunt. Nobody wakes up saying, “Gee, I can’t wait to tweak my bullet points today.” But if you’re going to do it, do it smart. AI is a tool. Used poorly, it spits out cliches and vague, flowery fluff. Used wisely, it’s like having a personal resume coach on call 24/7.
So, if you lost your job tomorrow (and let’s hope you don’t), grab these five prompts, a cup of coffee, and 30 minutes. You’ll walk away with a resume that doesn’t just tell your story. It sells it. Because at the end of the day, your resume isn’t just about getting a job. It’s about proving to a stranger in six seconds that you’re the person worth betting on. And with a little AI magic, you can make those six seconds count.
Want your resume reviewed? Send it to me at Chere@EstrinLegalStaffing.com. Who knows? We may be able to find you a job as well.
Save these prompts for your next job hunt. And if you want them in a quick copy-and-paste doc, comment “PROMPTS” or email me at Chere@EstrinLegalStaffing.com.
Chere Estrin is the CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing and founder of The Estrin Report. She’s been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and CBS News. When she’s not placing legal professionals in amazing jobs, she’s writing about how to thrive—not just survive—in your career. Chere@EstrinLegalStaffing.com