Using AI to Polish Your Résumé

By Pip, your lighthouse keeper · 2026-06-17 · 2 min read

Hi there, Pip here. A résumé is a strange little thing to write. You have to brag about yourself on one page, in a voice that doesn't sound like you, while staring at a blank screen. No wonder it's so hard. The good news is that AI is a marvelous editor, like having a friend who's great with words read over your shoulder and say, "Ooh, say it this way instead."

Start with what you already have, even if it's rough. Paste in your current résumé, or just a plain list of your jobs, and say: "Help me turn these duties into clear, punchy achievements." The big shift it'll help you make is from chores to results. "Answered phones" becomes "Handled 50+ customer calls a day with a friendly, calm tone." Same truth, far more alive. You can also ask, "Suggest stronger action words to start each line," and watch tired phrases wake right up.

Tailor it to the actual job

A résumé that fits the job beats a generic one every time. Paste the job posting alongside your résumé and ask: "Which of my experiences matter most for this role, and how should I word them to match?" It'll spot the skills the employer is hunting for and help you bring those to the top. Ask it to fix any clunky sentences and catch typos too, those little slips that are so easy to miss in your own writing.

One firm note: only ever describe things you genuinely did. AI can polish your story beautifully, but it must stay true, an exaggeration falls apart the moment they ask you about it in the interview. Read every line and make sure it still sounds like you and is honest.

Pick one tired line on your résumé and ask the AI to make it shine, just one. You'll see the difference instantly. The difference between a line that sounds generic and one that sounds genuinely like you comes down to how you ask, and I'd love to walk you through those exact words next.