Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chat technology and language tool that is gaining popularity not only for mimicking a human conversation, but for debugging computer programmes and writing a range of prose, from poems to essays - and now more practical day-to-day tasks.

With some job seekers starting to use the technology to help fine tune a perfect covering letter, there’s also now a rise in those looking to create a Chat GPT-led CV for their application too.

How candidates can use the technology

For candidates there are a number of advantages for using ChatGPT in their search for a new job, primarily centered around improving the quality and focus of their application. The technology allows candidates to match up their skills and experience to the requirements of the role, and to sell themselves in the best way.

Here are some of the main ways that candidates are using the technology:

• Use example CVs – By finding previously successful or well-tailored CVs online or through contacts, candidates can ask the technology to reproduce their own CV in a similar style

• Use the job description – Using the exact job description posted by the company, candidates can ask for their existing CV to be tailored to meet the requirements outlined in the role

• Adapt your CV – If applying for particular industries or specialisms, candidates can request that their CV is adapted to emphasise the skills or qualifications that are most relevant to that particular industry

• Discuss from scratch – If candidates don’t have a recent or up to date CV, they can choose to create a brand new one by talking through their full job history, education, qualifications and skills with the technology

It is important that candidates don’t simply trust the output from ChatGPT without review, as there are still some limitations with what the technology can produce or understand. This is particularly evident in personalising CV content and in the specifics of some roles and qualifications.

The impact on recruiters and hiring managers

For recruitment companies the ChatGPT technology could mean the need to learn new skills themselves. With fewer candidates potentially needing support with crafting their CV, this could mean a shift for advisers towards guidance on how to make the best use of the technology. This can include advising on what questions to ask for different roles, what phrases to use that give the best results, and the latest information on where the technology is developing and where limitations exist.

For hiring managers and business heads, there are positives and negatives to consider. On the plus side, candidates using the technology are likely to produce a higher quality CV, with more accurate descriptions of their job history and relevant skills. If use of the technology becomes more widespread, this could make hiring managers’ lives easier by removing some of the lengthier personal statements, inaccurate information and, in reality, waffle and exaggeration.

On the other hand, however, the technology could make it harder to get an initial feel for a candidate by creating standardised and overly similar CVs from those applying. With Chat GPT’s current limitations on personalising content and the likelihood that candidates will be providing similar inputs, hiring managers could find identifying people with the right personality fit and cultural approach harder to spot.