ChatGPT can help you write faster and think more clearly, but it cannot replace your judgement or experience. Employers hire people, not machines. Use AI to support your application, then make sure your voice, examples, and detail are unmistakably yours.
Who this page is for
This guidance is aimed at general roles in the UK. That means jobs without direct reports or budget responsibility, rather than executive posts. Think trades, nurses, paramedics, accountants, technicians, developers, analysts, customer operations, and similar roles. Looking for executive or c-suite advice? See this link
Your CV stands out when it reflects your own voice and experience, not just what ChatGPT produces.
- Use ChatGPT as a tool, not a crutch - AI can help you plan, draft, and tidy your CV or enote. It should not do the thinking for you. Start with your facts, your results, and your examples, then use AI to improve clarity.
- Authentic voice matters - Recruiters value authenticity. If your CV or cover letter reads as robotic or overly polished, it may be dismissed. Keep sentences simple, use plain British English, and let your real experience come through.
- Match the selection criteria - Most roles have explicit or implied criteria. AI text often misses the detail needed to address them directly. Show evidence for each requirement with short examples from work, study, or volunteering.
- Be consistent at interview - If AI helps you get through the first sift, interviewers will expect the same voice in person. A mismatch between your application voice and your interview performance raises doubts. Make sure both sound like you.
- Mind cultural fit - Applications in the UK should use British spelling and tone. AI can drift into American phrasing and style. Keep wording local, professional, and appropriate to the sector you are applying to.
- Avoid empty phrases - Swap generic claims for specifics, for example “trained two new starters on the booking system”, “processed daily reconciliations with zero errors”, or “assisted with patient handovers on late shifts”. Cut filler such as “results driven team player” unless you prove it with a short example.
- Show you understand the employer - Go beyond listing tasks. Refer to what the organisation does and what it values. For example, an NHS Trust values safety, teamwork, and compassion. An accountancy practice values accuracy, confidentiality, and client service. A software firm values problem solving, collaboration, and delivery.
- ATS and smarter screening - Most organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter applications. These systems look for relevant keywords and clear evidence that you meet the criteria. If your CV is generic, it may never reach a human reviewer.
Practical ways ChatGPT can help
- Turn your rough brain-dump into tidy bullet points that are easy to scan.
- Check spelling and grammar in British English.
- Suggest synonyms that match the job advert’s wording without copying it.
- Create a simple checklist for tailoring your CV to the criteria.
Ways ChatGPT can hinder
- Produce a document that seems impressive to you, but looks generic to recruiters who see dozens just like it.
- Ignore key selection criteria if you have not researched and included them in your prompt.
- Generate language that feels over-formal or non-UK in tone, which recruiters notice straight away.
- Play down the human values and motivations that help employers understand what drives you.
Quick checklist
- Your CV does not read as generic, it reflects you and your experience.
- All key selection criteria are addressed because you researched and included them.
- The tone is appropriate, using plain British English rather than over-formal or non-local phrasing.
- Your application highlights personal values and motivations as well as skills.
- What you write matches what you can confidently say at interview.
ChatGPT can assist you in the process, but your credibility comes from tailored examples and a clear understanding of the employer’s requirements and needs. Keep the human elements front and centre, and use your own voice.
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~ Elle Bradshaw