How to Use ChatGPT to Tailor Your CV (UK Guide)

• A hybrid CV (sometimes called ‘combination CV’) blends the strengths of a chronological CV and functional/skills‑based CV. It emphasises your most relevant skills and achievements first, then gives your work history.
• ivee recommends the hybrid format especially for people who: have career breaks, are changing sectors, or want to draw attention to specific transferable skills.

• Many UK employers large and small now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs. If your CV isn’t formatted properly or using the right keywords, it may get filtered out before a human recruiter ever sees it.
• Tailoring helps you match the job specification: using the same wording (skills, responsibilities etc), showing relevance, demonstrating impact.
• ChatGPT can speed up this process: helping you generate customised summary sections, reword bullet points, draw out achievements or transferrable skills, and check your CV against job descriptions.

1. Gather the job description(s)

• Save the job adverts you want to apply for. Note key skills, qualifications, responsibilities in the job spec.
• Identify which keywords are repeated (e.g. ‘stakeholder management,’ ‘customer service,’ ‘data analysis’) and which are essential vs ‘nice to have.’
  

2. Analyse your current CV

• Make sure you have your current (or draft) CV in a clean format (editable preferably).
• Note where there are gaps, or sections that are weak (e.g. work history not aligned, skills not obvious). Use ivee’s free CV reviewer to help.
  

3. Decide on the format

• Use ivee’s hybrid model: skills/achievements up top, then work history.
• Limit length: for most people, 1 page ideally; two pages only if you have a lot of relevant experience.
  

Here is a step‑wise approach, including example prompts. Always review & refine manually, as AI helps but shouldn’t do everything.

Step 1: Generate a CV summary or profile

Step 2: Highlight relevant skills / transferrable skills

Step 3: Reword or reframe bullet points in your work history

Step 4: Tailor the layout and structure for ATS & readability

Step 5: Proofreading & consistency

• Use standard section headings like Profile / Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, Certifications. Avoid creative or unusual headings that ATS might not parse.
• Simple formatting: avoid tables, graphics, text boxes, weird fonts. Use clean layouts.
• File format: PDF is usually safe; Word (.docx) may be required in some ATS; check the job advert. ivee recommends uploading your CV as a PDF unless specified otherwise!
• Use British English spelling: Always align your achievements & skills to what the employer is asking.
• Quantify achievements where possible: ‘Increased sales by 20%,’ ‘Managed a team of 5,’ ‘Handled 30+ clients per week.’ These help both humans and ATS see impact.
• Keep length appropriate: for most mid‑career roles 1 page; two pages only if justified. Marginal for senior or complex roles. ivee’s advice supports concise but impactful content.

✅ Don’t fabricate or exaggerate

Everything must be your real experience.

✅ Make sure your voice still comes through

Personalise, don’t let it become generic.

✅ Use ChatGPT as a tool, not to replace reflection

You need to verify the suggestions match you.

✅ Be mindful of data privacy

Avoid pasting overly sensitive personal info into prompts.

Before:

Managed sales team. Responsible for customer relationships. Used Microsoft Office.

After (tailored):

Led a sales team of 4 to exceed quarterly targets by 20%, fostering strong client relationships through strategic follow‑ups and CRM use. Proficient in MS Excel & PowerPoint to analyse trends and present reports to stakeholders.

You can feed your ‘before’ content into ChatGPT along with the job description to get ‘after’ improvements like this.

• Will recruiters know I used ChatGPT?

  Possibly not. What matters is if your CV reads naturally, is factual, and matches the job spec.
  

• Can ATS reject clever wording?

  Yes — if wording is too complex, uses images or tables, or non‑standard headings. That’s why layout / structure matter.

• How many job specs should I feed in?

  Ideally one at a time, to tailor each application. But you can group roles of similar type to reuse some prompts.