How to use AI to tailor your CV to a job ad
Copy your CV and the job ad as text, open a new chat in Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude, and paste our prompt above them. The AI lists what the job asks for, shows where your CV already proves it, and rewrites your best bullet points in the ad's words without adding anything untrue. It takes about eight minutes and works on a free plan.
What you need
| App | Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude, on your phone or computer |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free. This is plain text, so a free account is enough |
| Time | About 8 minutes |
| You need | Your CV and the job ad, both copied as text |
Step by step
Step 1: Copy your CV and the job ad as text
Open your CV and the job ad and copy each one. Take out your phone number, home address, date of birth and any ID numbers: the AI does not need them. If you cannot copy the text, Gemini's help page says you can add a file or image to a prompt: click Add files, then follow the on-screen instructions. Text works best.
Step 2: Open a new chat
In Gemini, go to gemini.google.com. To start fresh, click New chat at the top left, and if it is not there, click Menu first. For a private CV, Gemini's help page says a personal Google Account can use a temporary chat that will not appear in your recent chats: click Temporary chat next to New chat. In Claude, type your prompt in the chat and click the submit button. ChatGPT's help page says it is free to use.
Step 3: Paste the prompt, then the job ad and your CV
Change the words in [brackets], paste the job ad and your CV under the prompt, then send.
Prompt to copyI am applying for the job below. Use only what is written in my CV. Do not invent jobs, skills, numbers or dates. 1. List the 5 things the job ad asks for that matter most. 2. For each one, say where my CV shows it, or write "not shown" if it does not. 3. Rewrite my 3 most relevant CV bullet points in the ad's wording. Keep them true. 4. Write a 2-sentence summary for the top of my CV. If something is missing, ask me instead of guessing. Job ad: [paste the job ad here] My CV: [paste your CV here]
Image: Google Step 4: Check every line against your real record
Gemini's help page says Gemini can make mistakes, so double-check responses. Read each rewritten bullet point and ask: did I really do this? Find every job title, date and number in your own CV. If a line says more than the truth, tell the AI to remove it and write the line again.
Tip: Ask: "Which words in your rewrite are not in my CV?" Anything it lists is a guess.
Image: Google Step 5: Copy the good lines into your own CV and send it yourself
Paste only the lines you are happy with into your own CV file, in your own words where you can. Where the AI said "not shown", add a real example if you have one. Then apply from your own account. The AI never sends anything for you.
What you get
Example answer from Claude on 21 Oct 2026, for a made-up café assistant manager applying to be a dental clinic front desk coordinator. Shortened. Yours will be worded differently.
Common mistakes
- Letting the AI add skills or numbers you do not have. Say "use only my CV" in the prompt, and check every line in step 4.
- Pasting your phone number, home address or ID numbers. Remove them first, and use a temporary chat in Gemini for a private CV (step 2).
- Sending the same rewritten CV to every job. Run the prompt again with each new job ad.
- Copying the AI's wording without reading it. Make the lines sound like you, and keep only what you can talk about in an interview.
Questions people ask
Which AI app is best for this?
Any of them. Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude can all work with pasted text. Our steps were checked on Gemini's, Claude's and ChatGPT's own help pages.
Is it free?
Yes to start. ChatGPT's help page says it is free to use, and Claude's says the free plan has a usage limit that resets every five hours. Check your own app for what a free account includes.
Can I add my CV as a file instead of pasting it?
In Gemini, yes: its help page says you can add a file or image to a prompt with Add files. Pasted text is usually more accurate, so use it when you can.
Is it safe to paste my CV?
Be careful. ChatGPT's help page says your content may be used to train its models unless you opt out. Remove private details first, and see our guide on stopping ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude training on your chats.
Checked against
- OfficialGemini Apps Help: Use Gemini Apps
- OfficialClaude Help Center: Get started with Claude
- OfficialOpenAI Help Center: What is ChatGPT?
AI apps change their buttons often. If a step no longer matches what you see, email hello@openloopnews.com and we will update this guide.
