As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to permeate various aspects of our professional lives, the trend of using AI to craft executive resumes and LinkedIn profiles is gaining traction. However, this seemingly convenient solution may be fraught with pitfalls that could jeopardize your career advancement, especially in the highly scrutinized legal field.

Many seasoned executives, having not engaged in job searches for decades, are turning to AI for assistance. They often rely on outdated resume templates and lack current self-marketing strategies. This gap leads them to AI tools like ChatGPT, which promise to streamline the resume-building process. However, the results are often disappointing, producing responses that are generic, lacking in personalization, and sometimes factually inaccurate.

A recent incident highlighted the issue: an executive used AI to fill out a personal inventory required for crafting a detailed resume. The responses were not only robotic but failed to capture the nuances of the client's extensive and unique career achievements. This discrepancy became apparent during a coaching session where the client's verbal recounting of his career provided valuable insights that the AI-generated responses had missed.

Moreover, AI tools operate by aggregating information available online, which often results in resumes and profiles that are not only impersonal but also potentially misleading. They recycle widely used phrases and generalizations, which can lead to ethical concerns about authenticity and accuracy. This is particularly problematic in fields where professional integrity is paramount.

Companies and recruiters are also becoming more adept at identifying AI-generated content. Advanced technologies are now used to detect whether a resume was crafted by an individual or generated by a machine. A resume lacking a genuine human voice can be a significant red flag, leading to immediate rejection in the screening process.

The use of AI in crafting executive legal resumes not only risks damaging your professional reputation but also misses a crucial opportunity to genuinely present your unique skills and experiences. In high-stakes positions, such as general counsel or executive roles, the ability to articulate one's value and experiences in a personalized manner is critical.

In conclusion, while AI can serve as a helpful tool for organizing thoughts or overcoming writer's block, it falls short in tasks requiring deep personalization and authenticity, such as resume writing and personal branding. For executives, particularly in the legal arena, the stakes are too high to rely on generic AI solutions. Instead, a tailored approach, possibly with the guidance of a career expert, remains the best strategy to ensure your resume truly represents your professional stature and capabilities.