Growing up, I was taught not to brag. ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ — I would hear from my parents whenever they felt I was getting too big for my boots. Despite having taught myself to read at the tender age of four, I was not allowed to tell other people that I was smart. I was expected to wait for their acknowledgement.

Over the years, I have found myself in many situations that would prove my parents right, and when the pros of being humble outweighed the cons.

Yet, the world keeps changing. Rapid technological advancement and modernisation brought sociocultural changes that have affected our perception of the two fundamental concepts that guide human behaviour and decision-making.

With the emergence of social media, ‘flaunting what you’ve got and what others are missing and therefore should want’ became a must. Bragging has taken on a new dimension and as influencing became recognized as a real job, it quickly penetrated everyone’s awareness and spread across the job market as well.

Although I have managed to keep up with the advancing technologies, the disparity between the values I was taught while growing up and the current reality kept creating an inner conflict that would pop up every time I sat down to write my professional resume.

Whenever I tried to come up with my most impressive achievements and best qualities, I couldn’t think of anything for fear of being viewed as a bragger. I genuinely believed that good things sell themselves, and if I could not sell myself for who I was, then perhaps I didn’t deserve to have a good job.

That was until chatGPT happened.

Unbiased, emotionally uninvolved, objective, matter of fact — AI has offered me a new perspective and helped me to overcome my impostor syndrome simply by choosing the right words for my resume.

The following conversation is an example of how chatGPT modifies text to make it more appealing to potential employers:


My prompt:

ChatGPT, how would you make this job experience more attractive and professional and highlight the skills gained? I approached customers and offered high-quality translating services. I developed my own website using WordPress and Elementor. I dealt with customer requirements, resolved issues, and carried out projects for clients.

chatGPT:

To make this experience sound more professional and highlight the skills you’ve gained, here’s an improved version:

— -

Freelance Translator & Web Developer

Provided tailored language solutions by actively engaging with clients to understand their translation needs, offering high-quality, accurate translations that met professional standards.

Developed and managed a personal website using WordPress and Elementor, creating an online platform to showcase services, manage client interactions, and optimize the client experience.

Demonstrated strong customer service and problem-solving skills, managing customer requirements, resolving inquiries, and ensuring high client satisfaction.

Successfully delivered client projects from initial consultation to project completion, balancing multiple assignments and adhering to deadlines.



Key Skills: Customer Relationship Management, Project Coordination, WordPress Development, Problem Solving, Communication Skills, Time Management

Once I started using the words offered by AI to describe myself, I realized that they perfectly describe who I am, which gave me a renewed sense of confidence.

By using words stripped of emotions, AI allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace my self-worth and helped me see that that acknowledging my skills and accomplishments is not a sign of arrogance but a necessary step toward professional growth.

Kudos to that.