PDAG Presents: Mastering Modern Resumes
November 4, 2025
On November 4, 2025, CFA Society Chicago’s PDAG hosted an event led by Rosie Zilinskas, Founder of No Woman Left Behind. Rosie Zilinskas is a keynote speaker, Certified High-Performance Coach, Kolbe™ Certified Consultant, and former Fortune 500 Executive Vice President with more than 30 years of corporate leadership experience.
The session was designed to help professionals improve their resumes through the combined use of effective writing principles and ChatGPT as a support tool. The purpose was to help participants present their experience clearly and strategically, ensuring their resumes meet modern hiring standards and perform well within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Zilinskas began by outlining the fundamentals of a strong modern resume. A successful resume should be concise, achievement-oriented, and tailored to the position being pursued. Participants were encouraged to highlight accomplishments rather than simply listing job duties, using quantifiable results whenever possible. Clarity and consistency in layout, structure, and formatting were emphasized as essential for readability. She also noted that a resume should generally not exceed one or two pages, depending on the depth of professional experience.
A significant portion of the session focused on the role of ChatGPT in the resume-writing process. ChatGPT can assist users in refining language, summarizing experiences, and strengthening phrasing for professionalism and clarity. By providing the model with specific contexts such as job titles, industries, and accomplishments—participants can generate stronger action statements and highlight relevant skills. Zilinskas emphasized that AI tools can also identify and incorporate important keywords from a job description to improve ATS compatibility. However, she reminded attendees that any AI-generated content should always be reviewed and customized to preserve authenticity and personal voice.
Zilinskas explained how to structure a resume for maximum effectiveness. Each resume should open with a focused professional summary that communicates core strengths and value to employers. Subsequent sections—key skills, work experience, education, and certifications—should be logically ordered and formatted consistently. She recommended using active language and avoiding vague or repetitive phrasing. Maintaining clearchronology and consistent visual style helps recruiters navigate a document quickly and easily.
The session also addressed technical considerations for ATS compatibility. Zilinskas advised using standard section headings and avoiding complex formatting elements such as tables or graphics that can confuse automated systems. Including relevant keywords naturally within the text improves searchability, and saving the document in a Word or PDF format ensures compatibility during online submissions.
In conclusion, the workshop underscored that the most effective resumes result from the combination of human insight and AI assistance. ChatGPT can streamline editing and content generation, while the writer’s judgment ensures that the final product is accurate, authentic, and targeted to the desired position. By applying these principles, participants can create resumes that are polished, keyword-optimized, and aligned with employer expectations, increasing their chances of success in today’s competitive job market.
This article was prepared by Thomas Prendergast, based on a transcript summarized with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI). All content was revised, edited and reviewed for accuracy and clarity by the author.