Opinion: Are We Teaching Students to Think Critically or Just Chase Resume Scores?

Recently, I was on a call with a career counselor who mentioned that "competitive students like chasing numbers to elevate their resume scores." It got me thinking—why is that the case? Is it because they get a false sense of security from a high score, thinking it guarantees employment? Or is it because they trust that following the AI's feedback will automatically improve their success outcomes? This kind of gamification might be appealing, but we need to take a hard look at why that might be the case and the risks of this approach, especially with the rapidly increasing traction of artificial intelligence and the need to develop critical thinking skills to evaluate AI feedback.

The Reality Check

The truth is, competitive students at brand-name universities will likely be successful regardless of whether they chase resume scores. These students are going to do well anyway. However, there’s a real risk when universities adopt gamified systems that encourage students to mindlessly chase numbers. This approach can lead to missed opportunities for developing critical thinking skills—a key competency that 85.5% of employers rated as "very" or "extremely" important in a 2023 NACE survey.

Critical Thinking and AI

There is increasing data that shows employers are looking for candidates who can not only use technology but also apply critical thinking skills to assess and interpret AI-generated information. A survey conducted by SHRM revealed that employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can evaluate AI feedback and make informed decisions based on it. This aligns with the need for employees who can navigate the evolving job market and effectively use AI tools while maintaining a critical perspective.

The Problem with Score-Chasing

Many resume review platforms push students to hit a target score. Sure, it's measurable, but does it really help students think critically about their work? Often, it leads to a checkbox mentality—students make surface-level changes just to boost their score, rather than understanding how to truly improve their resumes.

Contrasting Approaches to Building a Great Resume

There are different approaches to helping students build successful resumes. Chasing a number, based on criteria a vendor has decided, is one way. Another valid, more flexible, and adaptable approach is to use stepwise AI scans with clear progress indicators.

Traditional Score-Chasing Approach

1. Input Resume

2. Get AI Feedback and Score

3. Make Recommended Changes to Increase Score

4. Repeat Until Target Number is Hit

If students don't follow the AI’s recommendations, they are implicitly or explicitly told that their resume is less competitive than their peers. They remain “stuck” at a low score if they do not make the suggested changes to their resumes. This setup penalizes critical thinking or personal judgment in favor of a standardized approach.

Risks: Encouraging a checkbox mentality and surface-level changes, focusing on achieving a high score rather than meaningful improvements, and missing the opportunity to use critical thinking skills to evaluate AI feedback.

Stepwise Qualitative Feedback with Progress Indicators

1. Input Resume

2. Analyze AI Feedback

3. Make Preferred Changes

4. Rescan or Move on

5. Continuous Improvement with No Final Score to Chase

Benefits: Critically evaluating AI feedback, encouraging deep thinking and personal growth, focusing on meaningful improvements, providing context-specific feedback, and promoting continuous learning. Moreover, organizations can choose a lineup of AI scans that go beyond simply checking for errors or recommending stronger action verbs. These scans can move into actual career navigation or accelerating job applications. This approach offers the flexibility to customize and adapt to match the evolving landscape and learning objectives.

A Challenge to Counselors

Have you fallen into the trap of believing that the only way to build a high-quality resume is by chasing a number? Reflect on whether this approach truly aligns with the goal of building critical thinking skills and preparing students for the future job market. Consider whether you believe that the vendor alone understands what it takes to build a successful resume, and if you're willing to base your entire approach on this belief.

Think about the opportunity to give students access to the latest artificial intelligence while putting them in the driver’s seat to leverage the feedback they find beneficial. This can help build critical thinking skills that employers highly value.

Conclusion

While I appreciate the importance of ensuring that every student has a high-quality resume, I would argue there's more than one way to achieve this. I hope this article exposes some opportunities to rethink our approach and consider methods that truly develop students' skills and prepare them for the future. At SkillsFirst, we’re committed to providing a platform that does just that, preparing students for successful careers.

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