How I Used My Own AI Resume Tool to Land a Government Job worth $126K in 6 weeks!

I never expected to become my own best-case study.

Six months ago, I started building Resilio Partners, as a Project Management consulting firm as I began my search for a new role somewhere. After a few months and building an AI powered business planner, I decided about 6 weeks ago to begin developing an AI-powered resume tool and interview prep platform, while hustling through call center work and contract gigs. Then I saw a job posting for a Workforce Management Analyst role with the City of Detroit Fire Department.

Government jobs are competitive. Really competitive. The application process is rigorous, and interviews are structured with scoring rubrics. One misstep and you're out.

So, I did what any founder would do: I used my own product.

This AI resume tool would become my secret weapon in a highly competitive process.

Here's what happened.

The Challenge: A Highly Competitive Government Role

The City of Detroit Fire Department was hiring for a Project Manager position: exactly in my wheelhouse. The role involved:

• 24/7 shift scheduling for firefighters

• Payroll coordination and compliance

• Data analysis and reporting

I had the experience. I'd managed scheduling for 24/7 operations at various companies in the past. I'd handled payroll for teams at multiple companies. I'd built intake systems and trained hundreds of users.

But my resume was generic. It was written for private sector PM roles, not government workforce management.

I needed to tailor it, fast.

Step 1: Using an AI Resume Tool to Rewrite My Application

I uploaded my resume to Resilio Partners and pasted it in the job description. Within seconds, the AI identified gaps:

• My resume emphasized "project management" when the job wanted "workforce management" as well.

• I had scattered scheduling experience across multiple roles instead of highlighting it front and center

• I wasn't using government-friendly language (they wanted "coordinated" not "spearheaded")

The AI rewrote my bullet points:

• Before: "Managed team schedules and time-off requests"

• After: "Coordinated 24/7 shift schedules for support operations using Workday and NICE WFM, ensuring full coverage while managing PTO, FMLA, and emergency adjustments"

It felt like cheating. But it wasn't, it was just presenting my real experience in the language the hiring team wanted to see.

Step 2: Interview Prep with AI

After I submitted my application, I got the call: interview scheduled for October 17th.

Now came the hard part.

Government interviews are structured. They ask behavior-based questions and score your answers against rubric. You either hit the key points, or you don't.

I used the AI interview chatbot I'd built (still in beta at the time) to practice. I fed it the job description and had it drill me:

• "Tell me about a time you managed scheduling for a 24/7 operation."

• "How do you ensure payroll accuracy and compliance?"

• "Describe a situation where you had to handle conflicting priorities."

The AI didn't just give me sample questions, it critiqued my answers. It told me when I was rambling. It reminded me to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It even caught when I wasn't quantifying my impact.Here is the best part! Not only did it ask me questions based on the Job description, but I could input new information that was missing. During the application process they had asked me four additional questions all based on project management. So, to prepare I was able to load those questions into the Chat bot and then get help preparing for if they asked me specific questions on Project management experience.

By the time the interview came, I'd practiced 20+ scenarios. I was ready.

The Interview

The panel asked exactly the kinds of questions I'd practiced:

• Workforce management experience? Covered.

• Scheduling conflicts? Had the story ready.

• Payroll compliance? Gave specific examples.

• Project management experience? Covered!

At one point, the panelists smiled and one said, "You're very well prepared."

At the end of the interview, they literally thanked HR for sending me.

The Offer

Two weeks later: job offer.

Starting November 10th:

• Project Manager Analytics Specialist II

• City of Detroit Fire Department

• 4-day work week (3 days off every week)

• Full benefits and pension

• Stable government role

The AI tool worked. Not because it made up qualifications I didn't have, but because it helped me present my real experience in the clearest, most compelling way possible.

What I Learned

1. Tailoring matters more than you think. Generic resumes don't get interviews. I'd applied for dozens of roles with my old resume and heard nothing. One tailored resume got me a government job.

2. Interview prep is a skill. Practicing with AI gave me reps I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. By the time I sat down for the real interview, I'd answered similar questions 20 times.

3. AI amplifies it doesn't replace. The AI resume tool didn't invent my experience. It just helped me communicate better. You still need the skills. You still need to show up and perform. But AI can help you get in the door.

4. Honesty is non-negotiable. I didn't exaggerate. I didn't claim skills I don't have. I used AI to articulate what I'd done. That's the difference between using AI ethically and using it to fake your way into a job.

Try It Yourself

Resilio Partners Is pleased feature OneClick Smart Resume! It is live and free to try. Here's what you get:

• Free tier: Browse 9,000+ Fortune 500 jobs, 1 AI resume rewrite per month

• Basic ($19/month): 10 rewrites, cover letter generator, application tracker (beta testing)

• Premium ($49/month): Unlimited rewrites, AI interview chatbot (beta testing), LinkedIn optimizer (beta testing), salary negotiation advice (beta testing)

If you're serious about landing your next role, give it a shot. It worked for me.

Try Resilio Partners Free →

For Those Fighting the Job Search Battle

Look, I get it. I was there six weeks ago drowning in applications, working jobs that barely paid bills, wondering if I'd ever catch a break.

The job market right now is absolutely brutal. It's not you. It's not your resume. It's a numbers game that feels rigged.

If you're unemployed and this tool could help but money's tight, just reach out. Seriously. Email me. I'll hook you up with full access for free. The only thing I ask?

Use it honestly, and let me know what works and what doesn't.

Your feedback makes the tool better for everyone else who's struggling. And honestly? Helping someone land a job matters more to me than $49.

We're in this together. Let's get you hired.

Contact: jon.irwin@resilio-partners.com | Subject: "Need Access - Currently Unemployed"

Jonathan Irwin is the founder of Resilio Partners and a newly hired Project Manager Analytics Specialist II with the City of Detroit. He lives in Michigan with his family.