I was updating my resume the other night. I want to meet other technologists through meetups and conventions, so I thought it would be a good time to update my elevator pitch.

Updating the Resume

What better way to craft an elevator pitch than looking through your resume? Since I am aiming for tech meetups, my resume is the perfect starting point.

Only that my resume is a few years untouched at this point.

I added a few lines, freshened up with better action words and rephrased things to showcase results. I had ChatGPT run through my resume and give me some actionable feedback before I ask it to write me a pitch.

The Elevator Pitch

I wanted to compare a few resources to write my elevator pitch. I had a rough idea of what I wanted, length, tone, except for the actual pitch itself.

For this experiment, I used ChatGPT, Bard, and ChatLLaMA.

The prompt I used is:

Using my resume, write a one paragraph elevator pitch about myself.

[Start of resume, redacted]

DALL-E Generated Image of an Astronaut playing basketball

ChatGPT (GPT-3.5)

As a Senior Software Engineer with a track record of driving results, I have designed architecture for internal tools, resulting in high availability and low latency, and led teams in implementing good software engineering practices, reducing technical debt and improving code quality. I have also mentored and coached junior engineers, resulting in a 100% success rate of apprentices becoming full-time software engineers at the company, and have reduced business costs by $300k/year by fine-tuning spark jobs and cluster configurations. With expertise in Python, Scala, Docker, and AWS, I have built business intelligence tools and led cross-engineering team analysis and POCs for cost-saving efforts. As an experienced interviewer and Bar Raiser, I have successfully onboarded new team members and am well-equipped to drive results.

A little cringey and wordy, but I suppose it was a good start. ChatGPT assumed right away that I was going to use this pitch to prospective employers.

Revision 1

That looks good. Can you make it less about finding a job, and more about introducing myself to other tech people?

As a Senior Software Engineer with 7 years of experience specializing in web apps, I'm passionate about designing and implementing high-quality software solutions that meet the needs of users. I've honed my skills in Python, Scala, Docker, and AWS while working for companies like Twilio, Rakuten.com, and Farmers Insurance. My experience includes designing architecture for internal tools, mentoring junior engineers, and reducing business costs through optimization and automation. At Twilio, I led a group of engineers in implementing good software engineering practices resulting in a more efficient development process and improved code quality. I'm also a mentor in Twilio's apprenticeship program, where I've helped junior engineers succeed and become full-time software engineers at the company. Outside of work, I'm interested in teaching obscure math and finance topics, and I'm considering starting a YouTube channel to share my knowledge. I'm excited to connect with other tech professionals and continue growing my skills in software engineering.

Still kinda long and a little robot, but I can work with this.

Revision 2

It seems too long. Can you shorten it and make it sound a little less professional but not casual at all?

Hey there, I'm a senior software engineer with 7 years of experience specializing in web apps. I love solving complex problems and making things work seamlessly. My expertise lies in Python, Scala, Docker, and AWS, and I'm always eager to learn more. Outside of work, I'm passionate about sharing knowledge and love teaching obscure math and finance topics on my YouTube channel. Let's connect and geek out over code!

The last line was little too casual and painful to read, but I can work with this!

Bard (March 23 2023)

Hi, I'm [your name], a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience. I've worked at [your companies] on a variety of projects, including [your projects]. I'm a highly motivated and results-oriented engineer with a strong track record of success. I'm confident that I can make a significant contribution to your team. Here are some of my key skills and accomplishments:

• I'm a skilled engineer with a strong understanding of software engineering principles and practices.
• I'm able to quickly learn new technologies and apply them to new projects.
• I'm a strong leader and have experience managing and mentoring teams.
• I'm a creative thinker and am always looking for new ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• I'm a results-oriented engineer and am always focused on achieving my goals.

I'm confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team. I'm excited about the opportunity to discuss this position further with you. Thank you for your time.

Like ChatGPT, Bard assumed this was for job-hunting. Perhaps I should tweak my prompt next time?

Revision 1

That looks good. Can you make it less about finding a job, and more about introducing myself to other tech people?

Hi, I'm [your name], a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience. I'm passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and have worked on a variety of projects, including [your projects]. I'm always looking for new ways to learn and grow, and I'm excited to connect with other tech people to learn from and share ideas with.

Now it's lost specifics from my resume.

Revision 2

Can you write the same elevator pitch but fill in my name (Noel Bautista) and projects from my resume? Thanks

Hi, I'm Noel Bautista, a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience. I'm passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and have worked on a variety of projects, including the following: * Designed and implemented a data warehouse for a large e-commerce company, increasing efficiency and reducing costs by 20%. * Led the development of a mobile app that allows users to find and book appointments with local businesses, generating over 1 million downloads in its first year. * Built a data analysis tool that helps businesses identify trends and make better decisions, resulting in a 15% increase in sales. I'm always looking for new ways to learn and grow, and I'm excited to connect with other tech people to learn from and share ideas with.

Bard made up some accomplishments I didn't have on my resume. Giving up on this for now!

ChatLLaMA (Alpaca-7b)

As a Senior Software Engineer, I have a proven track record of delivering results. I have designed, implemented, and written tests for traffic-heavy pages, resulting in a 30% increase in customer engagement and conversion rates. I have also led the implementation of several features related to bill payment, geolocation, and networking. I have mentored and coached junior engineers as part of Twilio's apprenticeship program, resulting in a 100% success rate of apprentices becoming full-time software engineers at the company. I have also reduced business costs by $300k/year by fine-tuning spark jobs and cluster configurations.

Starting to see a pattern here. My initial ask seems to prompt all three to tell everyone that "I am a software engineer with X experience", and assuming that the pitch is for introducing myself to employers.

Revision 1

That looks good. Can you make it less about finding a job, and more about introducing myself to other tech people?

Yes, I can make it less about finding a job and more about introducing myself to other tech people.

[no reply]

I rewrote my entire request with the adjusted parameters.

I am a Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable web applications. I have a proven track record of delivering high-quality code, mentoring junior engineers, and leading cross-functional teams. I am passionate about solving complex technical problems and improving business processes.

It's a nice combination of words for sure, but I don't know if this is something I'd introduce myself with. It sounds too stiff and professional for my use.

My Winner is.. ChatGPT

Today I'm picking the pitch ChatGPT wrote. Thanks for reading through this experiment!

Glossary (ChatGPT Generated)

I asked ChatGPT to run through this post, and it recommended I define the following.

1) ChatGPT: ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI that uses machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to natural language queries. It can engage in conversation, answer questions, and provide information on a wide range of topics. ChatGPT is designed to be highly responsive and can provide helpful information quickly and efficiently.

2) Bard: Bard is a tool developed by OpenAI that uses artificial intelligence to generate creative writing prompts. Users can provide input on the type of prompt they're looking for, such as the genre, tone, and theme, and Bard will generate a unique and interesting writing prompt. Bard can be used by writers who are looking for inspiration or are facing writer's block.

3) ChatLLaMA: ChatLLaMA is a chatbot platform developed by OpenAI that allows users to create and deploy their own chatbots. ChatLLaMA provides a user-friendly interface for building and customizing chatbots, and offers a range of features, such as natural language processing, machine learning, and analytics. ChatLLaMA can be used by businesses or organizations to improve customer service, automate tasks, and provide information to users in a conversational way.