how to create cover letter with chat gpt

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How to Write a Cover Letter Using ChatGPT in 7 Steps (+Prompt Template)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated July 16, 2024 11 min read

Thanks to tools like ChatGPT, the once-dreaded task of writing cover letters is becoming more manageable. But do you actually know how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT?

If you're not familiar with this tool and how to use it, your cover letter might become an even bigger mess than it was before.

Furthermore, using a generic prompt, such as "Write a cover letter for a junior accountant," will result in a generic cover letter.

To avoid that, we'll guide you through the essential steps to operate this AI language model effectively and explore the right prompts for writing a cover letter — ensuring your cover letter is personalized, tailored for the job, and professional.

Lastly, we'll also show you an alternative to using ChatGPT for crafting your cover letter.

But first...

Table of Contents

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What is ChatGPT?

How to write a cover letter using chatgpt in 7 steps, prompt template for chatgpt to write a personalized cover letter, the drawbacks and limitations of chatgpt.

• If you don't want to use ChatGPT...

Key takeaways: How to write a cover letter using ChatGPT?

Due to the current hype, you probably already heard about it.

ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art AI language model developed by OpenAI, designed to generate human-like text based on user input.

This tool is useful for a variety of tasks, such as drafting emails, writing articles, providing customer support, or debugging code.

To better understand how ChatGPT can help you with your cover letter writing process, let's explore its key capabilities.

• understands context and generates relevant content
• adapts to different writing styles and tones
• responds effectively to user prompts for customized output
• is capable of generating creative and engaging text

Hence, in the context of crafting cover letters, this AI tool can be a game changer for job seekers and provide a high-quality draft and/or improve the overall quality of your writing.

Want to try an easier option?

Discover Kickresume's AI Writer. Instantly generate eye-catching, ready-to-use cover letters in stunning templates.

Now that you know the key capabilities of ChatGPT, let's explore step-by-step how to use this powerful AI tool to write a cover letter.

By following these 7 steps, you'll be able to produce an impressive cover letter in minutes.

1. Sign up and create a free account on OpenAI

Head over to chat.openai.com and sign up for a free account. It's pretty straightforward — all you need is an email address, Google account, or Microsoft account.

Both the website and app are completely free to use.

Since ChatGPT is extremely popular, you might encounter some delays while signing up. If that happens, just wait a few minutes and try again.

Just FYI, there's also a paid version called ChatGPT Plus, which has a number of advantages, including faster response times. Currently, it's available for $20/month.

2. Ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you to write a cover letter

This tool is, first and foremost, a chatbot . Hence, you can actually ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you in order to create a well-written and personalized cover letter.

So, instead of guessing what information about yourself to include in the prompt, the AI tells you directly.

Use one of the following prompts to inquire about ChatGPT's requirements:

• I'm in the process of applying for a job and need your assistance in writing a persuasive and effective cover letter. Could you instruct me on the necessary details I should provide you with to compose such cover letter?
• I'm currently in the process of applying for a job and need your help in crafting a cover letter for me. Can you explain what information and details you would need from my end to create the most effective and compelling cover letter for me?

The chatbot will then give a list of information it needs, why it needs them, and some concrete examples.

For instance, here's what ChatGPT churned out after using the second prompt:

3. Ask ChatGPT to create an example prompt containing the required information

Now that you know what the AI needs from you to create a cover letter, you may need a little help with phrasing the full prompt.

After all, it requires a lot of information and details from you, including a job description. Hence, it may be a little complicated to formulate an effective prompt.

So, here's what to say next to make the chatbot create the full prompt for you:

• Can you create an example prompt I should give you that entails all of the information you require?
• That's good. Can you give me an example of a prompt that includes all of the information and details you said you need?

Then, GPT does the work for you and creates an example of the final prompt.

Have a look:

It might also be helpful to utilize some additional resources like  AI prompts by PromptVibes   to get some inspiration or guidance in crafting your prompts.

4. Copy the example prompt and fill in with your own information

Now that ChatGPT created an example of the whole prompt for you, copy it.

Paste the example prompt as a prompt. You'll use this as a template/inspiration.

And now comes the harder part. You need to replace all of the squared brackets or "sample details" with your own details and relevant information.

It shouldn't be too complicated since you already have inspiration for what to include and how to write it from GPT.

Rather than attaching the job description, copy it from the job ad and paste it into the prompt where required.

Plus, consider adding any extra specifications in the prompt...

5. Add any additional details to finalize the prompt

Now that you provided ChatGPT with the essential information for your cover letter, you can now specify any extra details.

These can include your desired tone, style, or word count.

Have a look at an example of how to specify any extra details for the prompt:

Additional instructions for ChatGPT

• Word count: The cover letter should be between 200 and 300 words long.
• Tone: The tone should be professional and persuasive but still natural.
• Style: The text should be well-structured with clearly defined paragraphs.

Now your prompt should contain everything to ensure the AI generates a personalized and relevant cover letter.

Here's what the final prompt looks like:

Dear ChatGPT,

I am currently applying for the [position title] position at [company name] and I am seeking your assistance in crafting a compelling cover letter.

Could you please help me by using the following information to create an effective cover letter?

• Job Description: [Insert a copy of the job description here]
• Company Information: [Provide some background information about the company’s mission, values, and culture]
• My Goals: [Tell me about your professional goals and how this job fits into your career aspirations]
• My Achievements: [Provide some examples of your previous accomplishments that are relevant to the position you are applying for]
• My Motivation: [Tell me why you are interested in this particular job and what excites you about the opportunity]
• Additional instructions: The cover letter should be between [word count] words long. The tone should be [you can include multiple adjectives] . The text should be well-structured with clearly defined paragraphs.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to seeing what you create.

6. Run the prompt and review the output

Finally, run the prompt. It'll take a few minutes at most.

Here's the final cover letter written by ChatGPT:

When your cover letter is generated, ask yourself:

• Do I like the output?
• Does it include everything you wanted?
• Is there something specific I don't like?
• Is it long enough? Or is it too long?

You want to examine the cover letter to make sure everything is to your liking.

If you find a specific thing you'd like to adjust, feel free to specify this as your next prompt.

For instance:

• That's good, but I think it's too long. Can you make it a little shorter?
• That's good, but I don't like that every paragraph starts with "I". Can you re-phrase the first sentence of each paragraph?
• That's good, but you used too many keywords from the job description. Can you re-phrase it and use the keywords from the job description less?

And, if you like the cover letter but you're not 100% convinced and can't pinpoint why — hit the Regenerate response button. Just make sure to save each output so that you have some options to choose from.

7. Proofread and edit the final cover letter

After the AI generates your cover letters, it's crucial to review them for any misrepresentations, mistakes, or grammar errors.

So, make sure to proofread and carefully edit the content before sending it.

Here are a couple of things that you might need to edit:

• Grammar & punctuation. ChatGPT often struggles with commas and inconsistencies in the verb tense in particular.
• Repetitive vocabulary. Replace repetitive or vague words with more precise and varied vocabulary to provide clarity and avoid redundancy.
• Sentence structure & flow. Rearrange sentences or rephrase them to improve the overall flow of the text. Also, break up long sentences into shorter ones and combine short, choppy sentences.
• Fact-checking. Verify any facts, statistics, or claims made within the text to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.
• Consistency in formatting. This mostly includes consistency in abbreviations or capitalization.

Additionally, keep in mind that ChatGPT's homepage warns about the possibility of generating incorrect or biased content — so always fact-check! More on ChatGPT's drawbacks later.

Ideally, you should use the AI-generated cover letters as a starting point for the final version you'll send. Or an inspiration, if you will.

As mentioned before, ChatGPT isn't perfect.

While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in generating content, you have to be aware of its shortcomings when using this tool to create your cover letter.

Here are some of the potential challenges you may encounter when using ChatGPT to write a cover letter:

• Limited understanding of context. ChatGPT might not fully comprehend the complexities of a specific job or industry, and may struggle to understand complex queries. This could lead to generic or less-targeted content in a cover letter.
• Inaccurate or nonsensical responses. Since the chatbot doesn't possess human-level understanding, it might generate irrelevant, incorrect, or illogical information — which can decrease the quality of a cover letter.
• Sensitivity to input phrasing . The way a prompt is phrased may affect the response generated by ChatGPT. Slight changes in phrasing can lead to different or inconsistent content in the cover letter.
• Wordiness. ChatGPT may produce wordy or repetitive responses, which could result in a cover letter that's perceived as unprofessional or difficult to read.
• Over-optimization for engagement. This can lead to a cover letter that contains catchy or captivating phrases but lacks the necessary information or professional tone expected in a job application.

If you don't want to use ChatGPT...

As you can probably tell, writing a cover letter with ChatGPT isn't so straightforward. It takes a lot of effort to put together a suitable prompt, adjust all of the details and information to be more personal, and has a couple of limitations overall.

What's more, this chatbot only provides you with raw text, which you then need to design and format yourself. You may also need to add a signature in a different text editor.

So, if you're looking for an alternative AI-powered solution to help you write a cover letter, consider Kickresume — a platform that specializes in creating professional resumes and cover letters (with or without AI).

Their AI cover letter writer tool uses the GPT-4 language model (used by ChatGPT, too) to produce cover letters without the need to create a lengthy prompt. The generated cover letter is well-formatted and designed and ready-for-use immediately.

Here's why you might want to give Kickresume's AI Cover Letter Writer a try:

• No complicated prompt is required. Kickresume specializes in resumes and cover letters. Which is why the AI cover letter writer only needs a few basic data from you, and there's no need to generate multiple prompts.
• Easy-to-use interactive platform. A user-friendly interface that makes navigating and creating your cover letter a breeze. To create an AI cover letter, you simply fill in a 2-step questionnaire, where you provide your desired job title, the job description, your credentials, and your previous employment. You can then add any details and edit the cover letter.
• Cover letter ready to use immediately. You don't need to worry about formatting or designing your cover letter. There's a variety of visually appealing templates available that follow industry-standard formatting. You can customize the design to match your preferred style. Once you pick a template, your letter is ready to be used.
• Provides expert tips & guidance. Apart from templates and AI assistance, Kickresume also offers expert guidance on crafting the perfect cover letter. Its Help Center is constantly updated with advice articles to help you make the best impression on potential employers.
• Integrated signature feature. You can digitally sign your documents , eliminating the need to add a signature in a separate text editor. This ensures that your cover letter looks polished and professional.
• Pre-written content for various industries. If you’d like to add more role-specific content to your cover letter, you also have access to pre-written phrases specific for various industries and job roles.

Here's an example of an AI-generated cover letter created with Kickresume:

AI-generated cover letter created with Kickresume

This cover letter was generated using Kickresume’s AI writer for  “copywriter”  position.

Despite the limitations of this language model, ChatGPT can be a very valuable tool in generating content for a cover letter.

Here's a quick rundown of how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT in 7 steps:

• Sign up and create a free account on OpenAI.
• Ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you to write a cover letter.
• Ask ChatGPT to create an example prompt that contains all the information it required from you in the previous step.
• Copy the example prompt and replace all of the "sample" details with your own details.
• Add any additional details to finalize the prompt, including the word count, tone, and style.
• Run the prompt and review the output. If you want another option, click regenerate response .
• Proofread and edit the final cover letter. Is it over-using certain keywords? Is the grammar correct?

Every cover letter needs a resume, too.

Let our AI resume writer write the first draft of your resume for you.

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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ChatGPT cover letters: How to use this tool the right way

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What is ChatGPT?

How to write a cover letter using chatgpt, make ai work for you: 3 extra tips, write a cover letter that stands out.

When applying for a job, you always provide a resume.

But a cover letter holds just as much weight — if not more — in hiring decisions. It gives you a chance to elaborate on your resume and explain why you’re right for the job.

Like a letter of interest , your cover letter is the recruiter or hiring manager ’s first impression of you. It should be professional, persuasive, and well-written. 

With that in mind, written communication isn’t everyone’s strong suit, and that’s okay. There are resume builders and cover letter templates to guide the way. And if those tools aren’t enough, artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT, can also help you put your best foot forward. 

Here’s how to harness AI and write a ChatGPT cover letter that looks professional and wins over recruiters.

ChatGPT is an AI language processing tool that burst into pop culture at the end of 2022. As of June 2023, the program is available for free because it’s still in the research and feedback-collection phase, but there’s a paid subscription option called ChatGPT Plus.

AI research company OpenAI reportedly trained ChatGPT on a massive dataset of over 8 million documents and 10 billion words , which helped the program develop a complex understanding of the patterns and relationships in human speech. 

When you ask ChatGPT a question or give it a command — like “Write a cover letter for me based on my resume” — the AI uses those patterns to create a string of words it predicts will best answer your question. The result is often eloquent and professional-sounding content. 

In the short time it’s been available to the public, ChatGPT has become wildly popular. It gained 100 million active users just two months after its launch , setting a record for the fastest adoption of a new consumer app. It’s clear that people love this tool — and they’re using it for everything from computer code to resumes and cover letters.

While ChatGPT is a remarkable tool, it’s important to remember that it’s just that: a tool. The responses you get depend on the prompt you give, so it’s wise to learn how to use ChatGPT to your advantage. If you want to use this program to write your next cover letter, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Gather your information

For ChatGPT to write your job application cover letter, you’ll need to give it some information about you and the job you’re applying for. The first thing you need to do is gather everything you’re including in the prompt. This should consist of the following:

• Your contact information
• Your work history, including a brief description of past responsibilities and personal achievements
• Your educational history, including any master’s degrees and notable honors and awards
• Your special skills or training relevant to the job posting 
• The job description and roles and responsibilities of the position

This information will help you use ChatGPT as a cover letter generator that writes text specific to your desired job. The chatbot will analyze the job description for key information, like required education or skills, and use your work history and qualifications to draft a letter showcasing your abilities to meet the employer’s needs. 

2. Prep the prompt

Once you have your resume and all other vital information handy, it’s time to ask ChatGPT to make a cover letter. Your prompt should be as specific as possible to help the AI create a tailored response that meets your needs.

Start your ChatGPT prompt by telling the chatbot what you’re looking for. For example:

I need you to write a cover letter for my application at [insert company name]. Please base the letter on the job description below.

Then, copy and paste the description from the original job posting . This encourages ChatGPT to use key phrases from the post and highlight your most relevant experience. 

Next, you need to tell the AI chatbot a little about yourself. Input your contact information, your education history, and other skills from your resume or CV that you feel pertain to the position you’re applying for. You can even add your resume to the prompt to give the chatbot additional details. That way it uses as much information as possible.

Once you add everything you need, your prompt might look like this:

I need help drafting a cover letter for my application at [insert company name]. Please base the letter on the job description below:

[insert job posting]

Here is important information about me:

Contact info: [name, email address, LinkedIn profile ]

Work experience: [relevant work history]

Education history: [degrees, certifications, any applicable awards and honors]

Special skills: [relevant skills for the position]

I am including my resume below. Please highlight my experience and responsibilities from [previous company].

Once you’ve entered all the information above, simply hit “enter” and let the chatbot get to work. In a few seconds, it should have a customized cover letter ready for you. 

Here’s an example of ChatGPT’s response to a prompt asking for a hypothetical cover letter for an aspiring marketing manager:

3. Refine the response

While ChatGPT can write a cover letter based on the details you entered, its initial draft may still have room for improvement. It might not highlight everything you wanted it to, and there’s a chance the writing might sound robotic. 

Luckily, you can ask the chatbot to refine and rewrite its results as many times as you want. You could ask it to adjust the tone of your cover letter to make it more upbeat or formal, or write a paragraph about a specific team goal you helped meet.

You can also tailor the formatting at this stage. When ChatGPT creates resume and cover letter examples, it typically adds a traditional heading. Instead, you can prompt it to reformat the letter for an email and create a subject line. Here’s an example from a prompt that said “Can you make this cover letter suitable for email?”:

Once you have the formatting down, give the letter a thorough read. ChatGPT is a highly advanced AI, but it’s not infallible. Take the time to proofread the cover letter for any typos, incorrect information, or phrasing that doesn’t serve your goal of landing a job interview . At only a few hundred words, you want to make that space count.

For example, ChatGPT may point out hard and soft skills you’re missing from the job description instead of highlighting the ones you do have. If you spot these kinds of errors, simply ask it to generate a new response without them. 

Remember, a cover letter is your opportunity to make a great first impression on your prospective employer. Take the time and ensure ChatGPT creates the best letter possible. It might seem like a lengthy process, but it’s likely shorter than the time it would take you to write a cover letter from scratch.

While ChatGPT can write a decent cover letter with even the simplest prompts, a few tips and tricks will improve its output. Try these suggestions to make your cover letter even better: 

Keep the thread open

As an AI program, ChatGPT learns from the conversations and prompts it gets from users. But once you close the page, the program might “forget” its previous conversations. If you want to make changes to your cover letter, it’s best to make those requests in a single thread. This helps the chatbot remember your asks and you keep track of the changes you made. 

Specify the letter length

While you may have a lot to say in your cover letter, keeping it concise is key. The ideal cover letter is no longer than three paragraphs that span about half a page, or around 150–300 words. ChatGPT may not yield this rule because it wants to include all of the information from the prompt. If it does present you with text that’s too long or too short, ask it to adjust. 

Ask to include keywords

According to a 2019 report, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) . These systems analyze your resume and cover letter and weed out any that don’t include certain keywords or meet their standards. If your letter doesn’t have the right information, it could get lost in the database. 

Ask ChatGPT to include certain keywords and phrases in your cover letter. Read through the job description and look for job-specific information like required software knowledge, soft skills , and GPA requirements .

Tell the chatbot to mention these in the cover letter to increase your chances of getting out of the ATS and onto a hiring manager ’s screen. 

Your ChatGPT cover letter saves you time and makes your job search a little easier — which is why so many people are using this technology. But no matter how many cover letters you and the chatbot write, remember to always give it a personal touch, especially when closing your cover letter .

There are millions of people using this language model to help with their job searches, and while AI tools create great resumes and compelling cover letters, you want to avoid submitting something generic. Tailoring your prompt can help you write applications that stand out from other candidates, helping you land a job you love .

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to get ChatGPT to write your cover letter: step-by-step guide with exact prompts

• When applying for jobs, ChatGPT-4 can make the cover-letter writing process more manageable.
• An AI consultant shares tips for writing an effective cover letter using ChatGPT.
• Here's a step-by-step guide, including writing prompts and navigating ChatGPT's limitations. 

Generative AI can be an effective tool for time-consuming tasks like writing cover letters, but only if you know how to use it effectively.

As an AI consultant , marketing and design companies come to me when they need help learning to use AI tools like ChatGPT. I also help companies review potential employees for AI-specific roles by evaluating their understanding of current tools and trends.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get AI to write you a great cover letter that doesn't sound AI-generated. 

Learn the basics

ChatGPT works best with specific directions, so learn what makes a good cover letter before directing ChatGPT to write one. 

Isimemen Aladejobi, a career strategist, outlines three components of an effective cover letter. 

•  A strong introduction that demonstrates company or industry knowledge. Highlight something in the news that's relevant to your prospective department. Use this topical event to segue into why you're interested in this specific position.  Aladejobi recommends always referring to the job title and company by name.
• The body of the cover letter should convey why your skills and experience make you a perfect fit. Highlight what you brought to the table at your last job and connect it to the requirements of the role you're applying for. Even suggest initiatives you could start at the company.
• The sign-off should be simple. Aladejobi suggests, "I'm excited and looking forward to hearing from you," which she says demonstrates enthusiasm without being too wordy. 

With this in mind, you can now start prompting ChatGPT with confidence. 

Writing your cover letter in ChatGPT-4

Be aware of the token limit.

The token limit is ChatGPT's limit on recall and comprehension during a single session. ChatGPT has a token limit of 4,096, and according to OpenAI , 100 tokens are about 75 words.

If ChatGPT starts responding to prompts illogically, you've probably hit the limit. This message to help ChatGPT refocus:

" Please search this chat for the word strawberry and reread that message and provide me a summary of what you think we need to do. We're at step [#] of that message. Tell me if you want a recap of the previous steps, and I'll provide a summary. "

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Having this marker will keep ChatGPT on task and ensure an accurate end product. 

Step 1: Onboard ChatGPT to the task

ChatGPT needs very explicit instructions to complete tasks successfully. Below is the exact prompt to copy and paste into the chatbot. 

To apply for a job within your industry use this prompt: 

"Hi ChatGPT. You're now the best cover letter writer on earth. You and I will write a cover letter together for [job title] at [company]. I have [#] years of experience. Here's what we're going to do:

•  You will ask me at least 15 questions about my work history and vision for the role. Make at least one of the questions "What initiatives would you implement in this role?"
• I'm going to give you sections of the job description to read and you're going to generate a strategic plan for the cover letter based on my answers from step one and the job description for me to approve.
• I'm going to give you a news item about the company. Read it and tell me how you plan to connect it to my cover letter application.
• Use this format to write the cover letter:
• Begin with the news item based on my approval of your strategy. Conclude paragraph one: "When I came across this role, I knew it was the role for me. Let me tell you why."
• The next two to three paragraphs should be my career history with clear connections to the position requirements and desired skills. Make sure to say somewhere, "As your [position title], I'll," and include some of the initiatives.
• Wrap up with the following sentence, "I'm excited and looking forward to hearing from you."

If we exceed your token limit, let's use "strawberry" as our focus word so you can get reoriented. 

Please begin by summarizing what you think I want you to do."

If you're making a pivot in your career, remove this line from the prompt: " I have [#] years of experience ," and replace it with " I'm making a career transition from [industry] to [industry] so the cover letter needs to heavily showcase how my previous experience is an asset to [Company]. "

And add this to the first task: "Make another question about how I think my previous experience is an asset to this new industry."

Step 2: Check for understanding

ChatGPT should create a summary of this plan. Check that the summary is accurate. If it is, reply with " next step " or " yes ."

Ashley Couto

If ChatGPT gets confused, open a new chat and repaste the prompt.

Step 3: Answer the career questions and have ChatGPT generate a career summary

The bot should provide you with the 15 career questions. Each answer should be two or three sentences long. You can go over for one or two questions, but be wary of potentially hitting the token limit. 

Once you've answered all the questions, add this sentence and press enter:

" Please create a detailed summary of my responses that I can paste into ChatGPT so I don't have to answer all these questions again if I need to generate another cover letter. "

Copy and paste the summary into another document to use for other applications. 

Step 4: Input no more than 2,500 characters of the job description

Copy and paste only the pertinent details from the description into ChatGPT and delete the fluff. Keep skills and competencies, responsibilities, the role overview, and a little about the company if you think it would be helpful.

Step 5: Paste in a company press release or industry-specific news story

Once ChatGPT gives you its plan, decide whether you agree with its intent. If you do, indicate that you want to move forward and press return or make a change. 

With any AI tool, you must be an editor and strategic advisor. Do not assume that what it's generated is the right path. Exercise critical judgment and get ChatGPT to refine.

For example, after I provided the article, ChatGPT presented me with a summary that didn't highlight key issues on how Canadian media companies think about content. I gave it instructions to refine it.

Step 6: Generate the cover letter and revise it with ChatGPT

Once you've approved its strategic approach, ChatGPT will generate the cover letter. 

It will generate a first draft but probably won't be ready for use yet. It's your job now to go back in and revise using specific instructions.

For example, I felt that the third paragraph ChatGPT generated was weak.

Direct it with specific changes to adjust particular paragraphs and go back and forth for a few rounds until you're happy.

And it generated a much stronger attempt.

Step 7: Put it into a text editor

ChatGPT has a suboptimal understanding of grammar and syntax. Once you're happy with the content, put your text through Grammarly to help tighten up the language and avoid problems like using the passive voice.

Step 8: Rinse and repeat with modifications

You can use the same root prompt for future cover letters, but replace step one with this:

"I'm going to paste in a summary of my work experience. Please write me a three-sentence summary of what type of work I do and what you see as my top accomplishment so I can check for understanding."

Based on the previously generated summary, you'll double-check that ChatGPT has a good idea of what you do. If it's missing a few key details, fill it in on those or tell it which summary you want it to prioritize before you move through the rest of the prompt.

Watch: The 3 key words to use on your résumé to land the interview

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How to Use ChatGPT to Create a Cover Letter for a New Job

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Stan Kats is the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology & cybersecurity solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan has over 7 years of cybersecurity experience, holding senior positions in information security at General Motors, AIG, and Aramark over his career. Stan received a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,364 times.

Do you need help crafting a personal cover letter for a job listing? With some provided information, ChatGPT can easily help you write a great cover letter in seconds. This can take away some of the stress associated with job applications. You'll just need an OpenAI account to get started. This wikiHow will show you how to use OpenAI's ChatGPT to write a compelling and professional cover letter for your next job application.

Things You Should Know

• Log into your ChatGPT account and start a new chat. Have the job listing and your resume ready.
• Generate a prompt with the request, the job description, your resume information, and a word limit.
• If necessary, rephrase sections of the response to make it sound more unique and specific to your needs.

• Write me a cover letter using the following job description and my resume for reference. Keep it under 500 words.
• [Copy and paste entire job listing here (text only)].
• [Copy and paste your entire resume here (text only)]
• If you don't feel comfortable providing your resume information in ChatGPT itself, you can input it yourself later. ChatGPT will usually provide a field with [two brackets] where you can enter the needed information.

Tyrone Showers

Be specific when using ChatGPT. Clear and concise prompts outlining your exact needs help ChatGPT tailor its response. Specify the desired outcome (e.g., creative writing, informative summary, functional resume), any length constraints (word or character count), and the preferred emotional tone (formal, humorous, etc.)

• Be sure to edit any empty fields and enter information as needed, such as addresses, names, and headers.
• Keep in mind that while ChatGPT learns and updates frequently, the system isn't perfect. It's possible to receive false information or answers that seem correct but don't make sense. Be sure to fact-check and reread the cover letter before sending it.

• Copy and paste a section back into ChatGPT.
• Type "rephrase this paragraph".
• Press Enter .
• Review the rephrased section. Replace the old section, or rephrase it again.

Pay close attention to the content ChatGPT generates. If you use ChatGPT often, you'll start noticing its patterns, like its tendency to begin articles with phrases like "in today's digital world." Once you spot patterns, you can refine your prompts to steer ChatGPT in a better direction and avoid repetitive content.

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ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

How to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter (and why you should)

As if perfectly crafting a resume that encapsulates your entire career isn't difficult enough, job applications also require a cover letter. This letter is meant to help you express specific details about why you are interested in the company, what makes you qualified, and, ultimately, why the company should hire you. 

How to use ChatGPT to create: Code | Excel formulas | Essays | Resumes  | Apps  | Charts and Tables  

If executed properly, a cover letter has the potential to make you stand out from other applicants by showcasing your genuine interest in the role, the experiences that make you a good fit, and what makes you different from other candidates who have similar qualifications.

However, synthesizing those ideas into a one-page letter can be a time-consuming and challenging task -- ChatGPT is here to help. 

How to use ChatGPT to help craft your cover letter 

Whether you've started writing a cover letter and feel stuck or don't even know where to start, ChatGPT can help you produce the cover letter of your dreams. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT

With a couple of prompts and your direction, ChatGPT will create a polished cover letter within seconds. 

1. Visit ChatGPT

To get started, visit ChatGPT's website. Signing in is entirely optional, but it grants you extra perks such as being able to use the chat history feature to review your responses at a later time. If you don't have an account, you can create one or sign in using your existing Google or Microsoft account. 

If you haven't created an account, click on Sign up. Otherwise, log in with your OpenAI credentials.

2. Ask ChatGPT to write you a cover letter

To have ChatGPT generate a cover letter for you, all you have to do is ask ChatGPT to write a cover letter for the role and company of your choice. You should also include details about the experiences you want the cover letter to highlight. 

Also: 6 ways OpenAI just supercharged ChatGPT for free users

For example, a possible input would be, "Can you write me a cover letter for the role of Associate Editor at ZDNET? I graduated from the University of North Carolina, majored in Journalism, and love technology."  

That is only a general example; you can be as specific or general as you want. The more direction you give ChatGPT, however, the better your output will be.

I included screenshots of the results below. If you want to take a closer look or read with more ease, you can click on the upper right-hand corner to expand each photo. 

3. Kick it up a notch and paste in the job description (optional)

If you want your cover letter to be tailored to the exact role you are applying for, you can copy and paste the job description into ChatGPT before asking it to write your cover letter. This method is by far the most efficient approach to getting your cover letter written in a way that reflects the exact role and duties. 

Also: 5 ways AI can help you study - for free

As before, you also can include details about your own experience you'd like to include. Your prompt could look something like this, "Can you write me a cover letter for the position of [role title] at [employer]? This is the job description: XYZ. For context, I [include experiences you'd like to highlight]."

4. Co-edit your cover letter

Despite ChatGPT's best efforts and advanced capabilities, there might be something you want to tweak in the letter. If that's the case, it's super simple to change something. All you have to do is ask ChatGPT to tweak a specific aspect of your letter, and it will. 

Also: ChatGPT vs. ChatGPT Plus: Is a paid subscription still worth it?

For example, following the cover letter generated above, you could say, "Can you emphasize my passion for tech a bit more?"

Are cover letters necessary for a job application?

Cover letters are not always required for a job application. However, almost all job applications either require one or give you the option to submit one. The benefits of a cover letter include having the employer get to know you more and helping you stand out from other applicants. 

Should you use ChatGPT to write a cover letter?

ChatGPT can write an impressive cover letter within seconds, allowing you to focus more attention on other parts of your application that require more time and effort. ChatGPT produces the letter; you can always add your edits to give it your flair. 

What should be showcased in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should help to set you apart from other applicants. Therefore, it should communicate what interests you about the role and what experiences make you a great fit. Try not to regurgitate the information already on your resume since you want this to showcase a different side of you. 

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How to Write a Cover Letter using ChatGPT - 20+ Prompt Examples Inside

Writing a compelling cover letter can be challenging, but with ChatGPT, you can craft personalized and professional cover letters effortlessly. In this blog, we'll explore 20+ prompt examples to help you tailor your cover letter for any job application. From highlighting achievements to addressing potential concerns, we'll cover all aspects to ensure your cover letter stands out.

In addition to our cover letter prompts, our AI Resume Builder can streamline your job application process. It helps you create polished, impactful resumes that highlight your skills and experiences effectively, giving you an edge in the competitive job market.

Let’s get started. First, let us show you how you can use ChatGPT to write a Cover letter.

• How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter with ChatGPT is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to ensure you get the best results.

1. Understand ChatGPT's Functionality

Familiarize yourself with how ChatGPT generates text based on prompts. ChatGPT predicts the next word based on the input it receives. It generates contextually appropriate and coherent text.

2. Gather Necessary Information

Collect all essential details before you begin.

• Job title and description: Ensure you have a clear understanding of the role you're applying for.
• Company name and mission: Know the company’s values and mission statement.
• Your professional experience: List your previous job titles and responsibilities.
• Key achievements and skills: Highlight your most relevant achievements and skills.

3. Set Up Prompts for ChatGPT

Create specific and clear prompts to guide ChatGPT in generating your cover letter.

• Introduction: "Write an introductory paragraph for a cover letter. Mention that I'm applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]."
• Experience: "Write a paragraph about my experience in [Relevant Field]. Include details about my previous role at [Previous Company] and what I accomplished."
• Skills: "Describe my skills in [Key Skills]. Explain how these skills make me a good fit for the [Job Title] position."

4. Refine and Customize the Content

Edit the generated content to make it more specific and personal.

• Replace generic phrases with specific details about your experiences.
• Ensure the tone and style match your personal voice and the company's culture.
• Example: If the prompt resulted in a vague description, make it more specific: "Expand on my experience managing a team of 10 people at [Previous Company], focusing on the successful project we completed ahead of schedule."

5. Polish the Final Draft

Finalize your cover letter by checking for errors and ensuring smooth flow.

• Proofread: "Proofread the following cover letter and correct any grammatical errors."
• Final review: Read through the cover letter yourself or have someone else review it.

By following these steps, you can effectively use ChatGPT to write a compelling and personalized cover letter that stands out to potential employers.

But, to effectively use ChatGPT for your cover letter, you need to set up ChatGPT. Let’s take a look at how you can achieve that.

• Setting Up ChatGPT for Cover Letter Writing

Setting up ChatGPT for writing a cover letter involves preparing specific prompts and guiding the AI to generate relevant content. Follow these steps for optimal results.

• Understand ChatGPT's Functionality - Familiarize yourself with how ChatGPT generates text based on prompts. ChatGPT predicts the next word based on the input it receives. It generates contextually appropriate and coherent text.
• Create a Structure for Your Cover Letter - Define the structure of your cover letter to help ChatGPT generate content more effectively. Begin with an introduction stating the job you're applying for and where you found the listing. Next, highlight relevant professional experiences and achievements. Emphasize key skills that match the job requirements. Finally, express enthusiasm for the position and include a call to action in the closing.
• Prepare Specific Prompts - Guide ChatGPT with clear and detailed prompts for each section of your cover letter. For the introduction, use: "Write an introductory paragraph for a cover letter. Mention that I'm applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and where I found the job listing." For the experience section, prompt: "Write a paragraph about my experience in [Relevant Field]. Include details about my previous role at [Previous Company] and key accomplishments." When addressing skills, use: "Describe my skills in [Key Skills]. Explain how these skills make me a good fit for the [Job Title] position." Finally, for the closing, prompt: "Write a closing paragraph for a cover letter. Express enthusiasm for the role and include a call to action."
• Customize and Refine the Generated Content - Edit the content to ensure it is specific and tailored to your application. Personalize details by replacing generic phrases with specific information about your experiences and the company. Adjust the tone and style to ensure the content matches your personal voice and the company’s culture.
• Finalize and Proofread - Polish your cover letter to make it error-free and professional. Proofread the content by asking ChatGPT: "Proofread the following cover letter and correct any grammatical errors." Finally, perform a thorough review by reading through the cover letter yourself or having someone else review it.

By following these steps, you can effectively set up ChatGPT to write a well-structured and personalized cover letter that makes a strong impression on potential employers.

• 20 Helpful ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompts

1. ChatGPT Prompt to Generate a Cover Letter Based on Your Job Title and Qualifications

ChatGPT Prompt

"Write a cover letter for the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Below are the details you should include: Introduction: State the job title and where you found the job listing. Express enthusiasm for the position and the company. Professional Experience: Highlight your most relevant job experiences. Mention specific achievements and responsibilities from your previous roles that are pertinent to this job. Skills: Detail the skills that make you a strong candidate for this role. Provide examples of how you’ve applied these skills successfully in the past. Company Knowledge: Show that you’ve researched the company by mentioning their values, mission, or recent projects. Explain why you are particularly interested in working for this company. Closing: Summarize your qualifications and enthusiasm for the position. Include a call to action, such as your availability for an interview or a statement of gratitude for considering your application.

2. ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompt That Reads a Resume and Then Writes a Cover Letter

ChatGPT Prompt "Write a cover letter for the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name] based on the following resume. The cover letter should include the following sections: Introduction: State the job title and where you found the job listing. Express enthusiasm for the position and the company. Professional Experience: Highlight the most relevant job experiences from the resume. Mention specific achievements and responsibilities from previous roles that are pertinent to this job. Skills: Detail the skills listed in the resume that make you a strong candidate for this role. Provide examples of how these skills have been successfully applied in past roles. Company Knowledge: Show that you’ve researched the company by mentioning their values, mission, or recent projects. Explain why you are particularly interested in working for this company. Closing: Summarize your qualifications and enthusiasm for the position. Include a call to action, such as your availability for an interview or a statement of gratitude for considering your application.

3. ChatGPT Prompt for a 3 Paragraph Cover Letter Based On Job Description and Your Resume

ChatGPT Prompt "Using the following resume and job description, write a cover letter that includes three paragraphs: Introductory paragraph of three lines, starting with who you are and highlighting your qualifications and achievements from the resume. Second paragraph of three lines explaining why you are a great fit for the job by matching the job description with your skills, past achievements, and experience. Closing paragraph of three lines prompting the recruiter or hiring manager to contact you. Please ensure each paragraph is a maximum of three lines. Here is the resume content: [Insert Resume Text Here] And here is the job description: [Insert Job Description Here]"

4. ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompt to Score a Cover Letter Based on Resume and Job Description

ChatGPT Prompt "Evaluate the following cover letter based on the provided job description and resume. Assign a score from 1 to 10 for each of the following criteria: alignment with job description, relevance of qualifications, demonstration of skills, clarity and conciseness, tone and professionalism, and overall effectiveness. Provide a brief explanation for each score. Here is the cover letter: [Insert Cover Letter Text Here] Here is the job description: [Insert Job Description Here] Here is the resume: [Insert Resume Text Here]"

5. ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompt To Improve Your Introduction Paragraph

ChatGPT Prompt "Evaluate and improve the following introduction paragraph of a cover letter based on the provided resume and job description. The improved introduction should be concise, highlighting the candidate’s name, key qualifications, and achievements from the resume that align with the job description. Ensure the introduction is engaging and tailored to the specific job. Here is the introduction paragraph: [Insert Introduction Paragraph Here] Here is the resume: [Insert Resume Text Here] Here is the job description: [Insert Job Description Here]"

6. ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompt to Customize the Second Paragraph of Your Cover Letter Based on Job Description and Your Resume

"Using the provided resume and job description, customize the second paragraph of this cover letter. The paragraph should explain why the candidate is a great fit for the job by matching the job description with their skills, past achievements, and experience. Ensure the paragraph is concise and impactful, containing no more than three lines. Here is the second paragraph to improve: [Insert Second Paragraph Here] Here is the resume: [Insert Resume Text Here] Here is the job description: [Insert Job Description Here]"

7. ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompt to Customize the Closing Paragraph of Your Cover Letter Based on Job Description and Your Resume

ChatGPT Prompt I want to customize the closing paragraph of my cover letter for a specific job application. Below are the details:

• Job Description:
• [Insert the full job description here]
• [Insert key points from your resume relevant to the job, such as skills, experiences, and achievements]

Based on the job description and the relevant details from my resume, please craft a personalized closing paragraph for my cover letter. Ensure it highlights how my skills and experiences align with the job requirements, expresses my enthusiasm for the position, and leaves a strong impression on the hiring manager.

8. Professional Summary and Career Highlights ChatGPT Prompts for Cover Letter Writing

Summarizing your career highlights.

Prompt: "I need help summarizing the highlights of my career for a cover letter. Here is my resume: [insert resume or upload]. Can you create a compelling summary that captures my professional journey and sets the stage for the rest of my cover letter?"

Highlighting Key Skills and Experiences

Prompt: "I want to emphasize my key skills and experiences in my cover letter. Here is my resume: [insert resume or upload]. Could you help me write a section that effectively highlights these key skills and experiences, and shows how they make me a strong candidate for the job?"

Describing Your Most Significant Achievements

Prompt: "I would like to include a description of my most significant achievements in my cover letter. Here is my resume: [insert resume or upload]. Can you help me write a powerful paragraph that highlights these achievements and demonstrates my value to potential employers?" Certainly! Here are specific ChatGPT prompts for category #3: Aligning with Job Requirements

9. Aligning with Job Requirements ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Cover Letters

Explaining how your experience fits the role.

Prompt: "I need to explain how my experience fits the role in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me write a paragraph that demonstrates how my past experiences make me an ideal candidate for this position?"

Demonstrating Understanding of the Company’s Needs

Prompt: "I want to show that I understand the company's needs in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a section that demonstrates my understanding of the company’s goals and how my background can contribute to achieving them?"

10. Achievements and Impact ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Cover Letter

Detailing specific accomplishments.

Prompt: "I want to detail specific accomplishments in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a section that highlights my key accomplishments and how they are relevant to the position I'm applying for?"

Quantifying Your Impact in Previous Roles

Prompt: "I need to quantify my impact in previous roles for my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me craft a paragraph that uses numbers and metrics to show the impact I've made in my past positions?"

Sharing Success Stories Relevant to the Job

Prompt: "I want to share success stories that are relevant to the job I'm applying for in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a section that narrates a couple of success stories that demonstrate my qualifications and achievements?"

11. Company and Industry Knowledge ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Cover Letters

Showing knowledge of the company and its mission.

Prompt: "I want to show my knowledge of the company and its mission in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description], my resume: [insert resume], and some information about the company: [insert company information]. Could you help me write a section that demonstrates my understanding of the company's mission and how my background aligns with their goals?"

Discussing Industry Trends and Your Contributions

Prompt: "I need to discuss industry trends and how I can contribute to them in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me write a paragraph that highlights my awareness of current industry trends and how my skills and experiences can contribute to the company's success?"

Demonstrating Passion for the Field and the Role

Prompt: "I want to demonstrate my passion for the field and the role in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a section that conveys my enthusiasm for the industry and my excitement about the opportunity to work with the company?"

12. Closing and Call to Action ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Cover Letters

Expressing enthusiasm for the position.

Prompt: "I want to express my enthusiasm for the position in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a closing paragraph that conveys my excitement about the role and my eagerness to contribute to the company?"

Reiterating Key Qualifications

Prompt: "I need to reiterate my key qualifications in the closing paragraph of my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me craft a closing section that reinforces my most relevant skills and experiences, ensuring they are fresh in the hiring manager’s mind?"

Providing Contact Information and Availability for an Interview

Prompt: "I want to provide my contact information and availability for an interview in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a professional closing paragraph that includes my contact details and suggests my availability for an interview?"

13. Customization for Specific Roles and Levels ChatGPT Prompts for Cover Letters

Tailoring cover letters for different industries.

Prompt: "I want to tailor my cover letter for a specific industry. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me write a section that highlights my relevant skills and experiences for this industry, making it clear why I am a great fit for this type of role?"

Adapting Cover Letters for Entry-Level Positions

Prompt: "I need to adapt my cover letter for an entry-level position. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me craft a cover letter that emphasizes my education, internships, and any relevant skills that make me a strong candidate for this entry-level role?"

Customizing for Mid-Career Roles

Prompt: "I want to customize my cover letter for a mid-career position. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me write a section that highlights my experience, key achievements, and how my background makes me well-suited for this mid-level role?"

Writing for Senior Positions and Executive Roles

Prompt: "I need to write a cover letter for a senior position or executive role. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me craft a section that emphasizes my leadership experience, strategic vision, and the significant impact I've had in previous roles, demonstrating my readiness for this high-level position?"

14. Addressing Potential Concerns ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Cover Letters

Explaining career gaps.

Prompt: "I need to explain a career gap in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me write a section that addresses this gap positively and reassures the employer about my readiness and enthusiasm for this role?"

Justifying Changes in Career Paths

Prompt: "I want to justify my change in career paths in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Can you help me write a paragraph that explains my reasons for this career change and how my skills and experiences make me a suitable candidate for this new direction?"

Addressing Potential Employer Concerns

Prompt: "I need to address potential concerns an employer might have about my application in my cover letter. Here is the job description: [insert job description] and my resume: [insert resume]. Could you help me craft a section that preempts and addresses these concerns, emphasizing my strengths and suitability for the role?"

• Key Elements of an Effective Cover Letter

Crafting an effective cover letter involves including essential elements that showcase your qualifications and fit for the role. Here's what you need to include:

1. Contact Information

Begin with your contact details, followed by the employer’s contact information.

• Your full name, address, phone number, and email.
• Employer’s name, company, and address.

2. Salutation

Address the hiring manager directly. If you don’t know their name, use a generic greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager."

3. Introduction

Capture attention with a strong opening.

• Mention the job title you're applying for.
• Explain how you found the job listing.

4. Professional Experience

Highlight your relevant work experience.

• Focus on key accomplishments and responsibilities.
• Relate your experience to the job requirements.

Emphasize the skills that make you a suitable candidate.

• Mention specific skills listed in the job description.
• Provide examples of how you’ve applied these skills in past roles.

6. Company Knowledge

Show that you’ve researched the company.

• Mention the company’s values, mission, or recent achievements.
• Explain why you’re interested in working for this particular company.

End with a strong closing statement.

• Express enthusiasm for the position.
• Include a call to action, such as expressing your desire for an interview.

8. Signature

Finish with a professional closing and your signature.

• Use "Sincerely" or "Best regards."
• Include your typed name and, if sending a hard copy, your handwritten signature above it.

By incorporating these key elements, you can create a compelling and professional cover letter that stands out to potential employers.

• Tailoring Your Cover Letter with ChatGPT

Customize your cover letter to fit the specific job and company with the help of ChatGPT by following these tips:

• Personalize Details: Replace generic phrases with specific information about your experiences and the company. Mention the company's recent projects or achievements to show you’ve done your homework. Example prompt: "Mention my experience with [Specific Technology or Project] and how it aligns with [Company Name]'s recent project on [Company Project]."
• Adjust Tone and Style: Ensure the content matches your personal voice and the company’s culture. If the company has a formal tone, keep your language professional. If they’re more casual, a friendly tone is appropriate. Example prompt: "Rewrite the following paragraph in a more formal tone suitable for [Company Name]'s corporate culture."
• Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on the experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Describe how your past roles have prepared you for the responsibilities of the new position. Example prompt: "Detail my experience managing a team at [Previous Company] and how it prepares me for the team lead role at [Company Name]."
• Emphasize Key Skills: Clearly outline the skills that make you a strong candidate. Provide examples of how you have successfully used these skills in your previous roles. Example prompt: "Describe my proficiency in [Skill], including specific instances where I used this skill to achieve significant results."
• Reflect Company Values: Show that your values align with those of the company. Mention specific aspects of the company's mission or values that resonate with you and how you embody these in your work. Example prompt: "Highlight how my commitment to [Value] aligns with [Company Name]'s mission statement, particularly in their initiative on [Company Initiative]."

By using these detailed prompts with ChatGPT, you can ensure that your cover letter is both personalized and highly relevant to the job you are applying for.

• Common Mistakes to Avoid in ChatGPT-Generated Cover Letters

When using ChatGPT to generate cover letters, it’s important to be aware of common pitfalls to ensure your letter stands out for the right reasons.

Overly Generic Content: ChatGPT may produce generic phrases that lack specificity. Always personalize these sections by adding unique details about your experiences and the company. For instance, instead of "I am excited to apply for this position," specify why you are excited and how your background makes you a good fit.

Lack of Customization: A one-size-fits-all cover letter won’t impress employers. Tailor each cover letter to the job and company. Use prompts like "Mention my experience with [Specific Technology] relevant to [Company Name]'s projects."

Repetitive Phrases: ChatGPT might repeat certain phrases or ideas. Carefully review the content to ensure variety and richness in language. Use prompts to generate varied content, such as "List different ways to describe my teamwork skills."

Incorrect Tone and Style: The tone may not always match the company's culture. Adjust the language to be either more formal or casual based on the company’s preference. Example prompt: "Rewrite this paragraph in a professional tone suitable for a corporate environment."

Ignoring Key Job Requirements: Ensure that the cover letter addresses all key requirements listed in the job description. Prompt ChatGPT with specifics, like "Explain how my experience with [Skill] meets the requirements for the [Job Title] position."

Grammatical Errors: While ChatGPT is proficient in grammar, it’s not infallible. Always proofread the final content or use an additional grammar-checking tool. Example prompt: "Proofread the following paragraph and correct any grammatical errors."

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can leverage ChatGPT to create a polished, personalized, and effective cover letter that captures the attention of potential employers.

• Enhancing Your Cover Letter with ChatGPT

Improve the quality and effectiveness of your cover letter by leveraging ChatGPT's capabilities.

• Use Specific Prompts: Guide ChatGPT with detailed and clear prompts to generate precise content. For example, prompt: "Describe my leadership experience managing a team of 10 people at [Previous Company] and highlight a successful project we completed ahead of schedule."
• Incorporate Keywords: Ensure your cover letter includes keywords from the job description to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Example prompt: "Include keywords such as 'project management,' 'budget oversight,' and 'team leadership' in the context of my experience."
• Show Enthusiasm: Express genuine interest in the role and company. Use prompts like: "Write a paragraph expressing my enthusiasm for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], mentioning specific aspects of their recent work that excite me."
• Highlight Achievements: Focus on your most notable accomplishments that are relevant to the job. Example prompt: "Detail my achievement in increasing sales by 20% at [Previous Company] and explain how this experience will benefit [Company Name]."
• Address Potential Concerns: Preemptively address any potential concerns an employer might have about your application. Example prompt: "Explain how my skills from a different industry are transferable and valuable for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]."
• Ensure Professionalism: Maintain a professional tone and correct format. Use ChatGPT to polish your draft: "Format this cover letter to adhere to professional standards, ensuring a formal tone throughout."

Madison Norton

VP Marketing & Resume Expert

Madison is the VP Marketing and General Manager at VisualCV . He's a seasoned marketing leader, resume writing and career marketing expert and now helping people grow their own career marketing strategies to build a career they love.

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June 16, 2024

Over 50+ professional cover letter examples to include with your job application - easy to create a custom cover letter for each application.

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Learning how to write a resume in 2024 is an important step in everyone's career. With this step-by-step guide, you'll have a great resume in no time.

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How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter

3 key takeaways:

• AI tools like ChatGPT can help you write tailored cover letters faster than traditional methods.
• There are four steps for writing an AI cover letter (and 30+ example ChatGPT prompts) you should know about.
• Teal's AI Cover Letter Generator can help you write (and customize) your cover letter by pulling details from your resume and any JD.

AI tools like ChatGPT can change how you approach writing a cover letter.

If you've struggled with the time it takes to create personalized cover letters or are uncertain about using AI in your job search, you're not alone. Many job seekers find themselves in this position—torn between a traditional approach and tech that can speed up the process.

In this article, you'll learn how to use ChatGPT for cover letters. You'll also find ChatGPT cover letter prompts designed for various jobs and seniority levels, so you have the guidance to create tailored, impactful content that truly reflects your experience, strengths, and top skills—all while saving valuable time.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a remarkable AI-powered chatbot. The latest model as of August 2024 is ChatGPT-4o (or GPT-4o).

Short for Chat-based Generative Pre-trained Transformer, ChatGPT uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) to quickly and accurately generate human-like conversation in any given context.  

All you have to do is feed it relevant prompts like “Write my cover letter using my resume below as a reference,” and it will create a beautifully crafted and relevant draft just for you.

Can ChatGPT write a cover letter?

Yes — ChatGPT can write a cover letter. In fact, it can create a concise cover letter draft for you in seconds. That said, without the correct input, you may end up with a pretty generic letter.

To create a memorable cover letter that catches the eye of a recruiter or hiring manager, you have to input the right prompts and provide additional details—like your resume, a JD, and specific tone and length directives. This extra information, combined with good prompting, will help ChatGPT customize its output to your experience, skills, and a specific job.

How to use ChatGPT prompts to tailor a cover letter

Tailoring your cover letter to a specific job description is one of the best ways to connect what you’ve done in the past to what you can do for a prospective employer. However, it’s not just about customization; it’s about making sure your cover letter stands out and avoids the trap of sounding generic. Good ChatGPT prompts can help you achieve this by generating personalized and impactful content.

To start, identify the key details from the job description—like the most important skills, experiences, and company values. These will be your guide for creating prompts that produce targeted, unique content for your cover letter. You’ll also need a copy of your resume or a list of your top achievements and impact. Here’s how context helps create more tailored prompts.

Instead of a broad prompt like:

Write a cover letter for a digital marketing position.

Try something more specific and nuanced:

Write a cover letter that highlights my 5 years of experience in digital marketing, focusing on how I led campaigns that increased engagement by 30% and developed innovative strategies tailored to [company]'s target audience. Note my specific strategy and include the keywords [keyword from the job description], [keyword from the job description], and [keyword from the job description]. I’ve attached my resume for your reference.

By being specific in your prompts, you guide ChatGPT in generating results that are tailored to your experience and the job rather than just a generic response.

How to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter

To get started, simply Google “ChatGPT,” access the OpenAI website, and sign up for a free account. All you need is an email address, Google account, or Microsoft account. This step is easy and doesn't take more than a few minutes. Best of all, both the website and app are free to use. 

Once you’ve logged in, follow the steps below to create a ChatGPT cover letter.

• Go to "Job Matching" in your Teal Resume Builder and select one of the jobs from your Job Application Tracker to focus on.
• Go to the "Job Description" tab and scroll to the "Responsibilities" section. Copy the responsibilities.
• Head to ChatGPT and enter this prompt: Write my cover letter for [role] at [company] in a nondramatic, conversational tone, using the job responsibilities below as a reference.” 
• Press "Shift" + "Enter."
• Paste the responsibilities below that prompt.
• When you get your result, save it in a separate area, then provide feedback or tell GPT to “try again" to generate two more versions. Remember to save ChatGPT’s response each time.
• Sort through the options, pull what you like from each generated version, make sure it accurately reflects your experience, and finalize a cover letter you love. 

And remember, while you can do this task individually on ChatGPT for each job application process you move through, there is a better and more efficient way to generate customized cover letters using the AI Cover Letter Generator directly inside Teal's Resume Builder.

How to write a tailored cover letter from scratch

• Pull up the job description of the position you're interested in, as well as a copy of your resume. (You can create multiple versions of your resume using Teal's free resume maker , but be sure to select the one most relevant to the role you're applying to.)
• In ChatGPT, copy and paste one of the following prompts. You can try them all, but be sure to use them one at a time—followed by the job description and your resume where specified.
• Take the responses generated by ChatGPT, copy them, and paste them into a Word or Google Doc. Pull what you love, and remove what doesn’t accurately reflect or speak to you. 
• Though ChatGPT can make suggestions, they're only sometimes 100% accurate. Edit as needed to ensure it accurately reflects your experience, voice, and excitement for a particular role. 

ChatGPT cover letter prompts to use

• Show me an example of an impactful cover letter for a [role type] in [field] for someone with [x] years of experience and a love of [something the company values for this particular role]. Keep the cover letter at 250 words or less. Use short paragraphs and vary your sentence and paragraph length.
• Write a cover letter for a [job title] based on this job description and my resume. [Press "Shift + "Enter," then copy and paste the job description and your resume.]
• Write a cover letter based on this [job title] position at [company] and include bullet point achievements that show my impact and metrics. [Press "Shift" + "Enter," then copy and paste the job description and your resume.]
• Create a template for me that I can use to create my first-ever cover letter in the [industry.] I am looking for a [job title] role. This cover letter should be engaging to read and use persuasive, intelligent, and clear language. Please keep the cover letter to no more than 250 words. Use short paragraphs.
• Draft a cover letter for the [role] at [company], focusing on a clear, professional tone. Use the job responsibilities listed below and my relevant experience in [specific area]. Highlight the following key achievements: [Achievement 1], [Achievement 2], and [Achievement 3]. Ensure these align with the company’s mission of [mission], and craft the content to be engaging yet concise.

How to improve an existing cover letter with ChatGPT

Let's say you already have a cover letter created. And while you know it's effective—it's also very generic. Here's how you can use ChatGPT to improve it.

• Pull up the role you're preparing to apply for, a copy of your resume, and your most recent cover letter.
• Open ChatGPT and copy and paste each of the following prompts into ChatGPT one at a time, followed by "Shift" + "Enter" for a line break, and then paste the job description, your existing resume, and your current cover letter (when applicable).
• Copy the responses from ChatGPT and paste them into a Word or Google Doc. Pull what you love, and remove what doesn't accurately reflect or speak to you. 
• Below is my current cover letter. How does it stand up to current best practices for cover letters? What should I do to improve it? [Press "Shift" + "Enter, then copy and paste your cover letter.]
• Below is my current cover letter and my resume. Please rework it to make me seem like an obvious choice for a new [job title] at [type of company.] [Press "Shift" + "Enter," then copy and paste your cover letter and resume.]
• Here's my current cover letter. How would you rewrite it if you were applying to this [job title] role at [company]? Include places for metrics in the achievements. [Press "Shift" + "Enter," then copy and paste your cover letter and the job description.]
• Below is my current cover letter. It may not be attention-grabbing enough to stand out from other applicants applying for the [job title] role at [company]. Give me some suggestions on how to start my letter in a way that immediately grabs attention and sets me apart from the competition. I've also included the job description for reference. [Press "Shift" + "Enter," then copy and paste your cover letter and the job description.]

ChatGPT cover letter writer

Teal's free, AI cover letter generator simplifies cover letter creation. 

Instead of copying and pasting your resume to ChatGPT, streamline your workflow with Teal. 

With Teal, not only can you track job postings, but you can also create customized AI-generated cover letters (and professional summaries and resume achievements!) for each one instantly—in one centralized location.

Pulling the details from your resume and any saved job description, the Teal AI Resume Builder ensures every cover letter you create is not only tailored to a specific role but also consistently reflects the skills and qualifications of your resume. Learn more about Teal’s AI Cover Letter Generator .

Try Teal today to start customizing your cover letters and transform your job search.

The best ChatGPT prompts to use for cover letters

The best way to see beneficial results from artificial intelligence is by putting in the actual legwork. You cannot expect AI to do everything for you at the click of a button. ChatGPT only works well with help and strategic direction from an actual person. 

That’s why thoughtful prompts are SO necessary. The input you give ChatGPT influences the quality of output you receive. The more detailed suggestions you provide, the more likely it will be able to customize the outcome for you. 

Below are four ChatGPT prompts for writing cover letters. If you’re looking for even more prompts, continue reading and check out ChatGPT resume prompts for even more examples of how to use AI prompting in your job search.

Personalize these to your experience, the companies you’re applying with, and the job title you’re applying for.

• Write a conversational cover letter for a job application as a [position] at [company] using my resume below as a reference.
• Draft a persuasive cover letter in 150 words or less highlighting my qualifications and enthusiasm for the [position] at [company] using my resume achievements below.
• Create a compelling cover letter that explains why I am the best fit for the [position] at [company]. Write the cover letter using the StoryBrand Framework.
• Compose a professional cover letter demonstrating how my abilities align with the requirements for the [position] at [company]. Use the information below as a guide.

In each of these prompts, you’re expected to provide context like a job description and resume achievements or a professional summary to see the best possible outcome. You'll see above that ChatGPT was directed to write a cover letter with 150 words or less. As some cover letters it created were a bit verbose, try using that word count limit for each out.

Below, you'll see an example of a cover letter created by the ChatGPT technology in Teal using one of the prompts above.

ChatGPT cover letter prompts

Using ChatGPT prompts can be an effective way to streamline cover letter writing. And good prompting will help AI deliver better output.

Make sure you have the job description of the role you’re applying to and your resume available. You might need (one or both) of these documents to provide AI with more details depending on the prompt.

ChatGPT prompts for no experience

• Create a 150-word tailored cover letter for a recent graduate applying for a role in [industry], emphasizing the skills I've gained from my coursework in [specific courses], academic projects like [specific project and outcome], and certifications in [relevant certifications]. Keep your tone non-dramatic. I've attached the job description for reference.
• Write a half-page cover letter for an entry-level [role], focusing on the skills [skill 1], [skill 2], and [skill 3] I've acquired through courses such as [specific courses], workshops like [specific workshop], and hands-on projects, particularly [specific project], that align with the job requirements using the job description below as a guide.
• Draft a 200-word cover letter for me, as someone with no direct experience in [industry], but with strong skills I've developed through online courses in [specific subjects and outcomes] and personal projects such as [specific project in related field], highlighting how I can apply skills to the role in [industry]. Follow the job description below and be specific.

ChatGPT prompts for mid-level experience

• Generate a cover letter for a [role] in [industry] that leverages my [x] years of experience in [specific tasks] and team collaboration. As the job requires over 5 years experience please talk about my career in a progressive way that highlights my growth over that specific span of time.
• Write a cover letter focusing on my accomplishments in [accomplishment 1], [accomplishment 2], [accomplishment 3] and how they align with the responsibilities listed in the job description below. Use a non-dramatic tone.
• Create a cover letter that highlights my mid-level experience in [industry], emphasizing how my track record of [2-3 specific achievements with impact] can benefit the company. Use my resume and the job description as a guide.

ChatGPT prompts for senior-level experience

• Draft a one-page cover letter for a senior-level [role] in [industry], emphasizing my leadership experience and specific achievements in [large-scale project or initiative]. Your language should be professional and clear.
• Write a tailored cover letter for the job below that showcases my extensive experience in [industry], focusing on strategic initiatives and [achievements]. Use my resume as a guide for talking points.
• Create a 250-word cover letter that positions me as an expert in [specific field], addressing how my experience and insights align with the company's goals as outlined in the job description. Use my resume as a guide for talking points.

ChatGPT prompts for pivoting careers

• Generate a 200-word cover letter for transitioning from [current industry] to [new industry], focusing on transferable skills and any relevant achievements from my resume. Keep your language clear and non-dramatic. Vary your sentence structure and paragraph length.
• Write a cover letter for pivoting from [current role] to [new role], highlighting how my skills in [specific task] are valuable in the new field. Follow the attached job description.
• Create a cover letter that explains my career pivot from [current industry] to [new industry], emphasizing my experience in [related field] and [achievements that align with the job description]. Use non-dramatic, clear language.

Examples of job-specific ChatGPT cover letter prompts

Below are examples of ChatGPT prompts that help you generate focused and personalized cover letters for specific roles.

ChatGPT prompts for engineering roles

• Draft a 150-word cover letter for a senior software engineering role at [company], focusing on my experience with [specific programming languages or tools] as highlighted in my resume. I've included the job description below for reference. Emphasize how my recent project [specific software project with metrics and impact] aligns with the job requirements.
• Write a 200-word cover letter targeting a frontend software engineering position at [company] where I can showcase my skills in [specific software development methodologies and use cases] as detailed in my resume. I've attached the job description and my resume for reference.
• Create a cover letter for a backend software engineering role, leveraging my proficiency in [specific programming languages] and the top achievements from my resume. Use non-dramatic language. I've included the job description below for reference and would like to focus on how my recent work on [specific project with metrics and impact] meets the company's needs. I’ve attached the job description for reference.

ChatGPT prompts for education roles

• Create a cover letter for a high school teacher position. Use non-dramatic language and a professional yet conversational tone. Highlight [x] years of experience in curriculum development, particularly in designing [subject/program] programs that have [impact on students]. Mention how [specific teaching strategy] was successfully integrated to foster [specific skills with corresponding metrics] in students. Use my resume as a guide.
• Write a 200-word cover letter for an instructional coordinator role where I can leverage my [x] years of expertise in [area of expertise]. Focus on my role in leading a [type of initiative] that [resulted in specific improvements or outcomes]. Use my attached resume to incorporate other top achievements.

ChatGPT prompts for administrative roles

• Generate a cover letter for an executive assistant position. Use non dramatic language. Vary your sentence and paragraph length. Focus on [x] years of experience in [specific administrative tasks and tools]. Mention how [specific process] streamlined office communication and resulted in [impact]. Use my resume as a guide for metrics and key points.
• Create a 200-word cover letter for an administrative assistant position. Keep the language clear. Emphasize proficiency in [specific software or tools] and experience in [specific tasks]. Highlight how my strong skills in [skill 1] and [skill 2] resulted in [outcomes]. I've attached the job description and my resume for reference.

ChatGPT prompts for data roles roles

• Draft a 150-word cover letter for a data analyst role. Focus on experience with [specific tools and software], highlighting how I used these to achieve [specific outcome]. Mention the project from my resume where [analysis or insights] led to [specific improvements].
• Write a cover letter in professional but conversational language for a data scientist position, emphasizing expertise in [algorithms]. Discuss a project where [specific model] led to [outcomes]. Use my resume and the job description as a guide.
• Generate a 200-word cover letter for a data engineer role using non-dramatic language. Focus on experience with [ technologies], detailing how [system] was designed and implemented to achieve [impact]. Tailor this letter using my attached resume and the job description.

4 ChatGPT cover letter tips

Rather than struggling with traditional methods, these ChatGPT cover letter hacks are additional alternatives that make AI valuable in your application toolkit.

Seamlessly integrate company culture: Instead of spending hours perusing a company's website to demonstrate your fit, provide ChatGPT with information about culture and values by copying and pasting the website content along with instructions to seamlessly integrate these elements into your cover letter—showcasing your alignment with the organization.

Generate attention-grabbing opening lines: Skip the struggle of finding the perfect opening line by having ChatGPT create attention-grabbing and personalized opening lines that immediately engage hiring professionals and convey your enthusiasm for the position.

Create a storytelling framework: Task ChatGPT with outlining a storytelling framework for your cover letter. (For example, a problem-solution framework or the challenge-action-result framework). Provide key points about your experiences, challenges, and achievements, and direct AI to organize these into a compelling narrative for your cover letter.

Write a personalized cover letter: A personalized cover letter is highly encouraged for your job search. It showcases to the hiring manager that you've researched the company and the position you're applying for and are genuinely interested in the job. Include the job description and your resume in your input to create a cover letter that sets you apart from other applicants.

Benefits of using AI to write your cover letter

Incorporating AI into your cover letter writing process offers a range of benefits that can significantly improve your job application efforts.

Save time and accelerate your job applications: Using AI for cover letter creation will save hours of meaningful time by quickly drafting an initial cover letter, allowing you to apply to more jobs efficiently.

Tell a consistent story: Using AI to write your cover letter ensures you craft a seamless and compelling narrative effortlessly because your cover letter aligns with your career journey, resume details, and the specific requirements of any job you apply for.

Customize content for each application: Easily customize your cover letter for each job application. AI can analyze job descriptions and tailor your letter to match specific requirements and keywords, boosting your chances of grabbing attention.

Get compelling insights: AI provides valuable tips on the best skills and achievements to emphasize, conveying the right amount of enthusiasm, and showcasing your unique value to potential employers.

Things to consider when using ChatGPT for writing a cover letter

When using ChatGPT during your job search, it’s essential to consider the potential drawbacks. 

ChatGPT is still a new technology that is constantly being tested and reiterated. Currently, the platform is told to decline inappropriate requests but claims on its site that it may still sometimes produce harmful instructions or biased content. 

Also, it may accidentally generate incorrect information and needs to gain more knowledge of the world and events after 2021. When using ChatGPT, proceed with caution and be extra careful; assess the company's privacy policy to ensure you feel okay with how they use personal data.

Lastly, it is still vital to have real conversations with recruiters to stand out as a qualified candidate—in this case, ChatGPT cannot replace an actual conversation. Use your own writing for one-on-one contact as much as possible.

How else can I use artificial intelligence in my job search?

There are a ton of ways you can use ChatGPT in your job search. You can use ChatGPT to write your resume , optimize your LinkedIn profile, write your resume achievements, craft a letter of interest, and so much more. 

The fantastic part about ChatGPT is that it allows you to automate the cumbersome aspects of your job search, which gives you more time to be strategic about your application process. With the help of AI, you can craft personalized resumes and cover letters for every job you apply for.

Additionally, Teal recently launched an integration with ChatGPT inside our Resume Builder that allows you to fully leverage AI with your resume and cover letter.

Here's how:

• ‍ Generate professional summaries that are tailored to individual jobs
• Write resume achievements that showcase your biggest career wins
• Generate full cover letters in seconds that are compelling

Not only will these assets be created quickly and easily with the help of AI, but they’ll also be crafted using your previous work experience and the job description you’re applying for.

Create your Teal account and start taking advantage of AI to enhance your resumes and cover letters.

Can employers tell if you use ChatGPT to write your cover letter?

Employers are becoming more familiar with AI tools like ChatGPT, but that doesn’t mean they can easily spot an AI-generated cover letter. The key lies in how you use the tool. If you rely solely on generic prompts and fail to customize the content, your cover letter may come across as impersonal or formulaic—signs that suggest AI involvement.

However, when you tailor the prompts, add personal details, and refine the language to match your unique voice, it’s much more difficult for an employer to tell that AI played a role. The secret is in personalization. Include specific examples, reference the company’s values, and make sure your cover letter reflects your genuine interest in the role.

Write your cover letter with AI today

In a market where customization is key, AI is the tool you need to save time while maximizing your impact.

With the Teal AI Resume Builder , you're not just writing cover letters but creating tailored content that reflects your resume's strengths and aligns with the job description of any role you apply for—all within one intuitive platform. No toggling between programs, no copying and pasting, just alignment and efficiency in one central location.

Additional ChatGPT Job Search Resources

• How to Write Your Resume with ChatGPT
• 21 Great ChatGPT Prompts for Your Resume
• 14 ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompts for Your Job Search
• How to Use ChatGPT to Prepare for Your Job Interview 
• How to use ChatGPT for Job Applications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chatgpt write a cover letter that's tailored to a job description.

Yes! Creating a job-specific cover letter is an excellent use case for ChatGPT. Writing a tailored cover letter based on each particular job you apply to is a smart tactic. But unfortunately, it takes far too much time. With the help of AI tools ChatGPT and Teal, job seekers can now write a cover letter instantly that showcases their key skills and why they are the right person for a position.

Should I use ChatGPT for my cover letter?

Yes! It's perfectly OK to use AI tools like ChatGPT for your cover letter. However, it's important to remember that you should always review and customize AI-generated content to match your unique skills and experiences. While ChatGPT can save you time by generating initial content, human review and personalization are the key to ensuring your cover letter effectively represents you and your qualifications.

How can I personalize a ChatGPT-generated cover letter to better reflect my individual experiences and skills?

To personalize a ChatGPT-generated cover letter, start by inputting detailed prompts that include your specific experiences, skills, and the job you're applying for. After receiving the initial draft, tweak the language to match your voice and add anecdotes or examples that showcase your achievements. Ensure that the final version aligns with your resume and speaks directly to the needs of the employer.

Is it appropriate to use humor or creativity in a cover letter generated by ChatGPT?

While a touch of humor or creativity can make your cover letter memorable, it's important to gauge the company culture and the industry first. If it's appropriate, you can instruct ChatGPT to include a light-hearted comment or a creative introduction. However, always prioritize professionalism and ensure that the tone remains respectful and aligned with the job you're applying for.

Can ChatGPT help me address gaps in my employment history in a cover letter?

Yes, ChatGPT can assist in framing employment gaps positively. Provide ChatGPT with context about the gap and ask for a prompt that explains the period constructively, focusing on growth, learning, or other activities you engaged in during that time. Incorporate this into your cover letter to address any potential concerns proactively.

Kayte Grady

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6 Common Mistakes Job Seekers Make When Using ChatGPT To Generate Cover Letters

ChatGPT can write effective cover letters, but first you must learn how to avoid these common pitfalls.

Customers Interviewed by:

Do you hate writing cover letters? Most job seekers do . So isn’t it a good idea to use an artificially intelligent bot like ChatGPT to help generate your cover letters?

Yes and no. 

This new and exciting technology can help you apply for jobs. But hopping onto ChatGPT without knowing how to properly use it can come back to haunt you.

In this article, we’ll go over the six most common mistakes people make when using ChatGPT to write their cover letters .  

What is ChatGPT and why should you use it?

ChatGPT is an artificially intelligent language model that can generate human-like responses to text-based prompts.

For example, if you type in the prompt “Should I write a cover letter when applying for a job?” ChatGPT will respond with something like this:

“Yes, it is generally recommended to write a cover letter when applying for a job, as it can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your interest and qualifications for the position.”

This tool is not only free and easy to use, but it’s also massively popular. 

ChatGPT attracted over 100 million active users within the first two months of its launch in November 2022. This makes it the fastest-growing consumer app in history!

Why should you use ChatGPT to help you write your cover letters? 

Because it will save you time and effort. This will allow you to focus on other important aspects of your job search, like networking and researching companies.

Pro Tip: Want to save even more time and effort? Try Jobscan’s cover letter generator. This easy-to-use tool uses AI technology to generate a highly personalized cover letter for you with just one click!

It’s important to remember that ChatGPT is a tool, not an intelligent human being. 

Because ChatGPT seems so smart, people often make the following mistakes when using it to generate their cover letters.

The 6 most common mistakes people make when using ChatGPT for cover letters

All six of the following mistakes arise from one common misconception – that ChatGPT is capable of doing ALL the work for you. 

This is simply not true. 

ChatGPT is “not perfect,” when it comes to writing cover letters, says career coach Harrison Hughes , “B- range if I am being honest. However, B- for what essentially should be treated as a first draft is not bad at all.”

Remember, ChatGPT is only a tool that can help you write a cover letter – it’s not the complete answer.

Mistake #1 – Using only the job description to generate your cover letter

The easiest way to generate your cover letter using ChatGPT is to simply paste the job description into the prompt box. Then tell the bot to write a cover letter for that particular job . 

At first glance, the cover letter ChatGPT generates for you might appear to be good. 

But there are two problems with this approach: 

1) The letter won’t reflect your accomplishments and experience.

2) You’ll probably be found out by the hiring manager.

One employer received a cover letter that seemed a little too perfect. She then pasted the job description into ChatGPT and received back— the exact same cover letter!

“I knew it was written by a bot because the cover letter was just verbatim repeating the job description, with no details about the applicant.”

Don’t do this! At the very least you need to paste your resume along with the job description into ChatGPT. 

By analyzing your resume, ChatGPT can then incorporate your skills, experiences, and qualifications into the cover letter. 

Mistake #2 – Using only your resume to generate your cover letter

This is the opposite of the first mistake. Sometimes job seekers will prompt ChatGPT using only their resume and nothing else. 

Again, the bot will return a fairly well-written cover letter. But the letter will basically just regurgitate your resume. This won’t impress hiring managers.

Even worse, some people will use this same cover letter for all their job applications. 

First of all, your cover letter should support, not regurgitate, your resume. It can do this by supplying additional information about your qualifications, accomplishments, and experience.

Second, cover letters should be tailored to the job you’re applying to. This means highlighting the skills and attributes that would make you a great fit for that specific role.

A cover letter based solely on your resume doesn’t fulfill either of those needs.

At the very least, you should use both your resume and the job description to prompt ChatGPT. 

Jobscan’s cover letter generator does all this for you with just a single click . It uses AI-powered technology to create a personalized cover letter for you that is perfectly tailored to the job you’re applying for.   

Check out this brief video to see how our cover letter generator works:

 Even then, there’s still more work to do if you want a cover letter that will actually get you an interview.

Mistake #3 – Not adding a personal touch to the cover letter

While ChatGPT is an amazing tool, it doesn’t have much of a personality. In other words, the content it generates can be generic and boring to read.

“AIs are brilliant at being average,” says Neil Taylor , the founder of the UK-based communications company Schwa. “If you’re writing something that actually needs to stand out…it’s not going to cut the mustard.”

Again, while ChatGPT can give you a solid first draft of a cover letter to work with, it’s up to you to inject some of your personality into it.

Here are some things you can do to make your cover letter reflect your unique voice and experiences: 

• Personalize the opening by briefly explaining why you are interested in the position and how you’d be a great fit.
• Highlight your achievements , awards, or certificates that are relevant to the position. 
• Use numbers or metrics to provide concrete evidence of your skills and abilities.
• Share stories of how past experiences have prepared you for this role. 
• Match the job requirements with your specific qualifications and skills.  
• Explain why you are passionate about the industry/company.
• Showcase your extracurricular activities such as volunteer work or hobbies that make you stand out from the rest.
• Discuss how your values align with the company’s mission and goals.
• Conclude with an enthusiastic statement that conveys excitement for the opportunity.

Remember, the whole point of a cover letter is to display your personality and show why you are the best candidate for the position. 

By adding a personal touch, you can make your cover letter more memorable and impactful.

Mistake #4 – Don’t misrepresent yourself in your cover letter

What happens when you give ChatGPT prompts that are too broad or vague?

It makes stuff up.

For example, if you ask ChatGPT to write a cover letter for an accounting position, it might say that you have experience using QuickBooks – even though you’ve never used it.

Why would ChatGPT do this? Maybe Quickbooks was mentioned in the job description. Or maybe the bot just assumes you know QuickBooks since it’s a popular accounting software. 

It’s not uncommon for ChatGPT to make assumptions about your experience, skills, and knowledge that don’t reflect reality . 

Even if you provide ChatGPT with your resume and other details, it can still misrepresent you. 

It might be tempting to accept all of ChatGPT’s suggestions , even if they’re not true. But YOU are ultimately responsible for what goes in your cover letter. 

You must check to make sure that all of the facts and information in your cover letter are true and accurate.

Don’t blame ChatGPT for inaccuracies found in your cover letter! 

Mistake #5 – Using ChatGPT’s tone of voice in your cover letter

ChatGPT has been trained to produce coherent and grammatically correct sentences. 

But those sentences won’t necessarily reflect your tone of voice.

If you are using ChatGPT to generate your cover letter, try to insert your own personality and voice into it as much as you can. The letter will be more effective if you do. 

Here are some tips on how to insert your voice into your cover letter:

• Read through your cover letter , highlight the parts that don’t feel like you, and rewrite them using language that feels more natural.
• Add personal anecdotes and experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying to. 
• Use language that reflects your sense of humor, creativity, or other personal qualities.
• Use active voice and strong verbs to make your cover letter more dynamic. Passive voice and weak verbs make your writing sound flat.
• Get feedback from people who know you. They’ll tell you when your cover letter doesn’t sound like you.

Mistake #6 – Not making your cover letter ATS-friendly

What does ATS mean?

It stands for “application tracking system”. This is computer software that most companies use these days to help them manage the hiring process.  

When you submit your job application it doesn’t go to a human being – it goes directly into an ATS database. Hiring managers then search the database for suitable job candidates by typing in keywords related to that job. 

For example, an employer searching for an administrative assistant might type in “data entry” or “MS office”. If your cover letter includes those keywords it will show up as a result.

Where do you find these keywords that will optimize your cover letter for the ATS? In the job description. 

This is why you should always include the job description as a prompt when asking ChatGPT to generate your cover letter.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming ChatGPT will always add the most relevant keywords to your cover letter. After all, it doesn’t know what ATS is or how it works!

Always check the job description yourself or use a resume scanner to make sure your letter contains the keywords hiring managers are searching for the most.  

NOTE : Check out our cover letter examples page , which covers a wide range of jobs, industries, and situations.

Key Takeaways

Despite the pros and cons of using ChatGPT discussed in this article, overall it’s a great tool that can help you save time and effort when writing your cover letters.

Remember, ChatGPT is great at creating first drafts – not polished final versions. 

You’ll still need to add your own personality, check for inaccuracies, and fill in missing information. 

If you want to be sure to avoid the common mistakes listed in this article, try using Jobscan’s cover letter generator . 

Powered by AI technology, Jobscan uses industry best practices to create cover letters that will get you more job interviews. It does this by….

• Analyzing both your resume and the job description.
• Tailoring each letter to the specific job you’re applying for.
• Focusing only on the skills you have listed on your resume.
• Featuring your most relevant accomplishments and measurable results.
• Creating a cover letter that is keyword-rich and ATS-friendly.
• Organizing all your cover letters in one place for easy access. 

Jobscan is a powerful tool that can quickly generate strong cover letters. As with any AI tool, we recommend that you still take the time to review and customize it before sending it off.  

With Jobscan’s cover letter generator , you’ll be able to get a quality cover letter while avoiding many of the mistakes others make by doing it alone.

More expert insights on this topic:

Should You Actually Use ChatGPT to Generate Your Cover Letter? (11 Pros and Cons)

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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How to Create an Effective Cover Letter with ChatGPT

In today’s job market, your cover letter is more than just a formality —it’s your opportunity to build a connection and highlight personal traits that may not be easily discovered through a quick resume review .

In this article, you’ll learn how using ChatGPT to create an effective letter can turn into a more manageable , even enjoyable process.

Let’s delve into how to use ChatGPT to write an impressive cover letter.

What is ChatGPT and What Are Its Benefits?

To simplify, ChatGPT is an advanced conversational artificial intelligence tool powered by advanced machine learning technology. It can understand and generate human-like text. 

ChatGPT can assist with a variety of tasks, including answering questions, providing recommendations, and generating content. Think of it as your own personal on-demand assistant!

Utilizing ChatGPT to create your cover letter offers precision and personalization on an unmatched scale. The advantages include:

• Time efficiency : It generates drafts quickly, saving you valuable time.
• Customization : It tailors content to the specific nuances of the job description and your personal experiences.
• Professional quality : It maintains a high standard of writing that effectively resonates with recruiters.
• 24/7 Availability : ChatGPT can provide support and information around the clock. You’re not restricted to utilizing it during “business hours.”
• Instant Responses : It delivers quick answers!
• Adaptability : It’s a tool that continuously learns and improves with each interaction, allowing you to utilize its capabilities regardless of any changes or requirements you give it.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter with ChatGPT’s AI

Before sharing tips and prompts, it’s important that we talk about mindset. As mentioned earlier, ChatGPT is your on-demand assistant and you need to treat it as such. 

The results that ChatGPT provides are only as good as the context you give it. Treat your prompts in the same way you’d treat a conversation with a friend. Would you leave out details? No! So tell ChatGPT as much as possible. 

This can include sharing your goals, dilemmas, desired outcomes, etc. The more information you provide , the better ChatGPT can get to know you and provide results that directly align with your career goals. 

Here are the steps to follow to create your ChatGPT cover letter.

Provide clear and specific instructions to ChatGPT

To make the most of ChatGPT, you should provide detailed information about the job you’re applying for, your skills, work experience , and the qualities that make you an ideal candidate. 

Share the compliments, character traits, and accolades you’ve received. If you’ve won awards or been nominated for them, share that information as well.

Remember, the  more detailed your input , the better ChatGPT can adapt the cover letter to match your professional profile and the job requirements.

Tailor your cover letter to the position

Personalization is crucial for making your application stand out.  If you have multiple versions of your resume, upload the one that you will be using along with your cover letter so that ChatGPT can personalize it .

You can also upload or paste the entire job description into ChatGPT. This will allow the system to adjust the language and key points of your cover letter to align with the tone and requirements of the company you’re applying to.

Revise and enhance the result

Just like people, ChatGPT is not perfect, so never immediately “copy and paste” the first result. Although it provides a solid base text, it’s important to review and tweak this content to ensure it accurately represents you.

Add personal touches and refine the text to make the cover letter truly your own.

Choose a template for the layout

Selecting the right template for your cover letter is key to presenting a professional and organized appearance . 

While ChatGPT focuses on content creation, pairing its output with a visually appealing template significantly improves the overall impact of your letter. 

If you’re wondering, “is a template necessary for my cover letter?” The answer is YES! It’s important to have one that draws the reader’s eye to key points and creates a pleasant reading experience.

Choose a suitable template that complements the tone of your content. This step guarantees that your cover letter not only reads well but also looks polished and professional .

Use the cover letter templates from our online editor to choose from various designs and get an edge over your competitors.

If you don’t have your resume ready yet, we recommend checking out our article on how to create your resume with ChatGPT.

Best ChatGPT Prompts to Create a Cover Letter

If you’re curious about how to get Chatgpt to write a cover letter, you’ve come to the right section.

A good prompt is essential for guiding ChatGPT towards the result you want to achieve. Your prompt should be clear and detailed so that the AI understands exactly what you need.

💡 Our expert’s advice

 Treating AI like a personal assistant means asking for feedback! Don’t be afraid to ask ChatGPT the following questions.

“Are my instructions clear?”

“Is there additional information that will help you craft the best letter for me?”

“Do you have any other questions or concerns?”

If you’re starting from scratch, ask ChatGPT to draft a complete cover letter. This approach gives you a solid foundation that you can then customize and adjust as needed.

ChatGPT Complete Cover Letter Prompt Example

I want to draft a complete cover letter that stands out and quickly grabs attention for a current opening, [job title], at [company name]. The letter should include an engaging introduction and a body detailing my experiences, skills, motivations, and commitment to advancing the company’s mission. Please also include a conclusion that highlights my enthusiasm and availability for an interview. Please generate a well-structured letter with an appropriate formal tone

In the following sections, we will show you some examples of how to structure these prompts to create each part of an effective and personalized cover letter.

Introduction

The introduction is vital for capturing the recruiter’s attention . You should introduce yourself, specify the position you are applying for, and motivate the reader to continue reading.

Intro Prompt Example 

I am applying for the position of [job title] at [company name]. I need an engaging introduction for my cover letter. Generate an opening sentence that grabs attention, positions me as the top candidate, presents my key skills, and expresses my motivation for joining the team.

The core of your cover letter outlines your relevant experience and your skills, and explains why you are the ideal candidate.

Additionally, it’s also your chance to show how your values and goals match with those of the company in question.

Main Body Prompt Example 

I want you to develop the body of my cover letter for the position of [job title] at [company name]. I would like to highlight my previous work experiences and the skills relevant to the position while expressing my desire to join the company. Please write a text that aligns my strengths with the needs of the position and clearly expresses my interest in being part of the company.

The conclusion is your opportunity to reaffirm your interest in the position and to request an interview politely and professionally.

Conclusion Prompt Example 

I need a conclusion for my cover letter. It should express my enthusiasm for the position, reflect my desire to secure it, and show my availability for an interview with the recruiter. It should be brief, positive, and professional. Also include my contact information so that the recruiter knows how to get in touch with me.

Example of a Cover Letter Created by ChatGPT

Not sure what a cover letter generated with AI might look like?

This ChatGPT cover letter example demonstrates how to articulate your skills, experiences, and motivation in a way that aligns with the values and needs of the company.

[First Name, Last Name] [Address] [Phone Number] [Email Address] [Date] [Company Name] [Company Address]

Subject: Application for the position of [Job Title]

Dear [Recipient’s Name or “To Whom It May Concern”],

I am writing to you with great enthusiasm to apply for the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name], which was recently advertised on your job portal. With [X years] of experience in [Field/Industry], I am confident that my professional profile perfectly matches the needs and culture of your company. During my tenure at [Name of your last company or relevant experience], I had the opportunity to [briefly describe a significant responsibility or achievement], which significantly contributed to [explain the impact of your contribution].

These experiences have provided me with a solid foundation in [mention skills relevant to the job], which are essential for the position you are offering.

Furthermore, my deep interest in [mention an aspect related to the company or industry] motivates me to join [Company Name] and contribute my part to [mention how you hope to contribute to the company or a specific project].

I am particularly impressed by [mention something you admire about the company], and I am eager to contribute to this dynamic and innovative environment.

I am convinced that an interview would offer me the opportunity to share more about how my experience and skills can be valuable to [Company Name]. I am available to talk at any time and look forward to the possibility of joining your team.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, [First Name, Last Name]

How To Use ChatGPT To Improve an Existing Cover Letter

If you like your current cover letter and just want a few additions or feedback, you can upload your documents to ChatGPT in both Word and PDF format. This quick upload will allow you to enhance your cover letter.

Identifying areas for improvement

Ask the AI to review your existing cover letter and suggest specific aspects to improve. This can range from clarity and conciseness to tone and style.

Generating specific suggestions

Once the areas for improvement are identified, request ChatGPT to generate specific proposals for each of them. 

This could be optimizing sentences, rewriting paragraphs, adding new information, or even taking a new approach to certain sections of your letter.

Content enrichment

Think your letter could benefit from additional examples of your experience or skills ? 

In that case, ChatGPT can help you articulate these aspects more effectively, ensuring they match the job requirements. Feel free to share any recent “wins”, major accomplishments , or public recognitions with ChatGPT.

Personalizing according to the job description

Make sure your letter specifically addresses the position you are applying for. 

Share the job description with the AI so it can suggest adjustments in your letter that highlight how you meet those specific criteria.

Adding details about the company

To show your enthusiasm and interest in the company, you might include specific details about it in your letter. 

To improve your chances with hiring managers, take time to look at the company’s about page, mission, vision, and current initiatives. The “Why work for us” section is also filled with a lot of great information. Feel free to include this information in your prompt to help ChatGPT further customize and align your experience and personal passion for joining the company.

Improvements to the introduction and conclusion

These sections are crucial for capturing attention from the start and leaving a good impression on the person reading your letter. 

AI can offer ways to start your letter with more impact and conclude with a compelling call to action .

Linguistic review

Although ChatGPT is an advanced tool, it is always advisable to perform a final manual review to correct any possible grammatical or spelling errors . Keep in mind that while technology is great, it’s also capable of making mistakes. 

If you haven’t worked with ChatGPT in the past, it may not know a lot about your tone, personality, or characteristics. When reviewing your cover letter, you’ll want to make sure that you can “hear your voice” as you’re reading it.

Tips to Remember When Writing Your Cover Letter with ChatGPT

Finally, here is a recap of the strategies to optimize the effectiveness of your cover letter when using ChatGPT:

• Prepare the important information you want to include beforehand.
• Start with a clear and direct prompt for ChatGPT.
• Use feedback to refine and further personalize the letter.
• Don’t forget to add your personal touch , especially in details that distinguish you as a candidate.
• Choose an attractive and professional design for your letter using our AI cover letter generator .

We hope you are leaving this article feeling fully equipped and excited to partner with ChatGPT to create a cover letter that will help you reach your career goals! 

By embracing and utilizing the strategies outlined in this guide, you will be able to harness ChatGPT’s full potential to write the finest cover letter possible. 

Wishing you the best of success in your job search—may your new cover letter open many doors!

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Can ChatGPT Help Your Job Search? Here’s What Recruiters Say

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Applying to jobs is notoriously a “numbers game” — the more resumes and applications you get out, the better your chances supposedly are of landing a gig. Resourceful job seekers are turning to new technology to help streamline the tedious application process: ChatGPT . With the free AI chatbot, you can produce a polished resume and cover letter in just seconds. But can using ChatGPT as a shortcut mess with your chances of landing the job? It depends. 

Mindlessly copying and pasting whatever ChatGPT generates into a job application, resume, or cover letter and passing it off as your own is not the best use of the technology. “I would caution candidates against copying and pasting,” says Robert Lingham , a technical recruiter who most recently worked at Lever. 

A human recruiter or hiring manager will likely be able to tell that you’ve submitted something written by an AI chatbot, because it might lack human tone, nuance, and context. Not to mention, ChatGPT could fabricate points about your experience and qualifications that are straight-up untrue, and lying on a job application is a bad idea in general. 

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This doesn’t mean that ChatGPT is off-limits for job seekers. “If you’re using ChatGPT smartly, and incorporating things that are true about yourself — more power to you,” says Mandy Tang, a career coach and founder of Rose Gold Careers . “I’m a huge fan of it.”

As ChatGPT touches more areas of our lives, there are new ethical questions about AI to consider. In our new free course Intro to ChatGPT , we’ll break down the risks and limitations of AI, and help you figure out how and when to use the technology in your life and in the products you build. Here are some ways you can use ChatGPT as a tool in your job search while maintaining your integrity and honesty as an applicant. 

Let ChatGPT write a rough draft

Writer’s block is real, even when you’re writing about a topic you know a lot about — in this case, yourself. “Writing requires a lot of momentum,” Mandy says. “You need a prompt or something to react to.” Having ChatGPT write a rough draft of your cover letter or resume is a great way to get your writing process started, she says. (Here are some more tips for writing a bio about yourself .)

Rather than just copying and pasting the ChatGPT-generated response as-is, you can use it as inspiration to build something that’s more personal and accurate to you, Robert says. For example, if you ask ChatGPT to build a resume based on a job description, take a look at the skills that it pulls out, and see if they align with your own experience. “You might think, Oh that bullet is a good point, I actually did something similar to that ,” he says.

Proofread and fact-check

While ChatGPT can do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to applying for a job, it’s on you to make sure that the information you submit about yourself in a job application is truthful and coherent. “A large language model tool like ChatGPT still has boundaries,” Robert says.

It’s very important to proofread and edit whatever material ChatGPT provides. “It’s still a bot,” Mandy says. “ChatGPT will take its best guess based on your prompts, but you still have to read it with human eyes to double check that it makes sense and has a nice flow.” 

Know how to write detailed ChatGPT prompts

How you word a ChatGPT prompt can influence the quality of the response it generates. As a large language model, ChatGPT is trained on datasets from the internet to predict the word that’s likely to come next in text using probability distributions over words. The more specific data you can train ChatGPT on, the more relevant the responses will be. 

If you’re using ChatGPT to help you write a resume or cover letter, you’ll probably want to run at least 3-4 cycles, getting more specific and feeding additional information each round, Mandy says. “Keep telling it to refine things,” she says. For instance, you can tell ChatGPT to write your cover letter in the writing style and voice of an article or use a standout resume example as reference material. Or you can ask the AI to tweak your resume so that it includes measurable outcomes that align with the job description . 

We’ll teach you how to write clear and specific prompts for ChatGPT in our free course Intro to ChatGPT, so you can boost your chances of generating a useful response.

Customize according to the job

Sending the same exact generic cover letter for every job is not great form: “You don’t want to send the same cookie-cutter template to every job, because it will look like you’ve just copied and pasted,” Mandy says. ChatGPT can help you tweak your application materials slightly depending on the position or organization, she says. “Try to include at least one specific detail about each company.”

For instance, you could give ChatGPT the job description and your resume and say: “Here is my resume. I am applying for a job as a UX Researcher. Can you optimize my resume so it fits the keywords in this job description?” 

Brainstorm interview questions 

You can also use ChatGPT to help you get ready for a job interview, Robert says. For example, say you’re interviewing for a position at a climate tech company , but you’re not super familiar with the space or field, so you don’t know how to prepare. Here’s a ChatGPT prompt you could use:

Pretend you are an expert in the climate tech space, and you’re interviewing a candidate for a Software Engineer position. Give me some questions that you would ask someone at the senior level. Please limit it to five responses and provide any links for any additional information.

As you can see, ChatGPT generates a solid list of relevant interview questions about key topics related to climate technology. With this list, you can identify your knowledge gaps and start thinking about how you might answer the questions.

The debate about using ChatGPT in your job search speaks to the deeper frustrations that people have about the hiring process. “For the candidate, it’s really difficult, confusing, and opaque when your effort is not tied to a result,” Mandy says. Lots of employers have gotten rid of cover letter requirements altogether. Considering that many organizations use AI in the hiring and screening process, why shouldn’t applicants be allowed to use it, too?

Ultimately, ChatGPT can make you look like the perfect candidate for a role on paper in just seconds — but you’re still expected to prove your skills on your own. “If you somehow hack a system in order to get in front of a recruiter or a hiring manager, you need to be able to talk about the things that are on your resume,” Robert says. “No matter how many prompts you give ChatGPT, and how creative you get, if you get into that seat, you need to be able to execute against it.” 

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters

Using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters

Job hunting can feel like a job of its own, which is why some are using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters. Learn how AI can make the process of creating these documents easier as well as its limitations.

ChatGPT has become a popular choice for all kinds of content creation . Here’s what you need to know about using ChatGPT for your resume or cover letter.

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Should I use AI in my job search?

The process of searching for a new job is rarely easy. Not only are you constantly checking job boards to find positions that both interest you and fit your skillset, but you’re also updating your resume and cover letter with every new application and editing these documents to suit each potential employer.

Using AI like ChatGPT for your job search can help you if you’re truly stumped for how to express your thoughts. Of course, it isn’t foolproof, either. Because this technology is so new, its output won’t be entirely accurate, and is no substitution for putting in the work yourself. The AI does the best it can with the information it’s given, which means it’s up to the job seeker to be both specific and accurate when inputting prompts, and to make any necessary adjustments to achieve a specific result.

If you plan to use ChatGPT for resume writing or crafting a cover letter, make sure you have a solid understanding of how to write both documents. After all, they’re a potential employer’s first impression of you; if you’re not well-represented because you relied on AI instead of your own skills, you’re not likely to get the job. ChatGPT can be useful for helping you come up with new ways to talk about your relevant skills and experience, but your personal touch is what will really make your resume and cover letter stand out.

Tips for writing a resume and cover letter

Whether you’re editing existing documents or starting from scratch, here are some tips to make sure that your resume and cover letter can help you make a good first impression.

• Use simple, professional formatting. Use a template to ensure that you’re delivering something that makes you look your best and is easy to read.
• Less is more. A busy resume can feel overwhelming for a recruiter. Show results where you can and leave off any unnecessary details.
• Proofread. Even if you’re using ChatGPT to help you with your job search, you’ll still need to look over the results to not only make sure that the content is accurate, but that it’s grammatically correct and sounds like you.
• Insert yourself. Make sure that your resume and cover letter are representative of you and not a chatbot. Your own personality should shine through, even if you’ve used AI to help you put things together.

At the end of the day, recruiters want to learn about you and whether you’re a good fit for a job. The best way for you share that information with them is with a well-written cover letter and a resume that’s easy to read .

What are the drawbacks of using ChatGPT to write a resume or cover letter?

Leveraging AI like ChatGPT to write your resume or cover letter does have a few pitfalls:

• This AI is very new technology and is certainly not foolproof. It’s constantly being tested and adjusted due to its newness.
• It may accidentally generate inaccurate statements due to its limited knowledge of the world after 2021.
• If you’re not proofreading carefully, you may gloss over some major errors. ChatGPT may generate content that is biased or harmful and it’s on you to catch those statements and not use them in your resume or cover letter. The AI may also repeat information between sections of a generated resume.
• The AI works with the information it’s given. The quality of the output depends entirely on the quality of the input.
• If you’re not specific enough when entering your prompts, you will get vague, generalized output. Similarly, if your prompt is poorly formatted, the AI may not understand what you’re asking for.
• ChatGPT may embellish some of your accomplishments. While it may be tempting to leave these in place, it’s never a good idea to lie about what you have and have not done.

This AI is not a replacement for doing the actual work yourself, but it can be a useful tool during the process of looking for a new job. Only you can truly know what you’ve achieved through your work and life experiences, and you’re the one who is best suited to crafting any type of resume or cover letter.

Entering resume and cover letter prompts into ChatGPT

The goal of using ChatGPT to write your resume or cover letter is to lessen the stress of creating these documents. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You still must give the AI very clear instructions about what you want it to generate.

Prompts for using AI to write a resume

You can use AI to review an existing resume and provide feedback or tailor your resume to a specific posting. Make sure you ask very clear questions about what you’re looking for, as well as providing very clear guidance to the AI about what its role is. In both scenarios you’ll need to include your resume in its entirety, but if you’re looking for tailored edits, you should also include the job posting.

Prompts for these scenarios might look like:

• I am going to provide my resume and want you to act as a reviewer and provide feedback on it. How can I make it more readable? Are there any action verbs I should use? Am I using too many buzzwords?
• I will provide you with a job description for a position I am applying for. Understand the key points and requirements for this role and summarize them. Then review my resume and provide feedback on how to tailor it for this job.

These might seem overly specific but if you’re not specific enough, you won’t get the response you’re looking for.

Prompts for using AI to write a cover letter

When using ChatGPT to work on your cover letter for a specific job, you’ll need to provide:

• Your resume
• The job description of the role you’re interested in
• Information about what kind of tone you’d prefer

You can also ask the AI to review your cover letter for readability and help you get through a bout of writer’s block.

Prompts for these sorts of asks might look like:

• Write a cover letter for a [position] role at [Company] in a professional tone. Use my resume and the job description as a reference.
• I want you to review my cover letter for readability and relevance to a job post. I will share the job post as a reference. Tailor my cover letter for the job referenced in the post and adjust wording to make it more relevant.

These prompts may feel awkward to write, almost as though you’re explaining something to a small child. But the clearer and more specific you are, the more pleased you’re likely to be with the results.

While AI like ChatGPT is making some waves on the tech scene, it doesn’t totally replace human writing and editing skills, especially when it comes to resumes and cover letters. It certainly has value but comes with a few caveats. Use ChatGPT with caution, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for grammatical errors .

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How to Write Your Cover Letter Using ChatGPT

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ChatGPT is growing in popularity as artificial intelligence’s go-to for content generation. You probably have seen courses and other programs designed to help you leverage this new platform and are curious about its benefits.

Access to a platform that can create a cohesive document can be a godsend to people who dislike writing. While ChatGPT can help you increase your efficiency, you still have to review the documents it generates to ensure your cover letter gets noticed.

1. Open Your ChatGPT Account

You can easily create one if you don’t already have an account. Go to the site chat.openai.com . Once you’re there, you’ll see a prompt to open your account or sign up. You can create a new account with your choice of email, including connecting it to an existing Gmail account.

You’ll need access to your mobile phone since you’ll receive a six-digit code sent to your phone via text to confirm your registration. Once you’ve confirmed your registration, you’re ready to get started.

When you’re in ChatGPT, you’ll see you can stay with the free version, ChatGPT 3.5, or pay for access to ChatGPT 4. The features of ChatGPT-4 include faster responses and access to beta features like code interpreter, plug-ins, and browsing.

ChatGPT-4 has a limit of 25 messages every three hours, costing $20 monthly. If you’re wondering what other artificial intelligence options exist besides ChatGPT, you might be interested in learning about the best alternatives to ChatGPT .

2. Enter Your Custom Instructions

Before you ask ChatGPT to write content for you, you need to provide custom instructions to the platform. You do this in the custom instructions; you can access it by clicking on your name.

There are two sections where you input information about yourself. The first one asks: What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses? The second one asks: How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

The first section is where you can tell the platform where you live, what you currently do for work, your goals, and your interests. The second section is where you can talk about the tone and length of ChatGPT’s responses.

You can change the custom instructions at any time, but it will only affect the answers given after the changes are made. If you’re new to the platform, you may ask: What is ChatGPT and what can you do with generative AI? . We recommend checking out that guide if you're not too sure.

3. Submit a Job Description

Once you’ve completed your custom instructions, it’s time to provide a job description that ChatGPT can refer to when creating your cover letter. Remember, the key to writing an effective cover letter is addressing all the critical needs indicated in the job description.

If you’re using the free ChatGPT 3.5 version of the platform, there’s no limit to the number of jobs you can ask it to write cover letters for! You can also ask the platform to regenerate the response if you don’t like the first one you get.

You may be wondering what ChatGPT means for the future of writers and if it means enormous unemployment lines are in your future. You might find some comfort in learning the reasons why ChatGPT won’t take your writing job .

4. Prompt ChatGPT to Write the Elements of Your Cover Letter

Once you’ve submitted the job description, the next step is to ask for a cover letter. Instead of asking it to write one document, you can ask it to focus on each part of your cover letter to create a more focused one.

The Introductory Paragraph

The first paragraph is where you provide basic details about who you are and why you want the job. You can also give a general overview of why you’re the right candidate for the job and why the position excites you.

Your Qualifications

The next part of your cover letter summarizes your experience and qualifications and how they apply to the job you’re applying for. This is where you can include stories about relevant projects or situations to give the hiring manager or recruiter some insight into how you work.

Explain How You Align With the Company’s Values and Goals

In this section of your cover letter, you want to illustrate that you understand the company’s mission and have done your research on the company. You want to focus on how your goals align with the organization’s, and you can also include positive factors you’ve heard about the company culture.

Close With a Call to Action

Your closing paragraph should be where you recap your interest in the job and suggest the next steps for proceeding with your application. Thank the reader for reviewing your application and indicating your interest in discussing the position or scheduling an interview.

This is where you can focus on the talents and skills you hope to bring to the team. If you want to learn more about the platform’s capabilities and how to generate the proper prompts, you may be interested in learning ways to learn how to write effective ChatGPT prompts for the best AI answers .

5. Proofread and Review the Generated Cover Letter

After the AI generates the different parts of your cover letter, you can put them together and read it out loud to see if it makes sense.

Use the content ChatGPT generates as the foundation of your cover letter. You can add elements that add a personal touch to the cover letter, giving the reader an idea about your personality.

The content generated by ChatGPT can help you create a cover letter focused on what the organization hiring you is looking for. It would be best to remember that the platform is available to everyone, and you’re probably not the only one using it to help them apply for the job.

This is why adding what makes you unique to the letter ChatGPT generates can be a vital part of using the platform for job applications and getting noticed. If you enjoy using the platform, you may be interested in learning about the amazing ChatGPT Chrome extensions for better AI prompts and answers in browsers .

Work Smarter, Not Harder With ChatGPT

Using ChatGPT can help you work more efficiently, increasing your productivity. You can use AI to generate documents as the foundation for any written content you’re working on.

Whether you’re looking for help writing a resume or cover letter, AI can help you quickly generate them. Using the content “as is” isn’t recommended, but making changes and corrections is more manageable than creating original content on your own and can help ensure that you touch on the key points the reader is looking for.

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How To Write a Cover Letter With ChatGPT

Hate writing cover letters? Here’s how to use ChatGPT to shortcut the process — including tips on how to make it sound like it was written by a human.

a year ago   •   6 min read

Hands up if you love writing cover letters!

If you’re sitting there with your hand firmly down, you’re not alone. Of all the factors in the job hunting process, cover letters are perhaps the worst — and the most controversial. For every recruiter who says that cover letters are unnecessary, there’s another who won’t consider candidates without one.

Manually crafting a cover letter for every single application is exhausting and time-consuming, but what’s the alternative?

Believe it or not, the answer may be ChatGPT.

(P. S. For a done-for-you cover letter that's more accurate than ChatGPT, check out the free AI cover letter generator tool . Unlike ChatGPT, it's been custom-built with the help of recruiters and writes incredibly effective and personalized cover letters)

Can ChatGPT really help you write an effective cover letter?

Yes — with the right input and customization. In other words, don’t simply expect to ask ChatGPT to write a cover letter and send it off as is.

But it can help speed up the process. By filling in ChatGPT with the appropriate information, you can automate a lot of the less-fun parts of writing a cover letter — leaving you more time to focus on the bits of the process that matter.

Here’s how to get started.

How to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter

• A good cover letter starts in the same place as your resume — with your accomplishments. Locate the most recent version of your resume, or, if you prefer, a simple text list of your achievements and qualifications.
• Find the job description. You can copy and paste this from the job posting (and it’s always a good idea to have a copy saved so you can reference it throughout the application process).
• Write down some details about the company. You can copy these from the job posting or company website.
• Create an account at the ChatGPT website (or sign in if you already have one).
• Choose which version of ChatGPT you want to use. GPT-3.5 is the currently available free version, while GPT-4 is much better at writing but requires a subscription.
• Write a prompt. We’ll go into more details about prompts later, but essentially, you should ask ChatGPT to create a cover letter based on your resume , tailored to the company and job description.
• Edit your cover letter . You can use ChatGPT for this step or do it manually.

A two-step guide to writing an effective ChatGPT prompt

The most important part of getting good results from ChatGPT is writing an effective prompt. Here’s how to do just that.

Step One: Give ChatGPT a command

The first step to using ChatGPT to write a cover letter — or anything else — is to give it a command. This is how you tell it what you want to do.

Here’s the command we used — you can copy and paste this or tweak it to your liking:

Write a cover letter based on the RESUME, tailored to the JOB DESCRIPTION and COMPANY. Identify ways in which I specifically meet the requirements, have experience with the responsibilities, and will fit the company culture.

• Use quotation marks at the start and end of the command to tell ChatGPT that everything inside them is your request
• Use ALL CAPS for variables that you’ll fill in later (that’s the next step!)

Step Two: Fill in the variables

Now we need to define everything we put in capital letters. Add a line break (you’ll want to do this every time) and then type:

After this header, copy in your resume or a plain text version of your accomplishments and qualifications. There’s no need to reformat your resume, even if this section looks strange — ChatGPT will still be able to read it.

Add another line break, and then type:

--JOB DESCRIPTION--

Then copy the job description from the job ad. Add one more line break and type:--COMPANY--Add the information you gathered about the company — you can usually get this straight from the company’s website.

• Typing RESUME, COMPANY, and JOB DESCRIPTION in capital letters tells ChatGPT that these should be linked to the variables in your command
• Putting “--” at the start and end of these variables helps distinguish them from other headers in your resume
• Don’t use quotation marks around “--RESUME--” “--JOB DESCRIPTION--” or “--COMPANY--"

That’s it — just two steps! Now let’s take a look at the results.

Example of a cover letter written with ChatGPT

Here’s the full prompt we used with ChatGPT:

And here’s the resulting cover letter that ChatGPT wrote:

So, how did ChatGPT do? Like most AI-assisted writing, it’s technically sound, but it’s missing something important — personality . A good cover letter should show the hiring manager who you are, not just what you’ve done.

If you want to generate a cover letter with real personality, try out an alternative to ChatGPT that's tailor-made to produce effective cover letters with personality: the AI cover letter generator .

That doesn’t mean this cover letter is bad — it just needs some editing.

How to edit a ChatGPT cover letter

You can keep using ChatGPT to edit your cover letter, or you can do it manually. The best approach? A bit of both!

Editing your cover letter with ChatGPT

If you want to see how far you can go with ChatGPT, try giving it some follow up commands. Try telling it:

“Rewrite the cover letter, highlighting [my commitment to sustainability, my experience with building LLMs].”

“Rewrite the cover letter in a [friendlier, less formal] tone.”

“Rewrite the cover letter, but avoid overly complex sentences or industry jargon. Instead, write as if you were talking to the hiring manager in person.”

“Rewrite the cover letter to be less than [100] words.”

Remember that ChatGPT is still learning — the more specific commands you give it, the better your results will be.

Editing your cover letter manually

Ideally, you’ll go over the cover letter on your own to (at least) inject a bit of personality, as well as to check it for accuracy. Think of the ChatGPT version as a first draft — all the ideas are there, but it still needs a bit of polish.

Here’s how to make your ChatGPT-generated cover letter sound a bit more human:

• Add a couple of anecdotes from your life.
• Be more specific about your key experiences.
• Talk about why this job or company appeals to you in particular or what got you started in your career.
• Showcase your personal values — for example, you might want to express your commitment to sustainable business practices or your passion for mentoring junior colleagues.
• Rewrite the cover letter in your own natural voice.
• Copy and paste the cover letter into a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs and proofread for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.
• Make sure everything in the cover letter is accurate and reflects what you want to say.

Potential drawbacks of using ChatGPT to write a cover letter

Using ChatGPT to write your cover letter isn’t necessarily a bad thing (unless you’re only copying and pasting the AI-written version and doing no editing of your own). That said, it does have some potential downsides.

ChatGPT cover letters are generic

ChatGPT is an AI model trained on a huge data set. That means that a lot of what it puts out tends to sound the same — which is a big problem if you’re trying to stand out in a sea of applicants. At best, it could make your cover letter forgettable; at worst, it could stand out as being obviously written by AI, which is a turn-off for most recruiters.

How to fix it: Include as many details as you can about the role, the company’s culture, and your own experiences. Even adding one or two personal anecdotes can go a long way toward giving your cover letter a more unique voice.

ChatGPT can’t convey emotional intelligence

AI like ChatGPT also lacks the ability to convey emotions effectively, making it more difficult to build a rapport with anyone reading your cover letter. This is particularly true if you’re applying for a role or industry that values creativity (like writing, design, or marketing), or for smaller companies and start-ups that encourage personal connections.

How to fix it: Don’t be afraid to tear apart and rebuild the cover letter that ChatGPT generates; or, just use a stronger alternative to ChatGPT (like this AI cover letter generator ). Try structuring your cover letter to tell a story about who you are and where you’re going next in your career — and why that makes you the perfect person for the job.

ChatGPT may not keep your data safe

OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) doesn’t permanently store conversations, but it does retain any data you enter for 30 days. Your conversations can also be used to improve the AI model and may be reviewed by human trainers — so if there’s something you don’t want anyone else to see, don’t type it into ChatGPT!

How to fix it: Limit your personal information as well as anything private or confidential — you can always manually add in any sensitive information later. Or use alternatives to ChatGPT that keep your data provide.

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21 ChatGPT Prompts to Get You to Start Writing Your Cover Letter

In This Guide:

Is it ethical to use chatgpt to write your cover letter, six cover letter structures to experiment with, how to use chatgpt for cover letter writing, using chatgpt to write various sections of your cover letter, edit your cover letter writing style with this chatgpt prompt, three different cover letters based on seniority, key takeaways.

Sorting through hundreds of applications for that most coveted role of Senior Network Engineer, you've found three candidates that fit the bill.

All have the relevant experience, yet:

• the first submitted just a resume;
• the second - an impersonal cover letter, solely written by the likes of an AI (e.g. ChatGPT);
• the third candidate has taken the time to study your organization and to align it with their unique skill set.

Highlighting that all three candidates have the same amount of experience...

...wouldn't a well-written cover letter sort of bias you to choose the one that shows the most care (and in some cases - enthusiasm) toward the job and company?

If you're applying for a job, hear us out!

The cover letter isn't just a professional narrative , but the greatest asset to demonstrate your:

• unique value and how your skills match the job;
• interest in the company and role;
• confidence in your abilities.

Your cover letter allows you to shape how your potential employers see your experience. It further highlights what you want them to remember from your resume .

Checklist: Pros to including a cover letter

Checklist: downsides to cover letter writing, is your resume good enough.

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

The choice of writing a cover letter is entirely up to you.

But here's where an ethical question comes in.

What if you simply can't write your cover letter (and can't afford to hire an experienced cover letter writer to help you out)? And you don't have an AI resume builder tool to create it for you, based on your resume?

Would using ChatGPT to your advantage be counted as "cheating"?

You've probably been living under a rock for the past six months or so if you haven't heard of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer).

The free language model can supposedly do anything: from debugging codes to pointing out interesting destinations around you.

ChatGPT works as so: you write a prompt (a well-formulated, clear, and concise question or instructions). Within a few seconds, the AI chatbot provides you with a response to your query.

What is more, candidates have been using ChatGPT to restructure their resumes, prepare for interviews, and even write cover letters.

This guide will precisely focus on giving you the know-how of using ChatGPT for your cover letter with:

• Beginners luck: six structures to get to know the writing process;
• The most concise cover letter writing prompt;
• How to align your cover letter to the job;
• More advanced ChatGPT writing prompts for separate cover letter sections;
• Matching the style of the job advert to your cover letter…

… and so much more!

To answer the ethics question of writing a cover letter with ChatGPT, we’ve found a viral story for you.

One that presents you with the biggest “don’t”. Ever.

How not to write a cover letter with ChatGPT

Mandy Tang, a career coach and business owner, was sorting through job applications when she stumbled across a cover letter that covered every single one of her requirements.

"The letter was really well-formed, incredibly well-written, and had literally everything I wanted. But then I looked closer and realized it was just a copy and paste of everything I had put in the job description.”

Mandy Tang, career coach, and business owner

Tang decided to check with ChatGPT what the case was. She pasted in her job advert and told the chatbot to write a cover letter for it.

ChatGPT then regurgitated her requirements: word for word.

So, here's the moral of the story.

If you want to use ChatGPT to help you write a cover letter, be prepared with as much relevant information (including your resume) to get writing. Either copy and paste your resume or use a dedicated AI resume builder to create your cover letters.

Don't just copy-paste the advert in and expect the chatbot to work its magic.

How do you differentiate a well-written cover letter from a generic one?

The truth is that excellent cover letters are like diamonds in the rough.

Candidates use them to tell quick stories without diving too much into the nitty-gritty details.

Checklist: Before you start writing your cover letter, prepare

Cover letters' main purpose is to catch recruiters' interests by finding the balance between:

• dedicated cover letter space and filler words/ language;
• key skills or achievements without repeating candidate resumes;
• showing authentic interest in the role while highlighting job keywords;
• being specific and personable, yet ticking all the requirement boxes by allowing recruiters to imagine what the candidates' potential would be if they joined the company.

Attaining that level of perfection in cover letter writing sometimes seems impossible.

Here's where the role of ChatGPT comes in.

To kick off this cover letter/ChatGPT writing exercise, we've prepared six structures for you to experiment with.

The end goal is evident: for you to find the one that matches both your experience and the organization you're applying for best.

Without further ado, discover the:

Standardized cover letter prompt

The structure outline commences with a paragraph, where you'd introduce yourself, mention the role you're applying for, and how you've learned about it.

In the next paragraphs, you’d highlight relevant skills , experience , or accomplishments . Ones that align with the job requirements .

The next paragraph would focus on how you can help the company grow.

Sign off with a paragraph about how excited you are for the role and/or company, and thank hiring managers for their time.

Here's the prompt to get you writing:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this standardized structure. In the first paragraph, mention the role I'm applying for [Senior Architect] and that I've learned about it [from a friend who works at the company]. Use the next paragraph to highlight any of my relevant skills, experiences, or accomplishments that align with the job. The third and final paragraph should sign off with my excitement for the role. I'd also like to thank the recruiters for their time in assessing my resume and how I look forward to the next stages of the process. Ensure that the cover letter uses professional language and tone and follows industry best practice examples. If you've understood the assessment, can I please paste in my resume?

ChatGPT would next provide you with a template cover letter that follows this structure, which you could edit.

Certainly, I'd be happy to help you write a cover letter for the Senior Architect position. Please feel free to paste in your resume so I can review it and tailor the cover letter accordingly.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Senior Architect position that I learned about from a friend who works at your esteemed organization. With my extensive experience in the field of architecture, I am confident that I have the skills and expertise required to excel in this role.

As a seasoned architect with over 10 years of experience, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, including commercial and residential buildings, public infrastructure, and urban planning. My experience has given me a deep understanding of the design process, from initial concept to final construction, as well as an ability to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders at all levels. I am also well-versed in the latest architectural software and tools, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit, which have enabled me to produce high-quality designs and renderings.

I am excited about the opportunity to apply my skills and experience to the Senior Architect position at your organization. I believe that my expertise in architecture and design, as well as my ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients, make me an ideal candidate for this role.

Thank you for considering my application for the Senior Architect position. I appreciate the time you have taken to assess my resume, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further with you.

[Your Name]

But to go one step further, paste in your resume:

And, voilà:

Of course, this isn't the final version of your cover letter. You'll need to tweak the role you're applying for. But it's a pretty good starting point.

2. Best candidate structure

This cover letter structure is more focused on the specific job you’d be applying for and showcasing to recruiters why they should choose you.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this structure. In the first paragraph, highlight details about the company and give specific reasons as to why I'm interested in joining it. Use the next paragraph to highlight any of my relevant skills, experiences, or accomplishments that align with the job. The third and final paragraph should once again highlight why I'm a good fit for the company culture and role. Ensure that the cover letter uses professional language and tone and follows industry best practice examples. Make sure that it's not longer than three paragraphs. If you've understood the assessment, can I please paste in my resume?

Next, paste in your resume and the job advert itself to get a more personalized cover letter for the role.

Here’s my resume: [paste in your whole experience, strengths, achievements, etc.]

Here’s the job I’m applying for: [paste in everything in the job requirements]

The first cover letter ChatGPT produced was a bit too long.

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Architect position within your Sports Team at AECOM. I was impressed by your firm's commitment to delivering sustainable and equitable solutions that improve communities, as well as your dedication to fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a Senior Architect with over 10 years of experience in designing commercial and residential buildings, I am excited to apply my skills and knowledge to help your team achieve its goals.

Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in CAD and 3D design, BIM software, and project management. I have designed the initial structures of 20+ commercial buildings valued between $15-50 million and managed the realization and construction of 15+ commercial buildings, coordinating a total of 150+ people. Additionally, I have developed building information models using Revit and mentored junior architects in designing major government buildings. My experience in negotiating alternative solutions with stakeholders, stepping in for the lead architect, and planning budgets up to $100M highlights my leadership, negotiation, and budget planning skills.

As a Senior Architect within your Sports Team, I am confident that I can contribute to the development of solutions to complex technical problems in sports-related projects and other public and private sector projects. I am adept at managing multiple projects at various stages of development, ensuring that project teams meet quality, schedule, contractual, and budget goals. My ability to maintain project records and files, review construction documents for compliance with client/project requirements, and lead in the management and preparation of proposals for architectural projects including the development of work effort estimates demonstrates my attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to provide leadership and mentorship of staff and internal project teams.

I am excited about the opportunity to grow my career with AECOM through your technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. As an architect with a strong commitment to sustainability and a dedication to providing clients with personal spaces that meet their needs, I believe I would be an excellent fit for AECOM's mission and values. I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to your team and work with a global network of experts who are leading the change toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

Thank you for considering my application. I am available for an interview at your convenience and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

That’s why we asked the chatbot to shorten the cover letter using this prompt:

Can you make this cover letter be a bit shorter?

What do you think of ChatGPT’s final writing:

3. Narrative

This is one of the most exciting cover letter outlines out there. Yet, the cover letter is an exercise of focusing more on skill alignment and the organization you’re applying for, than yourself.

We’d recommend you use the narrative structure for instances where the job advert is very much value focused on soft skills and character fit.

Now, it’s story time!

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this storytelling structure. In the first paragraph, introduce my professional background that is relevant to the job of [3D Artist]. Use the next paragraph to share a relevant story from my experience that demonstrates my skills, experience, or personal qualities. Explain how this story relates to the job requirements. Sum up the cover letter with a paragraph about why I'm a great fit for the role, in terms of skills and enthusiasm for the industry. Use professional language and tone, but at the same time keep this cover letter compact. Follow some best industry practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in my resume?

The prompt we’ve provided you with is a bit generic. If you want to go for the gold:

• jot down a few details for ChatGPT about the storyline you want to tell with your experience;
• focus on an industry-wide challenge that you’ve overcome via your experience;
• think about the narrative which would impress recruiters the most and include it in the prompt.

Feel free to edit and add to this ChatGPT prompt, so that your cover letter turns into a real modern-day professional fairy tale.

3. Solution

This framework allows you to present to potential employers your problem-solving skills from the get-go.

It's a very good one for more technical roles.

Here's the prompt you could use:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following problem-solving structure to write the cover letter. I'll provide you with both the job advert and my resume. In the first paragraph, mention one specific challenge that this company may face, which the role can solve. The next paragraph should focus on how up to three skills and one of my past professional roles make me the perfect candidate to resolve this problem. Finalize with more information about why I'm the perfect candidate for the role. Use professional language and tone, but at the same time keep this cover letter compact. Follow the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in my resume?

After a shortener prompt, here’s the final result that ChatGPT produced:

This structure is one of the most prominent and useful ones for you. It’d focus on a tailored sales pitch to the role you’re applying for.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following skill-based structure to write the cover letter. List between 3–5 skills from my experience that are relevant to the job. Use my resume to provide brief examples of how I've used those particular skills in the past. Make sure to include both technical and soft skills. Keep this cover letter to be compact with a maximum of four paragraphs. Use professional language and tone. Follow the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in both my resume and the job advert?

3. T-Format

The T-format cover letter writing structure matches individual job requirements and keywords with resume experience items.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following T-format structure to write the cover letter. I'll provide you with both the job advert and my resume. Make this cover letter no more than five paragraphs long. List the job requirements or key skills mentioned in the job posting within the left column. In the right column, provide my provide corresponding experiences and qualifications. Use professional language and tone, while following the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in both my resume and the job advert?

It provides you with a very structured and easy-to-read end result:

These six structures are a good starting point for writing your cover letter. Of course, the more personalized prompts you provide to ChatGPT, the better the end results would be.

You’d ultimately need to tweak the text - here and there - but this chatbot provides you with excellent food for thought.

Moving on, within the next part of our guide, we’ll look at how the chatbot could help you write more specific cover letter sections.

The full prompt experience

Okay, so maybe you're struggling with the whole cover letter writing process and need help asap from ChatGPT.

Once again, this is your reminder not to solely rely on technology to write your cover letter. Instead, use it as a starting point to get writing.

Here's a very useful prompt for you.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with the job advert and my resume. Use this information to create a professional and effective cover letter. Focus the cover letter to be written using the best practices and industry standards. Tailor the cover letter's content to the specific job and company that I am applying to, highlighting my relevant skills and experience. Also, make sure to explain why I am a strong candidate for the position. Please ensure that the cover letter is clear and concise. The cover letter should have appropriate formatting and layout to make it visually appealing and easy to read. Do make sure that it effectively communicates my qualifications and interest in the job. Finally, don't include any personal opinions or statements. I'll first provide you with my resume, then the job advert. Is that okay?

–  Read the full ChatGPT conversation here

When pasting in your resume, make sure to include all relevant sections, including

Once again, make sure to include all the relevant items in the job advert.

Here's what ChatGPT came up with:

It's a pretty good effort, but if you're writing a cover letter, you need to go above and beyond.

That means as a rule of thumb, you can surely take what ChatGPT has written for you. But you need to personalize it further to show your character and what makes you stand out.

Aligning resume and job advert

The cursor has been blinking like crazy for the past 20 minutes in your Word document. Looking down at the status bar, the word count is still zero.

You have so much you want to say about yourself, the job, and the company. Yet, your mind is like that blank page in front of you.

From where do you start writing your cover letter?

The first stage of the process is research.

The best candidates don't just go on and on about how skillful they are in Python and/or C++.

But rather - their cover letters show recruiters how their visions and the company's ones for the future align.

Remember: your cover letter is never solely about you, but what you'd bring to the company.

This is one of the most useful ChatGPT prompts to get you writing: discovering how your resume answers the company's pain points.

The experience-job advert alignment prompt

Here's the prompt we've used:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with information about the job I am applying for and my relevant skills and experience. You will help me discover two things. The first - which areas of my expertise align with the job I'm applying for? The second - what skills would I need to highlight in my cover letter to make a good first impression? Is that understood?

Once you get the good to go from ChatGPT, it's time to paste your resume.

Checklist: In this case, Andrew Clark's resume:

ChatGPT has a bad tendency to fill in the gaps by fabricating any missing information. So, make sure you've pasted in all the information that's relevant to your application.

Next, you have to paste in the job advert. Once again, the more information you can provide to ChatGPT, the better the assessment will be.

We've provided the Senior Business Intelligence Analyst role in full by including:

• Key responsibilities
• Proven characteristics for success
• Personal traits
• Qualifications (both the must-have and the preferred ones)
• Any additional information (about both the company and its offer to candidates)

Asking ChatGPT if the role suits your experience is always a good idea. Here’s what the chatbot told us about Andrew Clark’s resume:

Overall, your experience and skills position you well for the role of a Business Intelligence Analyst. Your cover letter should showcase your relevant experience and highlight your technical and interpersonal skills, as well as your passion for learning and personal attributes that make you a good fit for the company culture.

Find out more about the chatbot's assessment.

It started listing all the crucial requirements for the role that align with the candidate's experience. Those included:

• data analysis
• visualization skills
• collecting requirements
• defining reporting standards
• creating dashboards.

Into the specifics, ChatGPT looked into technical skills that it recommends being integrated within the cover letter.

Technical skills that matched the Senior Business Intelligence Analyst role are:

• dealing with large datasets;
• building advanced dashboards with BI tools (e.g. Tableau Desktop);
• data modeling experience;
• SQL and/or Python;
• experience with ETL (e.g. Alteryx).

ChatGPT didn't disappoint with key soft skills either.

The main ones it told us to focus on (based on priority):

• working collaboratively to develop reliable, robust, and self-serve reporting;
• curiosity and passion for learning;
• ability to see the big picture;
• operating with a bias toward action and ownership;
• ability to build lasting and meaningful relationships;
• commitment to quality;
• cultural awareness.

BONUS alignment prompt

Next, we decided to dive deeper into the skills' alignment with this prompt:

Could you be more specific about the skills' alignment between my resume and the job advert? Which ones do you think would be a good idea to focus on, based on my current professional experience?

ChatGPT wanted us to focus on these four crucial areas to land the job:

• Data analysis and modeling: preparing budgets, variance analysis, identifying collaboration opportunities, and data modeling (data and platform integrations).
• Reporting and visualization: creating dashboards and reports; BI tools (e.g. Tableau Desktop).
• Collaboration and communication: working across functions, leadership, and communication across the board.
• Technical skills: SQL, Python, ETL tools.

One final tip from ChatGPT:

In your cover letter, it would be beneficial to focus on your experience with data analysis and modeling, as well as your technical skills, especially your proficiency with BI tools and your knowledge of SQL and/or Python. Additionally, you should highlight your collaboration and communication skills, especially your ability to work across functions and lead teams to achieve shared outcomes.

ChatGPT could help you start writing your cover letter with ideas of areas you can focus on.

What if you happen to have some experience in cover letter writing and just want to improve your cover letter?

ChatGPT is the perfect assistant that can do that for you.

This next section of our guide is specifically for those more advanced writers. It'll show you how to tailor individual cover letter sections.

Ultimately allowing you to have more control over what ChatGPT writes, while injecting more of your personal style.

Use these prompts to tweak individual sections of your cover letter.

Cover letter introduction and first paragraph

You could use ChatGPT to help you write about…

Something that impressed you about the company

Within the prompt, mention the role you're applying for and the company. You could also specify the tone of voice and your cover letter introduction length.

One of the most important and personalized elements you need to include is what you actually like about the company.

Be honest and as specific as you can possibly be when presenting ChatGPT with the instructions.

Here’s an effective prompt and cover letter introduction by ChatGPT:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a [lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson].

I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. I want to show that I am genuinely attracted to the company’s brand and have used or followed their products or services before.

A former colleague that referred you to this job

Referencing a colleague is a great starting point for building authentic trust between recruiters and yourself.

Apart from the generic details about the role you're applying for, you could also provide ChatGPT with instructions about

• words it needs to avoid;
• tone of voice;
• introduction length;
• projects you've collaborated on with your former colleague;
• give recognition to the colleague that recommended you.

Check out this prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm [a lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or fewer. I was referred to this job by [a former colleague, Kathryn Hydefield], so mention that connection in my cover letter.

Consider the following as well:

- Avoid using extreme words like “greatest” or “best”

- Show excitement and gratitude

- Keep it brief and let the recommendation speak for itself

- Mention a project you've worked on together previously

- Mention the good intentions of the person recommending you

This is a great starting point, but you'll need to fill in all relevant details.

Your motivations for applying to this job

Perhaps you'd like to start the cover letter with some information about your interest in the role.

ChatGPT can help you restructure your thoughts (and subsequently interest) with this prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm [a lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Please do focus on the reason why I'm applying for the role: [that I'm interested in applying my experience in a more global company].

A great achievement

In some cases, you'll want to kick off your cover letter with one of your greatest achievements.

Style it up with ChatGPT:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a lawyer, applying for [a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that leads with an impressive achievement and features quantifiable results.

Want to make ChatGPT’s job an even easier one?

Prepare in advance your greatest/ most impressive achievement with details of what you’ve achieved.

If the end results are supported by data, you’ll turn into the ultimate cover letter rock star.

Something newsworthy

Maybe the most impressive item of your career is that national award you won last year, recognizing your contributions to string theory research. Or, perhaps, your client feedback remains at a steady AVG of 98%.

Kick off your cover letter with this "newsworthy" ChatGPT prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a lawyer, applying for [a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that mentions something newsworthy (e.g. an award or recognition) and what its implications are to the role or industry.

Your vision

Cover letters are usually about alignment between individuals and the company they’re applying for.

Stating how your ambitions and vision for the future correspond with the company’s ones can open many doors for you.

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a [lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that mentions how my ambitions for the role align with the company's ones.

All of these six prompts can help you sort the information that you’d like to talk about.

But don’t solely rely on ChatGPT - you have all the talents and skills to present yourself.

Middle paragraphs of your cover letter

Now that you have the intro written, it's time to look at the body of your cover letter.

What these middle paragraphs aim to show is:

• that you've done your homework about the company;
• that you have the relevant skills and experience ;
• how you'll help the company succeed, based on your past successes.

Here are three useful prompts you can tailor and experiment with.

1. The research prompt

You know the company; you love the company. What is more, the role you're applying for is precisely what you're looking for.

Want to formulate this more professionally in the body of your cover letter?

I want you to act as a cover letter copywriter. I'm a [junior .net developer], applying for a [.net developer at Tesla]. Help me write the middle paragraphs of the cover letter, which should be no more than 100 words long. Make sure the tone is professional and shows my enthusiasm for the opportunity. Please focus the body of the cover letter on information about the company and why this role would be perfect for me.

2. Highlighting relevant skills, qualifications, and experience

This is one of the biggest questions recruiters are looking to have answered while reading your cover letter:

Do you have the right skills for the job, right now?

ChatGPT can help you communicate this across:

I'm a [communication officer], applying for a [project manager role at Home Depot]. Key skills for the role include [communication and partnership management; meeting project deadlines; and applying the Agile framework to attain results]. I want you to act as a cover letter writer and help me write the middle paragraphs of the cover letter. They should be no more than 100 words long and should sound professional and enthusiastic. One of the most important things to achieve in this section is to highlight the alignment between my experience with those three crucial skills for the role.

When listing this prompt, be specific about the key skill requirements and your experience.

If you want to go above and beyond, you could paste in your resume and the job advert, as we did in the previous sections of this guide.

The new prompt would follow the style of that above and end with something along the lines of:

… I'll first paste in my resume and then the job advert for you. Is that okay?

Once you get the “good-to-go” from ChatGPT, paste in all relevant information and watch the magic happen right before your eyes.

3. Forward-facing

The future is the ultimate sales pitch of your experience.

Rather than focusing just on your strengths, you’d present recruiters with what they’d ultimately get if they hire you.

I'm [an Amazon PPC expert], looking to land a role as [an Amazon Account Manager]. I want you to help me write the body of my cover letter, which should be no more than 100 words long. Make it sound amicable, professional, and enthusiastic. Focus these paragraphs on how my ambitions align with those of [Amazon]. Also, how my unique skill set would bring in success to the company.

Ending of a cover letter and ChatGPT

One of the best ways to end your cover letter is with a promise.

Either of what you'd bring to the table or how this opportunity would help you grow.

Here are the best two prompts you can use to finish off your cover letter with a snap:

I want you to help me write the final sentence of my cover letter. It should be no more than 50 words long, and should sound professional and engaging. Let the sentence show how I'd help [Sears' sales department] grow.

I want you to help me write the final sentence of my cover letter. It should be no more than 50 words long, and should sound professional and engaging. Let the sentence show how the role of [data analyst at Google] would grow my professional skills and abilities.

This is one of the greatest prompts of all time - let’s say you’ve your cover letter is already complete, but you’re applying to a smaller company.

You’d need to fix the language to sound more easily accessible to the recruiters.

ChatGPT can do that for you:

Can you help me adjust the tone of my cover letter? I've currently written one that it's more professional. I want it to sound more friendly, as I'll be applying for a role within a [startup]. I'll first provide you with my initial cover letter. Is that alright?

You’d next provide your cover letter:

And in just a few seconds, you’d receive:

Checklist: This style prompt could come in handy for you if you’re tailoring your cover letter for a/ an:

Including as much as possible from the relevant information would really help ChatGPT tailor and re-write your cover letter.

Of course, we can’t end this guide without providing you with a few more concrete examples of using ChatGPT to write your cover letter.

So here’s what we were able to produce with the help of the chatbot for

Entry-Level Candidate Cover Letter Example

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with just my resume - I'm an entry-level professional, looking for experience in [Engineering]. Could you please help me write my cover letter?

Mid-Career Level Cover Letter

I'm a [Cisco Certified System Administrator] in the middle of my career. I'm currently looking for a change of pace. I'll provide you with my resume, so you could help me write a cover letter for my mid-career move. The cover letter should be no more than four paragraphs long, sounding ambitious and professional. Use best cover letter writing practices to attain the wanted results. Is it okay if I share my resume with you?

C-Level Exectuve Cover Letter

I'm a CEO currently on the lookout for new opportunities. Once I provide you with my resume, please help me write a cover letter for more senior opportunities. The cover letter should be no more than four paragraphs long, sounding ambitious, professional, yet down to earth. Use best cover letter writing practices to attain the wanted results. Is it okay if I share my resume with you?

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How to Write a Resume With ChatGPT

We walk you through the steps of creating a resume with an AI assist to streamline the process.

If you're looking for a new job , a great resume can get your foot in the door. Unlike a cover letter, which has to be tweaked for every new position, your resume needs to be updated only every year or two to showcase your skills, experience, education, honors and references. 

With the state of the job market; mass layoffs; and the shift to the gig economy, investing time now to create an epic resume will pay off. Your resume is the first touch-point you have with a prospective employer, but if staring at a blank page and trying to write about yourself is discouraging, then let artificial intelligence do the legwork. 

ChatGPT , the breakout generative AI tool, can help you with the best practices of resume writing and speed up the process. If there's one thing AI is good at, it's synthesizing, structuring and summarizing information. And once you have your resume, you can use it to create a custom cover letter . 

You can use a free version of ChatGPT or pay $20 per month for added features like the  most recent models , priority access during peak usage, and image generation. 

If you're struggling to condense career highlights over decades into two pages, read on.

Creating a resume from scratch

Set yourself up for success by doing some preparation. ChatGPT needs context, otherwise it'll spit out generic content that's sometimes even wrong . I started by researching reporter resume templates and jotted down notes about past experience, education and accomplishments. 

Then to find out what ChatGPT needs, just ask. "Can you write me a resume?" was my first prompt, and ChatGPT conveniently told me all the information to input so it could get to work. 

I replied with all my information, outlined like this, and attached my preferred format: 

Here is my professional summary: [paste]  Here is my work experience: [paste]  Here are my major clients: [paste]  Here is my education: [paste]  Please generate a list of skills based on my experience and format my resume like the example below: [paste template]

ChatGPT does a great job of organizing information into a cohesive format, but I wanted to change it so it flowed a little better (it put my education before my experience, making it look at first glance like I didn't have any experience). 

Please reorganize the following sections in this order: 

• Contact Details 
• Summary 
• Experience 
• Major Clients 
• Skills 

Looking good.

Keep your info less sensitive

You'll see that I didn't give the chatbot my contact details to add to the resume. I prefer to keep my sensitive information out of the model to avoid any future data breaches or unnecessary risk, so I'll add my email, phone number and address myself in the final version. 

When reviewing ChatGPT's draft, I noticed two issues: 

• My 10 years as a full-time freelancer needed to be fleshed out, by adding noteworthy projects and long contracts. 
• The skills list was way too long. 

Back in ChatGPT I wrote the following:

Please add two contract roles under Freelance Reporter and Writer in the experience section. 

Freelance Reporter at NerdWallet, August 2022 - present. Tasks: Writing personal finance advice articles, providing insights and strategies to educate and empower everyday consumers in Australia. Topics include credit cards, travel points, frequent flyer programs, BNPL, credit scores, money management, and more.

Freelance Reporter at Decential, September 2022 - present. Tasks: Reporting on the people, projects and protocols in the world of web3. Cover news, interview founders, write deep dive features and commentary, and cover in-person events and conferences.

Then, instead of reducing the skills list, I asked that it be arranged in two columns. The chatbot put the info into a table, which I didn't like, so I asked that it be removed. 

ChatGPT still had a hard time with it. I asked it again to present the info in two columns, with a space in between but without a table or borders. You can highlight a section and reply specifically there. 

But it still didn't work, so I stopped wasting time and did it myself directly in the document. 

Final tweaks

Before I made my final tweaks, I asked ChatGPT to provide a short list of suggestions for how to improve my resume. It gave me some solid advice -- like highlighting achievements, quantifying results, tailoring my resume to a specific job, adding keywords and making my professional summary more concise -- but take it with a grain of salt. 

For example, my professional summary shows my narrative abilities and doesn't take up much real estate. I did, however, add a section for notable projects.  

Though some advice was relevant, like adding metrics to achievements and starting each bullet point with a strong action verb, the others weren't necessary. For instance, I didn't want to make my profile more concise, because that's where I show off my narrative ability for writing jobs. When using artificial intelligence, always trust your human instinct. 

Last, I wanted to get it down from four pages to three, so I arranged my major clients into two columns and reduced the skills list. You can see the final version of my AI-created resume below.

Once ChatGPT is done with the nitty gritty, you can add the finishing touches yourself. I'll drop in my logo and byline hyperlinks, then it's good to go!

For more AI tips, check out  how to use Midjourney to create custom wedding invitations  and how to use AI-powered Grammarly to do all of your editing . For news and hands-on reviews of gen AI tools  ChatGPT ,  Copilot ,  Gemini  and more, check out CNET's  AI Atlas  hub.

ChatGPT's final resume for me: