Job hunting can feel like an uphill battle. With the rise of remote work and the Great Resignation, the job market has shifted, giving more power to employers. Mass layoffs and hiring freezes have created fierce competition, making it tougher and more time-consuming to land a new role. If you’ve been applying for jobs lately, you know how exhausting and time-consuming the process can be.
While it might be tempting to use the “quick apply” button and send the same generic cover letter to every job, this approach rarely works. On the other hand, writing a unique cover letter for every application isn’t practical, especially when you’re competing with hundreds or even thousands of applicants.
That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. Using AI to tailor your cover letters for each job can save you time, help you stand out in a crowded market, and increase your chances of landing an interview.
For this guide, I used ChatGPT, the AI tool that took the world by storm after its launch in November 2022. If you’re new to AI, ChatGPT is a great place to start—it’s user-friendly and widely accessible. Below, I’ll walk you through the steps, share helpful prompts, and offer tips to make your job applications more effective (plus, a potential pitfall to avoid). Let’s get started!
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How to Create a Personalized Cover Letter Using ChatGPT
To get started, you’ll need a ChatGPT account, the job description you’re applying for, your resume, and—if you have one—a previous cover letter for reference.
You can use the free version of ChatGPT, like I did, or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month. The paid version offers extra benefits, such as access to the latest AI models, faster response times during busy periods, and even image generation tools. Choose the option that works best for you!
Crafting Your First AI Prompt: A Simple Guide
Your first prompt can be as simple as: “Can you help me write a cover letter for the role of a reporter on the autos team at The Wall Street Journal? Here’s the job description: [paste job description] and my resume: [paste resume].”
However, during my first attempt, I noticed a major issue: ChatGPT “hallucinated.” While it correctly mentioned some of the publications I’ve written for and topics I’ve covered, it also included completely made-up stories (see yellow highlights).
If there’s one thing I’d fix in my cover letter, it’s this inaccuracy. Always double-check the details AI generates to ensure they’re accurate and truthful!
The cover letter ChatGPT generated was longer than I preferred, so you can either set a word limit (e.g., “Keep it under 300 words”) or ask it to remove specific sections to make it more concise.
Next, I asked ChatGPT to identify the top five keywords to include in my cover letter for the reporter role on the autos team at The Wall Street Journal. Here’s what it suggested:
- Automotive industry
- Investigative reporting
- Data-driven storytelling
- Breaking news
- Editorial collaboration
Using these keywords can help tailor your cover letter to the job description and make it more relevant to the role. Always customize the suggestions to match your skills and experience!
Effective Follow-Up Prompts to Refine Your Cover Letter
Next, I asked ChatGPT to incorporate these keywords into my cover letter. I selected my top three and used this prompt:
“Remove the five bullet points and include the following keywords in my experience: Scoops, breaking news, and business and financial reporting.”
With each adjustment, the cover letter is getting closer to what I need. It’s all about refining and personalizing!
Since the role requires expertise in tech and financial reporting, I asked ChatGPT to highlight my relevant experience at NerdWallet and my past work with MIT Tech Review.
Here’s the prompt I used:
“Emphasize my experience reporting on emerging technology and personal finance for outlets like NerdWallet and MIT Tech Review.”
This helped tailor the cover letter further, ensuring it aligns with the job’s specific requirements. Small tweaks like this can make a big difference in showcasing your qualifications!
With a strong foundation in place, it was time to adjust the tone. The cover letter still didn’t feel like me—I wanted it to be more concise, conversational, and polished.
Here’s the prompt I used:
“Rewrite in a more conversational tone, using shorter sentences and avoiding repetition. Make it eloquent, engaging, and sophisticated.”
This style adjustment trimmed the letter by 30%, making it tighter and more impactful. Sometimes, a simple tweak in tone can transform your cover letter into something that truly reflects your personality and professionalism!
You can keep refining your cover letter in ChatGPT, but I decided to make my final adjustments manually. This allowed me to weave in my personal voice and ensure it truly reflected who I am.
While AI is a fantastic tool for creating a strong foundation, adding those final, personal touches by hand can make your cover letter stand out even more. It’s all about finding the right balance between efficiency and authenticity!
Finalizing Your AI-Generated Cover Letter: Tips for a Polished Finish
Once you’re happy with the AI-generated draft, copy the content into a Word or Google Doc to fine-tune the language and make it sound more like you. For example, replace generic phrases like “Dear Hiring Manager” with something more personalized, such as “Dear [Company] Hiring Team.” Also, remove any awkward or unnatural lines—like “is a prospect I relish”—that you’d never actually say. Don’t forget to double-check for any inaccuracies or “hallucinations” ChatGPT might have added.
Here’s how my final version turned out after combining ChatGPT’s output with my personal edits. I removed mentions of brand work (since it’s a reporter role) and added some flair to make it truly mine. A little manual effort can go a long way in making your cover letter shine!
While ChatGPT can help craft a cover letter that reflects your personality, you can adjust the tone to better match the company’s voice, vibe, and vision. Let ChatGPT highlight your strengths and experiences, then take the time to refine it, add your personal touch, and make it truly yours. Once you’re happy with the result, all that’s left is to polish it, style it, and hit send!
2 Comments
Great article
Thank you, Adam, for your comment.