Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter for a Job Application
Writing cover letters is the worst, am I right? It takes me like 3 hours every time I apply for a new job. You need to research the company, add relevant keywords, and make sure it is ATS Compliant…
So, I now use ChatGPT to write cover letters for me. It saves me time, which I can utilize in other job search activities.
In this post, I’ll share my experience using ChatGPT as an AI cover letter writer. Was it a slick way to shortcut writing or a big mistake? Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaway:
ChatGPT can help job seekers save time and effort by automatically generating well-structured cover letter drafts containing relevant keywords using the prompts provided in this article. However, editing and customizing the cover letter is essential to ensure accuracy, personalization, and proper formatting before submitting it.
How ChatGPT Can Help You Generate Cover Letters?
Cover letters give you a great opportunity to showcase why you’re an excellent fit for the job.
Beyond reiterating your resume, they allow you to highlight your most relevant qualifications and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and company.
A well-crafted cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself beyond the facts and figures of your resume.
You need your personality, communication skills, and motivation to apply. This sets you apart from other applicants who didn’t take the time to submit a cover letter.
When writing your cover letter, research the company so you can speak to their specific needs and mission. Employers want to know you truly understand what they are looking for in a candidate.
Why is this important? You can write a cover letter once and send it to everyone right?
No. According to a survey by resumego, applications with tailored cover letters yield just over 50% more interviews compared to those without.
Now, there is a challenge that comes with this. Writing a cover letter from scratch can be time-consuming because you must ensure the letter matches the job description.
This is where you need to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter.
Here are the steps you need to follow to best use ChatGPT for writing a cover letter –
1. Clarify what you need from ChatGPT, such as a template or phrasing suggestions.
2. Provide the background details about the role and your qualifications.
3. Review and customize the AI’s suggestions to fit your style.
4. Triple-check for any errors after making revisions.
5. Attach your polished cover letter to submit a compelling job application.
Crafting an Effective Cover Letter Prompt for ChatGPT
In order to generate a Cover letter, you need to give ChatGPT some information, such as the Job Description and role you are applying along with your resume or existing CV or LinkedIn profile.
This will help it to understand the job requirements and generate the cover letter according to it.
I would recommend providing your LinkedIn profile since generally, it is updated with the latest information. I use my LinkedIn profile to generate resumes or cover letters when applying for any job.
Here is the prompt to write a compelling cover letter using ChatGPT –
Generate a cover letter for an individual applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. The cover letter should be ATS (Applicant Tracking System) compliant and optimized to match the job description provided below. You must consider the applicant’s information provided below while adding details in the cover letter. Include relevant keywords and skills from the job description to enhance the applicant’s chances of being selected for an interview.
[Constraints]:
Please ensure the cover letter includes:
1. It must not be more than 300 words.
2. A brief introduction about the candidate.
3. Explanation of why the candidate is interested in the role.
4. Highlighting of relevant skills and experiences that match the job description.
5. Explanation of how the candidate’s skills and experiences make them a good fit for the role.
6. A closing statement expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to interview.
The cover letter should be professional, concise, and should not exceed one page. Please ensure that the tone is respectful and enthusiastic.
Also, please use the following structure for the cover letter:
1. Salutation
2. Introduction
3. Body (Why you’re interested in the role, Your relevant skills and experiences)
4. Conclusion
5. Closing and Signature
[Job Description]:
[Insert the job description here]
[Candidate’s Resume / CV / LinkedIn profile]:
[Paste your details here]
To put this prompt to the test, I have asked ChatGPT to generate a sample Job Description of a Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience and a Candidate profile.
Here is the cover letter it has generated:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Software Engineer position at XYZ Tech, as advertised. With a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, three years of professional software engineering experience, and a passion for innovative solutions, I am excited to contribute to your dynamic team.
XYZ Tech’s dedication to solving complex problems through innovative software aligns perfectly with my career aspirations. I am drawn to the opportunity to lead the design and development of high-performance software applications, a responsibility that I have successfully undertaken in my previous roles. My experience in full-stack development, utilizing technologies such as React, Node.js, and MongoDB, has honed my ability to create user-friendly and efficient interfaces, a key requirement for the role.
My expertise extends to collaborating with cross-functional teams to define software requirements, write clean and well-documented code, and ensure the reliability and robustness of software products through comprehensive testing. Additionally, my commitment to staying updated with industry trends and technologies, as evident in my AWS Certified Developer – Associate and Certified ScrumMaster certifications, aligns with XYZ Tech’s culture of continuous learning.
What sets me apart is my strong problem-solving skills, quick adaptability to new technologies, and ability to work effectively in fast-paced, collaborative environments. I thrive on challenges and believe in maintaining a high level of code quality.
I am enthusiastic about the prospect of contributing to XYZ Tech’s innovative projects, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture, and furthering my career in a flexible and dynamic environment. I am excited to discuss how my skills and experiences align with your team’s goals and contribute to XYZ Tech’s mission.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager for the opportunity to interview and discuss how I can make a significant impact as a Senior Software Engineer at XYZ Tech. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Looks great, right?
Think about how much time you saved by generating this cover letter using ChatGPT.
But do not apply it right away; ChatGPT can provide incorrect data.
Optimizing and Editing the ChatGPT-Generated Cover Letter
Here are the steps you need to take to edit the GPT generated cover letter. This is to make sure that the cover letter is up to the mark, aligned with the job description etc.
1. Read through the entire letter carefully. Look for any awkward phrasing, grammatical errors, or parts that don’t sound natural.
2. Make sure the facts and details provided in the letter are accurate. Double check things like the company name, job title, your work history dates, etc.
3. Personalize the letter so it doesn’t sound generic. Add specific details about why you’re interested in this company and role. Mention how your background and skills directly relate.
4. Trim any unnecessary verbosity. ChatGPT can sometimes generate letters that are too long and wordy. Try to tighten and condense where you can.
5. Vary sentence structure. Break up long, complex sentences into shorter, punchier ones. Vary sentence openings and lengths.
6. Use active voice instead of passive where appropriate. For example, “I solved the problem” rather than “the problem was solved by me.”
7. Make sure the tone and voice align with your personal brand. Adjust any phrasing that doesn’t sound like you.
8. Check for proper formatting. Make sure spacing, paragraph breaks, sections etc follow standard cover letter layouts.
9. Have a human proofread the letter to catch anything you may have missed. Fresh eyes often pick up subtle issues.
10. Revise and refine multiple times until the letter is concise, compelling, error-free, and personalized. This takes time but is worth the effort.
Evaluating the Cover Letter using ChatGPT
Now that you have the edited cover letter ready, here is the final step before submitting it to the employer.
You can ask ChatGPT to evaluate the cover letter based on the job description to make sure that the edited version actually aligns with it.
Here is the prompt you can provide to ChatGPT for it –
Please evaluate the following cover letter on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest based on the provided job description. Act as a recruiter with 10+ years of experience reviewing the cover letter. Additionally, provide specific suggestions for improvement as bullet points. Ensure that the suggestions are constructive and focus on enhancing the overall quality and effectiveness of the resume.
[Cover Letter for Evaluation]:
[Insert the full cover letter text here]
[Job Description]:
[Insert the full job description here]
Evaluation Scale:
10: The resume is exceptionally well-crafted, highly effective, and error-free.
5: The resume is average, with room for improvement.
1: The resume is highly ineffective, with significant issues.
Guidelines for Feedback:
1. Highlight any grammatical or spelling errors.
2. Identify areas where the resume lacks clarity or conciseness.
3. Assess the overall structure, including the order of sections.
4. Comment on the relevance and impact of the content.
5. Suggest improvements related to formatting and visual appeal.
6. Recommend tailoring the resume to a specific job or industry (if applicable).
I have tested it with the cover letter that is generated above and ChatGPT has given this feedback.
Don’t you think having an extra evaluation here helps?
It’s not perfect, but it helps you have an extra pair of eyes for verifying so that you don’t realise the mistake after applying.
Pros and Cons of using ChatGPT for cover letters
Pros
1. It can quickly generate well-written content that sounds natural and engaging. This saves you time compared to writing from scratch.
2. It can include keywords from the job description to match your letter directly to what the employer is looking for. This level of personalization is difficult to achieve manually.
3. ChatGPT allows you to generate multiple variations of a cover letter very easily. You can tweak the prompts to get different styles and perspectives to see which resonates most.
4. It can mimic different writing voices. You can prompt ChatGPT to write your letter in a casual, conversational tone or a more formal business style.
Cons
1. The content may feel generic since it’s AI generated and lacks your unique personality and voice.
2. You have less control compared to writing yourself. The AI may misinterpret your prompts.
3. Important details may be missing or inaccurate. It can confidently generate incorrect facts and examples.
4. You need to add your own experiences.
Overall, I suggest you to use ChatGPT for generating the drafts quickly for saving time. But review, fact-check and edit it before applying for the job.
Conclusion
After my experiment, I think ChatGPT has real potential as an AI assistant for crafting cover letters faster. It can generate a pretty solid first draft with all the right elements in just a few minutes.
But the key is to put in the time to polish and customize that AI output before sending it off. ChatGPT won’t perfectly capture your personal story or style – that’s where you come in!
I’d recommend using it as a starting point, not an instant solution.
With the right human touch, this can increase your chances of being noticed and ultimately getting interview calls.
