Job Search Advice

How to Use ChatGPT to Create the Perfect Cover Letter

ChatGPT is an AI-powered tool that helps you craft the perfect cover letter. Read on for personalized advice on how to write your cover letter to make sure your application stands out.

Michael Yan Leila Le
Published: (Updated: ) - 7 min read
Michael Yan is the co-founder & CEO of Simplify. Previously a software engineer at Meta, Michael dropped out of Stanford to found Simplify. He is a part-time career coach & Y Combinator alum.

Photo by Rolf van Root / Unsplash

With the job market being increasingly competitive, crafting a cover letter that captures the attention of potential employers is crucial in setting yourself apart from other candidates.  Luckily, there are a range of resources available to job seekers, including ChatGPT – a free AI tool that can assist in generating a well-written and unique cover letter.

Keep reading for our favorite tips on how to make the most of ChatGPT, as well as offer some innovative approaches to crafting a standout cover letter that can help you land your dream job!

If you're looking for some easy prompts to use in your cover letter, no worries! We've got you covered - scroll down for our favorite ChatGPT prompts for cover letter generation.

Meet ChatGPT: Your Personal Writing Assistant

Crafting a compelling cover letter can be daunting, even for the most experienced job seekers. But it's the first chance to impress a potential employer and make a lasting impression. According to CareerBuilder, 49% of employers say that they expect a cover letter to accompany a resume.

Here's where ChatGPT can help. Our powerful language model uses advanced algorithms and natural language processing to assist with various writing tasks, including cover letter writing. With ChatGPT, you can:

  • Get personalized writing assistance that is tailored to your needs
  • Refine your writing until it's just right
  • Showcase your unique skills and experiences in the best possible light

As one of our users put it, "Chat GPT is a game-changer. It helped me craft a cover letter that got me an interview for my dream job." So, if you're struggling with cover letter writing, why not simplify your job search process with the help of AI?

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Looking for your dream job? Sign up on Simplify today and get matched with job opportunities that fit your skills and interests!

Guide to Crafting Your Cover Letter with AI

Crafting a compelling cover letter is a crucial step in securing your dream job. However, the task can be daunting, and it's not always easy to know where to start. Fortunately, ChatGPT offers a range of prompts and tools to help you create a standout cover letter. AI can be a valuable resource in crafting a winning cover letter that showcases your unique qualifications and sets you apart from other candidates.

To begin crafting a compelling cover letter, we've put together a comprehensive guide that covers all the necessary steps, as well as some of our favorite tips to help make your cover letter stand out!

  1. Start by selecting a prompt. ChatGPT provides a wide range of prompts specifically designed to help you write a cover letter. Whether you need to write a letter for a sales position or want to introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in the job, there's a prompt for you.
  2. Once you've selected a prompt, ChatGPT will generate a sample cover letter based on that prompt. You can use this sample as a starting point for your own letter, or you can continue to refine it with ChatGPT's help.
  3. ChatGPT can assist you with various writing tasks, such as brainstorming ideas, organizing your thoughts, and refining your language. For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to suggest alternative phrasings for a specific sentence or help you come up with a more effective way to emphasize your qualifications.
  4. Finally, after writing your cover letter, you can ask ChatGPT to review it for clarity, grammar, and spelling errors. ChatGPT can help you identify any issues and suggest ways to improve the letter before you send it to the hiring manager.

The Best ChatGPT Prompts to Use When Writing Your Cover Letter

When it comes to using ChatGPT to improve your cover letter, preparation is key. Before diving into the prompts, it's important to have a clear direction and a solid understanding of the information you want to convey. Remember, ChatGPT is designed to assist you in writing a cover letter, not write it entirely for you.

Therefore, be ready to ask the right questions and provide necessary context to get the most out of the AI tool. Here are some of our favorite general tips to keep in mind when using ChatGPT to improve your cover letter!

Pre-Prompt Tips

  • Have a clear idea of the job and company you're applying to: Before selecting a prompt, make sure you have a good understanding of the job and company you're applying to. This will help you tailor your cover letter to their specific needs and make it more effective.
  • Use multiple prompts to generate ideas: Don't limit yourself to just one prompt. Use several prompts to brainstorm ideas and come up with different approaches to your cover letter.
  • Refine and customize: ChatGPT's generated text is a starting point. Refine and customize the language to match your writing style and the needs of the job.
  • Keep it concise: A cover letter should be no more than one page. Use ChatGPT's suggestions to tighten up your language and eliminate any unnecessary information.
  • Always proofread: Even with ChatGPT's assistance, it's important to proofread your cover letter for grammar, spelling, and clarity errors.

Cover Letter Prompt Examples

  • Please draft a [friendly/formal] introduction paragraph for a cover letter for the [position] role at [company], using my past experiences and qualifications as a reference.
  • Please tailor my current cover letter (see below) to the [position] role at [company]. Please use keywords from the job description and company values to demonstrate my qualifications and how they align with the company's needs.
  • Please review my skills, experience, and achievements (see below) and rewrite them to highlight how they relate to the [position] role at [company]. Please use specific examples and keywords from the job description and company values.
  • Draft a [friendly/formal] closing paragraph for a cover letter for the [position] role at [company], emphasizing my enthusiasm and qualifications for the role and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to apply.
  • Review my current cover letter (see below) and provide feedback on how I can improve it for the [position] role at [company]. Please provide specific suggestions for how I can better showcase my skills and experiences in the context of the job requirements and company values.
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Helpful tip: If you're unsure of how to begin, feel free to tailor these prompts to suit your unique needs and plug them into ChatGPT!

The Advantages of Using ChatGPT to Create Stand-Out Cover Letters

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way we search for jobs, making the process faster, more efficient, and less stressful. There are several advantages to using ChatGPT in your job search, including time-saving benefits, enhanced writing quality, and reduced stress and anxiety associated with writing. Let's take a closer look at each of these benefits.

Time saving benefits

Gone are the days of staring at a blank page and wondering what to write in your cover letter. With ChatGPT, you can now quickly generate a cover letter by simply typing in "generate me a cover letter based on my resume." Instead of spending time revising each cover letter for each job, you can focus your efforts somewhere else, like applying to jobs, preparing for interviews, and networking!

Enhanced writing quality

Another great advantage of using AI in your job search is that it automatically checks for grammar, spelling, and other writing errors, resulting in better quality writing. You no longer have to plug your cover letter into a grammar editor or wonder if you accidentally spelled something wrong; ChatGPT does it all for you.

Reduced stress and anxiety associated with writing

Writing a cover letter can be a daunting task, especially if you're not confident in your writing skills. However, ChatGPT can help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with writing by providing you with a starting point. With AI, you can just provide the job description, your resume, and what you want to say, and it will give you a starting point to work from. This makes the writing process less intimidating and more manageable.

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Are you looking for the perfect resume template for your job search? Check out our blog post on the best tips for your resume here!

Limitations of Using ChatGPT for Cover Letter Writing

While we've explored the benefits of using ChatGPT to create cover letters, it's important to acknowledge that there are also limitations to its capabilities. Here are a few potential drawbacks to consider:

Lack of Personalization

While ChatGPT can provide a solid foundation for your cover letter, it's important to keep in mind that it is still an AI language model and will not be able to fully understand your unique experiences and perspective. This can result in a lack of personalization in your cover letter. However, you can always use ChatGPT's generated content as a starting point and customize it to better reflect your individuality.

Overreliance on AI

Relying too heavily on AI-generated content for your job search can also be a potential pitfall. It's important to balance the convenience and efficiency of ChatGPT with your own input and ideas. A cover letter that is too generic or formulaic could actually harm your chances of landing an interview.

Limited Industry-Specific Knowledge

Another limitation to keep in mind is that ChatGPT may not have industry-specific knowledge that is relevant to your job search. While it can provide general guidance on cover letter writing, it may not be able to offer insights specific to your field or company. To mitigate this, be sure to provide ChatGPT with as much industry-specific information as possible so that it can tailor its generated content to better suit your needs.

Reference this example: "Hi ChatGPT, I am a marketing professional with experience in the automobile industry who is now applying for software engineering jobs. Can you generate a cover letter that highlights my marketing experience and explains how it would make me a good fit for [Company Name]?"

Say Hello to the Future of Writing

With the constant advancement of technology, it's exciting to think about how AI will continue to shape the future of job searching and writing. ChatGPT has already demonstrated its potential to revolutionize the job search process by streamlining tasks previously thought impossible. By following the tips and tricks outlined in this blog, crafting an impressive cover letter will become a breeze!

Are you looking to further streamline your job search? Consider signing up with Simplify today. Our platform offers a variety of features designed to simplify your job search and connect you with your dream job. With our autofilling feature, job lists, and personalized job matching quiz, you'll be able to find job opportunities that match your skills and preferences quickly and easily. So why wait? Sign up now and take the first step towards landing your dream job!

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Ready to get started? Take Simplify's 30-second job quiz to get matched with positions that fit your interests and skills!