Table of Contents
Crafting a Compelling Opening Statement
Your first task is the hardest (and it is okay if you need to come back to this part later with some fresh ideas). The opening statement needs to be compelling, interesting, and outstanding in terms of overall quality. Stuck?
Introduce yourself to ChatGPT and get the conversation started. Here is an example prompt that may help you.
- I want to introduce myself to (Company) for the (job title) position. My name is (name), and I am writing to show my strong interest in being hired by the company.
With this prompt, the tool can begin to craft some interesting content for you. You will need to provide some detailed, personalized information. For example, you may want to tell ChatGPT about your specific reason for wanting this job or your specific qualifications.
Highlighting Relevant Skills and Experiences Concisely
The next step in a cover letter is to create some level of immediate reason why they should consider you. To do that, you need to show you have some level of skill or experience that makes you a good fit for the job.
To write a cover letter with AI that can help you with this process, consider a prompt like the following: (just make sure you update it to match your specific needs.)
- I want to showcase my skills and experiences in a cover letter for the (job description) that I am applying to with (company name). Could you help me to describe my skills in a strong way? I would like to highlight (include the specific skills you have here) in the description.”
Here, you are telling ChatGPT to provide a very specific context for the statement. You will find that these ChatGPT cover letter tips apply throughout this process. Always include as much specific information as you want the tool to incorporate and verify the accuracy. Just like using ChatGPT in your job search, remember that it is a tool you’ll need to refine.
Showcasing Passion and Enthusiasm for the Role
You’ve stated that you are interested and qualified, but now your cover letter needs to communicate the “why” behind your application. With AI-generated cover letters, this can be a tricky process. It’s hard to put into words what you want the tool to say, especially if this is the 23rd cover letter you’ve written for the same type of job. Consider a prompt like the following to help you with the process:
- Can you help me explain how excited I am about an opportunity to work with (company) in the (job title) role? I would like you to mention that I am particularly drawn to the company because (include some specific reason why you want to work for the company here).
With AI tools for cover letters, when you’re just not sure what to include in a statement like this, use the tool to help you find more information. For example, you may want to tell ChatGPT to find out what the company’s latest investment, product launch, or initiative is and then communicate that you’re interested in being a part of that project. Personalized it all the way! Make sure you’re being authentic, though, since hiring managers can read through the lines.
Add a Conclusion
You don’t have to use ChatGPT for this step unless you’re really looking for something interesting or different to add to the closing of your cover letter. Effective cover letter writing, though, is simple and straightforward. You want to make sure the content isn’t going over the top or becoming too long that no one reads it.
If you want help, ask ChatGPT to assist with a prompt such as:
- Please create a professional closing statement for (company) that incorporates my desire to speak to the company about a job opening and how well it fits with my goal to (include goal here).
Formatting and Editing Tips for Perfection
Now that you have the content written, it’s time to go back and perfect it all. As you learn how to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter, do not overlook the importance of this step. Just because the tool creates the content doesn’t mean it’s accurate or on point.
After you use the ChatGPT cover letter prompt above, there is a simple set of steps to complete to ensure it is accurate, authentic, and true to your personality.
- Make sure the opening is engaging. Would you read a letter you opened with that statement?
- Ensure the job description is accurate and clear without being redundant. You don’t need to include the name of the job or company too many times.
- Does the cover letter really convey what makes you unique and valuable for this job? If it’s just too generic, go back to the tool. You can improve cover letters with AI as many times as you want to make them feel more accurate or authentic. Work on it a bit until it feels right to you.
- How long is the cover letter? Even with AI tools for cover letters capable of providing a short book in a matter of moments, you need to keep this to just a few paragraphs and never more than half a page or ¾ of a page in length.
- Did you proofread it? Again, just because you have a tool that is creating cover letters with AI for you does not mean every detail is accurate. You need to ensure this shines.
- Consider the tone carefully. If you are applying for a professional position, you need to be sure that it sounds positive, motivated, and exciting, but at the same time, not so over the top that it just does not seem authentic.
That word “authentic” is used quite a bit here, and that’s because, even if you want to use a ChatGPT cover letter prompt like this one from start to finish, it is critical that your final product does not sound like a machine wrote it. The company definitely isn’t hiring ChatGPT to do the job.
Use ChatGPT’s Language Suggestions for Refinement
To help you with your ChatGPT cover letter, don’t overlook ChatGPT’s own language suggestion tools. Don’t simply accept them all, but instead consider how well they enhance or detract from the message you want to create.
If you already have a cover letter that you think is pretty good, run it through the tool. Often, you can improve cover letters with AI for no other reason than to get some fresh wording included or a new idea to help make your letter seem more interesting and worth reading.
You can also use ChatGPT for job applications in a similar way. Simply use the tool to improve, adjust, or otherwise make your information stand out and sound more in-depth, professional, or just more industry-appropriate.
Final Thoughts
If you are considering a ChatGPT cover letter, you already understand the value that can come from using a tool like this. We never recommend actually using it as the only component of your process, but AI-generated cover letters are a solid place to start.
You can go one step further, too. Sign up for JobCopilot now. You can use our AI Cover Letter writer to make it even easier to create a highly effective cover letter without all of the steps above (we’ve made it even easier to skip through the prompts). It is perhaps one of the best ways to create a cover letter using AI without learning all the prompts.
Creating cover letters with AI can be a solid way to improve the attention your application gets. Make sure you review what is included and always work to ensure that, when creating cover letters with AI, you are still being accurate in anything you submit.
FAQ
You definitely can use ChatGPT to create a cover letter, and doing so can be even easier when you use our AI cover letter writer. Doing so can help you resolve those stumbling blocks of now knowing what to say and help you create a very accurate and interesting finished piece.
Using ChatGPT as a tool is a good idea and it is okay to do. Employers certainly do not want you to answer interview questions with a tool like this, but it is okay to use it as a way to start your cover letter. As long as you go through the process carefully and then go back to edit it, chances are good you will have a very authentic and effective cover letter that hits home with the person reading it (and that’s the goal!)
In some situations, employers may specifically state that they do not want any type of AI writing tool used when completing applications, cover letters, or other statements and communications with the company. If they state that, do not do so. However, using ChatGPT or any other AI tool to help you in drafting your cover letter is not in itself unethical. The key is to use these as a tool and not the only component of the process.
One of the most important reasons to use AI to create a cover letter is that it will help you create a very professional, clean, and accurate cover letter that gets right to the point. It can save you time and let you instantly update each cover letter to match just about any job you are applying to—which means you have an authentic cover letter for every job you are applying to within a matter of minutes.