How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter
Written by Valentine Fabre.
Is having to write a cover letter slowing down your application process, leaving you feeling overwhelmed or lost? No worries, you are not the only one. Hopefully enough though, new technologies can now make the process much easier, the latest being ChatGPT.
Thanks to its wide accessibility, user-friendly interface and overall high efficiency, the AI tool is becoming increasingly popular amongst jobseekers looking to simplify the application process. However, it is important to know how to properly use ChatGPT so that it alleviates the stresses of your job search rather than hinder your efforts.
Here is a rundown of how to use the platform, and its limitations.
Consider Your Prompts
Once you have signed up for ChatGPT and created an account, the first thing that you want to consider is your prompt.
To answer your questions, the artificial intelligence application traces back data and text from all the digitally-accessible information it can find, up to 2021. Therefore, the broader your query will be, the broader its output will be.
To ensure that ChatGPT provides you with a high quality answer, prioritise precise prompts with specific details. In the case of a cover letter, your prompt should include the company you are applying to as well as the position. On top of that, make sure to add your own qualifications and experiences which you would like to include in the cover letter.
An example prompt would be: “Please help me write a cover letter for the role of [ROLE] at [COMPANY], based on the personal information I will share now.” Follow this with your education, skills and experience as well as the specific reasons why you are interested in the position.
Rewrite and Edit
Now that you submitted all the necessary information, sit back and watch as the chatbot quickly generates the initial draft. Once it has finished, it is your turn to revise the content as necessary.
Never copy and paste the output cover letter as is — even without AI detectors, hiring managers and recruiters can very easily spot automated language in a job application, which will result in its immediate rejection. Therefore, you must adapt the cover letter and make it your own.
Make it Personal
The most important part of this process is adding some life into the letter, because if there is one thing ChatGPT is not yet capable of, it is to replicate your personal tone of voice. Yes, you can ask it to use a conversational or a serious tone, but it still very much recognisably AI.
Replace words you would not normally use and opt for organic language to describe your experiences and future career aspirations. Finally, ask friends and family what they think — does it sound like it was written by a person? Ideally, they would say it sounds like you, but better.
In case you do not feel comfortable using ChatGPT to write your cover letter just yet, you can explore our list of AI Tools that might help you do so. Our Toolbox selection will allow you to create personalised cover letters through AI-powered technology while offering a large variety of tools that will make keeping track of your search a lot easier.
Written by Valentine Fabre.