Download Article
A helpful guide to asking ChatGPT to write unique cover letters for job recruiters and hiring companies
Download Article
Do you need help crafting a personal cover letter for a job listing? With some provided information, ChatGPT can easily help you write a great cover letter in seconds. This can take away some of the stress associated with job applications. You'll just need an OpenAI account to get started. This wikiHow will show you how to use OpenAI's ChatGPT to write a compelling and professional cover letter for your next job application.
Things You Should Know
- Log into your ChatGPT account and start a new chat. Have the job listing and your resume ready.
- Generate a prompt with the request, the job description, your resume information, and a word limit.
- If necessary, rephrase sections of the response to make it sound more unique and specific to your needs.
Steps
Download Article
-
Log into https://chat.openai.com/ in a web browser. You must have an OpenAI account to use ChatGPT . [1] X Research source
-
Start a new chat. If this is your first time using ChatGPT, you'll have a new chat open on the home page. Otherwise, click New chat in the top-left corner.Advertisement
-
Consider the company and position you're applying for. Most cover letters have a similar formula that includes your work experience, education, and area of expertise. Read the job listing again (if applicable) and note any requirements and responsibilities for the job. This will help ChatGPT craft a more unique cover letter.
-
Craft your prompt. Start with your initial request for a cover letter, followed by the job description, your experience, and then your word limit . The word limit will help prevent ChatGPT from stopping mid-sentence .
- Use the following prompt and tailor it as necessary:
- Write me a cover letter using the following job description and my resume for reference. Keep it under 500 words.
- [Copy and paste entire job listing here (text only)].
- [Copy and paste your entire resume here (text only)]
- If you don't feel comfortable providing your resume information in ChatGPT itself, you can input it yourself later. ChatGPT will usually provide a field with [two brackets] where you can enter the needed information.
EXPERT TIPTechnologistTyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.Be specific when using ChatGPT. Clear and concise prompts outlining your exact needs help ChatGPT tailor its response. Specify the desired outcome (e.g., creative writing, informative summary, functional resume), any length constraints (word or character count), and the preferred emotional tone (formal, humorous, etc.)
- Use the following prompt and tailor it as necessary:
-
Press ↵ Enter or click the arrow icon. ChatGPT will begin generating your response immediately. If it's struggling to load, ChatGPT may be at capacity , and you may need to try again during non-peak hours.
-
Edit the cover letter. You can copy and paste the generated cover letter into Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or another word processing program. Reread the cover letter for any grammar or syntax errors.
- Be sure to edit any empty fields and enter information as needed, such as addresses, names, and headers.
- Keep in mind that while ChatGPT learns and updates frequently, the system isn't perfect. It's possible to receive false information or answers that seem correct but don't make sense. Be sure to fact-check and reread the cover letter before sending it.
-
Rephrase sections if necessary. Since ChatGPT has millions of users, it's possible that your cover letter may closely match another's. If you don't want to rephrase sections yourself, you can ask ChatGPT. Do the following:
- Copy and paste a section back into ChatGPT.
- Type "rephrase this paragraph".
- Press Enter .
- Review the rephrased section. Replace the old section, or rephrase it again.
EXPERT TIPTechnologistTyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.Pay close attention to the content ChatGPT generates. If you use ChatGPT often, you'll start noticing its patterns, like its tendency to begin articles with phrases like "in today's digital world." Once you spot patterns, you can refine your prompts to steer ChatGPT in a better direction and avoid repetitive content.
Advertisement
Join the Discussion...
Every job I apply for wants me to include a cover letter, but I just don't know what to write. Are they really that important? Are there any best practices to follow for what to include and what to leave on your resume?
The key to a cover letter is to convey why you are the perfect candidate for the role you are applying for. Additionally, try to include a personal example which conveys your personality and gives a glimpse to the reader on who you are. Use specific examples for each letter that are tailored to the job you're applying for.
The goal of a cover letter is to make a case for getting selected for a job interview. It shouldn't be a duplicate of your resume—your resume lists your skills, and your cover letter highlights how you put those skills to use. So, answer any questions that your resume can't answer, whether that's gaps in your employment or how passionate you are about the position or the industry or the role. Begin your cover letter with an appropriate greeting, such as "Dear [hiring manager's name]" so it feels professional and formal.
In the body of the letter, include a paragraph where you explain why you're interested and qualified for the job. Make sure you get right to the point. You want to say something like, "I'm applying for x, y, and z positions, and I believe I'd be an excellent candidate for this position because of x, y, and z."
Dedicate a couple of paragraphs or at least a couple of sentences about how you're qualified, and be specific by referring to the employer's job requirements. That's what they're looking for; the more of a fit you are for those job requirements, the more chance you have to get the interview.
Be sure to include keywords from the relevant job description or position you're applying for in your letter. Many hiring managers, recruiters, and automated hiring software use keywords in their searches to find relevant candidates.
In terms of the format, include the date on top, as well as the hiring manager's name to make it more personal, if possible, and their title, their company, address, city, state, zip code, etc. Also, put your own contact information up top to make it more of a formal letter.
In the body of the letter, include a paragraph where you explain why you're interested and qualified for the job. Make sure you get right to the point. You want to say something like, "I'm applying for x, y, and z positions, and I believe I'd be an excellent candidate for this position because of x, y, and z."
Dedicate a couple of paragraphs or at least a couple of sentences about how you're qualified, and be specific by referring to the employer's job requirements. That's what they're looking for; the more of a fit you are for those job requirements, the more chance you have to get the interview.
Be sure to include keywords from the relevant job description or position you're applying for in your letter. Many hiring managers, recruiters, and automated hiring software use keywords in their searches to find relevant candidates.
In terms of the format, include the date on top, as well as the hiring manager's name to make it more personal, if possible, and their title, their company, address, city, state, zip code, etc. Also, put your own contact information up top to make it more of a formal letter.
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,819 times.
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
