Making a ChatGPT Cover Letter: The Good, Bad, & Ugly

When it comes to applying for jobs, a well-written cover letter can make all the difference in setting you apart from other candidates. But if you don’t enjoy writing or are short on time, ChatGPT can help.

To help you understand how ChatGPT works and whether you should use it to create your cover letter, we provide step-by-step instructions and do’s and don’ts, with visual examples, so you can easily follow along and learn how to make a standout cover letter.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI language model created by OpenAI that can understand and use language like humans. ChatGPT was trained using text databases from the Internet, so it can create grammatically correct and conversational text.

In fact, ChatGPT can not only answer your requests (also known as prompts or commands), but it can also help you create a wide variety of documents, including cover letters, resumes, and more.

Should I use ChatGPT for my cover letter?

Even in 2023, hiring managers still consider cover letters to be necessary in the application process. According to a recent survey on cover letter statistics, 78% of recruiters expect their applicants to submit a cover letter.

So if you’re someone who dislikes writing cover letters, you may wonder whether to use ChatGPT to make yours.

To help you make an informed decision about creating an AI-generated cover letter, here are some pros and cons to think about:

Concerned about the cons of ChatGPT? We’ve got you covered. The following steps can help you minimize any potentially negative effects on your cover letter.

5 steps for making a ChatGPT cover letter

Writing a good cover letter can be challenging, but using ChatGPT can make the process much easier.

Here are 5 steps to help you generate a cover letter using ChatGPT:

1. Sign up for ChatGPT

To get started with ChatGPT, you’ll need to make an account. Here’s how you can register:

1. Go to the ChatGPT OpenAI website and click the “Sign Up” button.
2. Enter your email address and choose a password.
3. Follow the listed steps to complete your account setup.
4. Once you’ve created an account, you can start using ChatGPT to write your cover letter.

After you’ve made your account, you’ll land on the home screen:

2. Give ChatGPT a specific set of instructions

Making clear requests is the next step toward creating a winning cover letter.

Your request should be specific to your skills and experiences and tailored to the job you’re applying for so ChatGPT can generate a more personalized cover letter for you.

Whenever possible, include these details while you’re telling ChatGPT what to do so you can have the most accurate and customized responses from it:

Below is a template of a good cover letter prompt to help you begin your cover letter:

After filling in the details, here’s what ChatGPT produced from this prompt:

3. Review your content and make edits

After generating your cover letter using ChatGPT, review your content and make any necessary edits.

Remember that ChatGPT will make up information unless you provide it with more details, so use your initial commands as a starting point and then fill in more details later on so your cover letter will sound natural and specific to your experience.

Here are some prompts that’ll help ChatGPT write about a variety of job situations:

Also, these are examples of prompts that’ll help to adjust how your cover letter sounds:

For example, maybe you’d want mention your excellent teamwork abilities and use a conversational tone throughout your cover letter.

Here’s an example of how to ask Chat GPT for adjustments using more detailed commands:

4. Copy and paste your work onto a new template

After fine-tuning your cover letter with ChatGPT, the next step is to transfer it to a new template.

Although ChatGPT provides you with a written version of your cover letter, it doesn’t help you with the formatting or give you a template to put your cover letter on.

You also can create your own template using Google Docs or Microsoft Word by simply pasting your completed cover letter onto a new document.

5. Use correct cover letter formatting

One of ChatGPT’s limitations is that it can’t format your cover letter for you. However, employers will still expect you to follow the standard format for cover letters when you’re submitting your application.

So keep these points in mind as you format your cover letter:

• Add all the necessary cover letter sections. Include your contact information, the employer’s contact information, a formal salutation, 1–2 body paragraphs, and a professional closing.
• Use a standard font. Choose professional fonts like Arial or Times New Roman in a 10–12 point size so employers can read your cover letter easily.
• Address your letter to a specific person. To show you’ve done your research, personalize your cover letter greeting with the hiring manager’s name. Try finding the contact person’s name on LinkedIn, on their company website, or by calling the company.
• Use proper margins. When writing a cover letter, choose appropriate margins between 1″ and ½” so the contents don’t look too crowded or empty. If you’re running out of space, you can adjust your cover letter margins by ½” so your cover letter stays on one page.
• Include a professional closing. End your cover letter with a professional closing, such as “Sincerely,” or “Best Regards,” followed by your name.
• Proofread your work. Double-check for any typos or grammatical errors before submitting your cover letter so employers can see you’re a detail-oriented applicant.

ChatGPT cover letter do’s and dont’s

ChatGPT can be a helpful resource to you, but there are some key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:

✅ Read the job posting carefully beforehand

Don’t forget to highlight your relevant skills, experience, and qualifications when you’re giving ChatGPT commands so they can match the job description as much as possible.

Understanding your target employer’s requirements and tailoring your cover letter to the specific job is important because it shows:

• you’re a good fit for the company
• you’ve taken the time to research the position
• you have a genuine interest in the role

✅ Experiment with different requests and outputs

ChatGPT can generate a variety of results for each section of your cover letter, so choose ones that fit best with your experience and qualifications.

Try experimenting with different prompts for each cover letter paragraph (for example, using a more personal tone for the opening paragraph and a more professional tone for the body paragraphs) until you’re satisfied with ChatGPT’s results.

For instance, you could write: “Introduce me in a friendly but professional way by stating my years of experience and how I found the role on FlexJobs” or “State that I learned about the company from my friend Lacy Tang in the opening paragraph.”

As for your body paragraphs, consider making prompts that highlight your relevant experience and skills.

Some examples include: “Explain how my previous growth marketing experience at SoundCloud relates to the job requirements” or “Describe a specific achievement that demonstrates my qualifications for the Mechanical Engineer position.”

✅ Use an AIPRM prompt

AIPRM, a ChatGPT extension, is a resource database for publicly available prompts shared by the community. Using a cover letter prompt on AIPRM can help you effectively showcase your achievements and experiences and save you time from writing your own prompts.

First, you’ll need to download AIPRM as a free Chrome extension:

Then, you can explore any of the available prompts using their search menu. Try typing in “cover letter” into their search menu to see if there are any suitable prompts that can help you make your cover letter.

For instance, if you want to try out Resume Genius’ free cover letter prompt on AIPRM, follow the instructions and enter your information based on the questions ChatGPT asks you.

Here’s what this AIPRM prompt looks like:

Here’s an example of how you can interact with ChatGPT while using this specific AIPRM cover letter prompt:

✅ Be detailed and accurate in your prompts

You can use bulleted points or full sentences as you’re writing your ChatGPT prompts. Just ensure what you’re asking for is detailed and clear.

Being specific as you’re writing your prompts will help ChatGPT produce more accurate outputs, avoid confusion, and generate the most appropriate and effective content for your cover letter.

For instance, take a look at this prompt. While this person does state their previous positions, they don’t mention how many years of experience they had or include much context.

And here’s an example of a more specific and detailed prompt:

Because the prompts you provide directly impact the quality of the output you receive, always take the time to craft them thoughtfully.

❌ Don’t rely solely on ChatGPT

Remember that ChatGPT is just a tool, so don’t rely on it to write your entire cover letter without editing it afterward. While it can be a helpful starting point, use your own judgment and expertise to create a strong cover letter showcasing your unique qualifications.

Instead of pasting Chat GPT’s cover letter directly onto a template without making any changes, take the time to review and revise the content to ensure that it accurately represents you and your qualifications for the job.

Doing so ensures  your cover letter stands out and effectively communicates your value to your target employer.

❌ Don’t submit a cover letter without proofreading it

Submitting a cover letter with errors can hurt your chances of getting the job. You can use ChatGPT to proofread your cover letter, but the chatbot might still not catch certain typos (e.g., not realizing the difference between “their” or “there”) or the non-literal meaning behind text (e.g., sarcasm, irony).

So even though ChatGPT can provide the structure and content for your cover letter, always proofread it to catch any mistakes or typos.

It’s a good idea to read your cover letter out loud, use spell-check tools, and have a friend or family member review it for errors.

❌ Don’t lie on your ChatGPT cover letter

ChatGPT provides impressive accomplishments and experiences to include in your cover letter. Before submitting, ensure the contents accurately reflect your experiences.

Employers value honesty and integrity, and if they discover that you’ve lied on your cover letter, it can hurt your chances of getting hired.

❌ Don’t expect ChatGPT to know anything past 2021

ChatGPT is an AI language model that’s been trained on data up until 2021 and currently can’t get access to new information past that date.

So always use your judgment when deciding what to include in your cover letter and check ChatGPT’s information to ensure facts are accurate and up-to-date.

Additionally, staying informed on industry trends and conducting thorough research can help you create a relevant and memorable cover letter.

About Resume Genius

Since 2009, Resume Genius has merged innovative technology with up-to-date industry expertise to simplify job hunting for people of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder paired with a wide range of free career resources like resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides can help anyone improve their job hunt. Resume Genius has been featured in esteemed publications such as CNBC, Business Insider, Forbes, and The New York Times.

Supported by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts, Resume Genius’s ultimate mission is to guide job seekers toward fulfilling work and help them reach their career goals.

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