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How to Write a Cover Letter Using ChatGPT in 7 Steps (+Prompt Template)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated July 16, 2024 11 min read

Thanks to tools like ChatGPT, the once-dreaded task of writing cover letters is becoming more manageable. But do you actually know how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT?

If you're not familiar with this tool and how to use it, your cover letter might become an even bigger mess than it was before.

Furthermore, using a generic prompt, such as "Write a cover letter for a junior accountant," will result in a generic cover letter.

To avoid that, we'll guide you through the essential steps to operate this AI language model effectively and explore the right prompts for writing a cover letter — ensuring your cover letter is personalized, tailored for the job, and professional.

Lastly, we'll also show you an alternative to using ChatGPT for crafting your cover letter.

But first...

Table of Contents

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What is ChatGPT?

How to write a cover letter using chatgpt in 7 steps, prompt template for chatgpt to write a personalized cover letter, the drawbacks and limitations of chatgpt.

• If you don't want to use ChatGPT...

Key takeaways: How to write a cover letter using ChatGPT?

Due to the current hype, you probably already heard about it.

ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art AI language model developed by OpenAI, designed to generate human-like text based on user input.

This tool is useful for a variety of tasks, such as drafting emails, writing articles, providing customer support, or debugging code.

To better understand how ChatGPT can help you with your cover letter writing process, let's explore its key capabilities.

• understands context and generates relevant content
• adapts to different writing styles and tones
• responds effectively to user prompts for customized output
• is capable of generating creative and engaging text

Hence, in the context of crafting cover letters, this AI tool can be a game changer for job seekers and provide a high-quality draft and/or improve the overall quality of your writing.

Want to try an easier option?

Discover Kickresume's AI Writer. Instantly generate eye-catching, ready-to-use cover letters in stunning templates.

Now that you know the key capabilities of ChatGPT, let's explore step-by-step how to use this powerful AI tool to write a cover letter.

By following these 7 steps, you'll be able to produce an impressive cover letter in minutes.

1. Sign up and create a free account on OpenAI

Head over to chat.openai.com and sign up for a free account. It's pretty straightforward — all you need is an email address, Google account, or Microsoft account.

Both the website and app are completely free to use.

Since ChatGPT is extremely popular, you might encounter some delays while signing up. If that happens, just wait a few minutes and try again.

Just FYI, there's also a paid version called ChatGPT Plus, which has a number of advantages, including faster response times. Currently, it's available for $20/month.

2. Ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you to write a cover letter

This tool is, first and foremost, a chatbot . Hence, you can actually ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you in order to create a well-written and personalized cover letter.

So, instead of guessing what information about yourself to include in the prompt, the AI tells you directly.

Use one of the following prompts to inquire about ChatGPT's requirements:

• I'm in the process of applying for a job and need your assistance in writing a persuasive and effective cover letter. Could you instruct me on the necessary details I should provide you with to compose such cover letter?
• I'm currently in the process of applying for a job and need your help in crafting a cover letter for me. Can you explain what information and details you would need from my end to create the most effective and compelling cover letter for me?

The chatbot will then give a list of information it needs, why it needs them, and some concrete examples.

For instance, here's what ChatGPT churned out after using the second prompt:

3. Ask ChatGPT to create an example prompt containing the required information

Now that you know what the AI needs from you to create a cover letter, you may need a little help with phrasing the full prompt.

After all, it requires a lot of information and details from you, including a job description. Hence, it may be a little complicated to formulate an effective prompt.

So, here's what to say next to make the chatbot create the full prompt for you:

• Can you create an example prompt I should give you that entails all of the information you require?
• That's good. Can you give me an example of a prompt that includes all of the information and details you said you need?

Then, GPT does the work for you and creates an example of the final prompt.

Have a look:

It might also be helpful to utilize some additional resources like  AI prompts by PromptVibes   to get some inspiration or guidance in crafting your prompts.

4. Copy the example prompt and fill in with your own information

Now that ChatGPT created an example of the whole prompt for you, copy it.

Paste the example prompt as a prompt. You'll use this as a template/inspiration.

And now comes the harder part. You need to replace all of the squared brackets or "sample details" with your own details and relevant information.

It shouldn't be too complicated since you already have inspiration for what to include and how to write it from GPT.

Rather than attaching the job description, copy it from the job ad and paste it into the prompt where required.

Plus, consider adding any extra specifications in the prompt...

5. Add any additional details to finalize the prompt

Now that you provided ChatGPT with the essential information for your cover letter, you can now specify any extra details.

These can include your desired tone, style, or word count.

Have a look at an example of how to specify any extra details for the prompt:

Additional instructions for ChatGPT

• Word count: The cover letter should be between 200 and 300 words long.
• Tone: The tone should be professional and persuasive but still natural.
• Style: The text should be well-structured with clearly defined paragraphs.

Now your prompt should contain everything to ensure the AI generates a personalized and relevant cover letter.

Here's what the final prompt looks like:

Dear ChatGPT,

I am currently applying for the [position title] position at [company name] and I am seeking your assistance in crafting a compelling cover letter.

Could you please help me by using the following information to create an effective cover letter?

• Job Description: [Insert a copy of the job description here]
• Company Information: [Provide some background information about the company’s mission, values, and culture]
• My Goals: [Tell me about your professional goals and how this job fits into your career aspirations]
• My Achievements: [Provide some examples of your previous accomplishments that are relevant to the position you are applying for]
• My Motivation: [Tell me why you are interested in this particular job and what excites you about the opportunity]
• Additional instructions: The cover letter should be between [word count] words long. The tone should be [you can include multiple adjectives] . The text should be well-structured with clearly defined paragraphs.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to seeing what you create.

6. Run the prompt and review the output

Finally, run the prompt. It'll take a few minutes at most.

Here's the final cover letter written by ChatGPT:

When your cover letter is generated, ask yourself:

• Do I like the output?
• Does it include everything you wanted?
• Is there something specific I don't like?
• Is it long enough? Or is it too long?

You want to examine the cover letter to make sure everything is to your liking.

If you find a specific thing you'd like to adjust, feel free to specify this as your next prompt.

For instance:

• That's good, but I think it's too long. Can you make it a little shorter?
• That's good, but I don't like that every paragraph starts with "I". Can you re-phrase the first sentence of each paragraph?
• That's good, but you used too many keywords from the job description. Can you re-phrase it and use the keywords from the job description less?

And, if you like the cover letter but you're not 100% convinced and can't pinpoint why — hit the Regenerate response button. Just make sure to save each output so that you have some options to choose from.

7. Proofread and edit the final cover letter

After the AI generates your cover letters, it's crucial to review them for any misrepresentations, mistakes, or grammar errors.

So, make sure to proofread and carefully edit the content before sending it.

Here are a couple of things that you might need to edit:

• Grammar & punctuation. ChatGPT often struggles with commas and inconsistencies in the verb tense in particular.
• Repetitive vocabulary. Replace repetitive or vague words with more precise and varied vocabulary to provide clarity and avoid redundancy.
• Sentence structure & flow. Rearrange sentences or rephrase them to improve the overall flow of the text. Also, break up long sentences into shorter ones and combine short, choppy sentences.
• Fact-checking. Verify any facts, statistics, or claims made within the text to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.
• Consistency in formatting. This mostly includes consistency in abbreviations or capitalization.

Additionally, keep in mind that ChatGPT's homepage warns about the possibility of generating incorrect or biased content — so always fact-check! More on ChatGPT's drawbacks later.

Ideally, you should use the AI-generated cover letters as a starting point for the final version you'll send. Or an inspiration, if you will.

As mentioned before, ChatGPT isn't perfect.

While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in generating content, you have to be aware of its shortcomings when using this tool to create your cover letter.

Here are some of the potential challenges you may encounter when using ChatGPT to write a cover letter:

• Limited understanding of context. ChatGPT might not fully comprehend the complexities of a specific job or industry, and may struggle to understand complex queries. This could lead to generic or less-targeted content in a cover letter.
• Inaccurate or nonsensical responses. Since the chatbot doesn't possess human-level understanding, it might generate irrelevant, incorrect, or illogical information — which can decrease the quality of a cover letter.
• Sensitivity to input phrasing . The way a prompt is phrased may affect the response generated by ChatGPT. Slight changes in phrasing can lead to different or inconsistent content in the cover letter.
• Wordiness. ChatGPT may produce wordy or repetitive responses, which could result in a cover letter that's perceived as unprofessional or difficult to read.
• Over-optimization for engagement. This can lead to a cover letter that contains catchy or captivating phrases but lacks the necessary information or professional tone expected in a job application.

If you don't want to use ChatGPT...

As you can probably tell, writing a cover letter with ChatGPT isn't so straightforward. It takes a lot of effort to put together a suitable prompt, adjust all of the details and information to be more personal, and has a couple of limitations overall.

What's more, this chatbot only provides you with raw text, which you then need to design and format yourself. You may also need to add a signature in a different text editor.

So, if you're looking for an alternative AI-powered solution to help you write a cover letter, consider Kickresume — a platform that specializes in creating professional resumes and cover letters (with or without AI).

Their AI cover letter writer tool uses the GPT-4 language model (used by ChatGPT, too) to produce cover letters without the need to create a lengthy prompt. The generated cover letter is well-formatted and designed and ready-for-use immediately.

Here's why you might want to give Kickresume's AI Cover Letter Writer a try:

• No complicated prompt is required. Kickresume specializes in resumes and cover letters. Which is why the AI cover letter writer only needs a few basic data from you, and there's no need to generate multiple prompts.
• Easy-to-use interactive platform. A user-friendly interface that makes navigating and creating your cover letter a breeze. To create an AI cover letter, you simply fill in a 2-step questionnaire, where you provide your desired job title, the job description, your credentials, and your previous employment. You can then add any details and edit the cover letter.
• Cover letter ready to use immediately. You don't need to worry about formatting or designing your cover letter. There's a variety of visually appealing templates available that follow industry-standard formatting. You can customize the design to match your preferred style. Once you pick a template, your letter is ready to be used.
• Provides expert tips & guidance. Apart from templates and AI assistance, Kickresume also offers expert guidance on crafting the perfect cover letter. Its Help Center is constantly updated with advice articles to help you make the best impression on potential employers.
• Integrated signature feature. You can digitally sign your documents , eliminating the need to add a signature in a separate text editor. This ensures that your cover letter looks polished and professional.
• Pre-written content for various industries. If you’d like to add more role-specific content to your cover letter, you also have access to pre-written phrases specific for various industries and job roles.

Here's an example of an AI-generated cover letter created with Kickresume:

AI-generated cover letter created with Kickresume

This cover letter was generated using Kickresume’s AI writer for  “copywriter”  position.

Despite the limitations of this language model, ChatGPT can be a very valuable tool in generating content for a cover letter.

Here's a quick rundown of how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT in 7 steps:

• Sign up and create a free account on OpenAI.
• Ask ChatGPT what information it needs from you to write a cover letter.
• Ask ChatGPT to create an example prompt that contains all the information it required from you in the previous step.
• Copy the example prompt and replace all of the "sample" details with your own details.
• Add any additional details to finalize the prompt, including the word count, tone, and style.
• Run the prompt and review the output. If you want another option, click regenerate response .
• Proofread and edit the final cover letter. Is it over-using certain keywords? Is the grammar correct?

Every cover letter needs a resume, too.

Let our AI resume writer write the first draft of your resume for you.

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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How to use ChatGPT to write a better cover letter

As if perfectly crafting a resume that encapsulates your entire career isn't difficult enough, job applications also require a cover letter. This letter should help you express specific details about why you are interested in the company, what makes you qualified, and, ultimately, why the company should hire you. 

How to use ChatGPT to create: Code | Excel formulas | Essays | Resumes  | Apps  | Charts and Tables  

If executed properly, a cover letter can make you stand out from other applicants by showcasing your genuine interest in the role, the experience that makes you a good fit, and what makes you different from other candidates with similar qualifications.

However, synthesizing those ideas into a one-page letter each time you apply for a job can be time-consuming and challenging. Thankfully,  ChatGPT is here to help. 

How to use ChatGPT to help craft your cover letter 

Whether you've started writing a cover letter and feel stuck or don't know where to start, ChatGPT can help you produce the exact cover letter you envisioned. 

Also:  How to use ChatGPT

All the AI needs is a couple of prompts and a little direction. 

1. Visit ChatGPT

To get started, visit ChatGPT's website. Signing in is optional but grants you extra perks, such as using the chat history feature to review your responses later. If you don't have an account, you can create one or sign in using your existing Google or Microsoft account. 

If you haven't created an account, click on Sign up. Otherwise, log in with your OpenAI credentials.

2. Ask ChatGPT to write you a cover letter

To have ChatGPT generate a cover letter for you, all you have to do is ask ChatGPT to write a cover letter for the role and company of your choice. You should also include details about the experiences you want the cover letter to highlight. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT to optimize your resume

For example, a possible input would be, "Can you write me a cover letter for the role of Associate Editor at ZDNET? I graduated from the University of North Carolina, majored in Journalism, and love technology."  

That is only a general example; you can be as specific or general as you want. However, the more direction you give ChatGPT, the better your output will be.

I included screenshots of the results for my question below. If you want to take a closer look, you can click on the upper right-hand corner to expand each photo. 

3. Kick it up a notch and paste in the job description (optional)

If you want your cover letter to be tailored to the exact role you are applying for, you can copy and paste the job description into ChatGPT before asking it to write your cover letter. This method is by far the most efficient approach to getting your cover letter written in a way that reflects the exact role and duties. 

Also: 5 ways AI can help you study - for free

As before, you also can include details about your own experience you'd like to include. Your prompt could look something like this, "Can you write me a cover letter for the position of [role title] at [employer]? This is the job description: XYZ. For context, I [include experiences you'd like to highlight]."

4. Co-edit your cover letter

Despite ChatGPT's best efforts and advanced capabilities, there might be something you want to tweak in the letter. If that's the case, it's super simple to change something. All you have to do is ask ChatGPT to tweak a specific aspect of your letter, and it will. 

Also: How to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus (and 5 reasons why you should)

For example, following the cover letter generated above, you could say, "Can you emphasize my passion for tech a bit more?" You can see how I used this approach in the illustration, below.

For an even more engaging collaborative co-editing experience, you can use the new GPT-4o with Canvas feature in beta for ChatGPT Plus users. 

If interested, click on GPT-4o with Canvas from the model toggle and paste in the cover letter, which will activate a new interface that makes collaborating on your writing projects easier by keeping your project on the right pane and the textbox on the left, with writing shortcuts, and more. 

Are cover letters necessary for a job application?

Cover letters are not always required for a job application. However, almost all job applications require one or allow you to submit one. The benefits of a cover letter include having the employer get to know more about you and helping you stand out from other applicants. 

Should you use ChatGPT to write a cover letter?

ChatGPT can write an impressive cover letter within seconds, allowing you to focus on other parts of your application that require more time and effort. ChatGPT produces the letter; you can always add your edits to give it your flair. 

What should be showcased in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should help to set you apart from other applicants. Therefore, it should communicate what interests you about the role and what experiences make you a great fit. Try not to regurgitate the information already on your resume since you want this letter to showcase a different side of you. 

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