How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Cover Letter

Key takeaways

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for streamlining cover letter writing; however, pairing it with careful review and an authentic voice is important. 

• ChatGPT can quickly incorporate skills from your resume into a cover letter, add in keywords from the job description, and match the tone of your hiring firm.

• Double-checking work and using clear, specific prompts are essential to ensure your cover letter is authentic, accurate, and free of biased language.

• You can grow your career by learning more about the basics of ChatGPT and advanced techniques.

Explore how ChatGPT is changing how you can approach cover letter writing when applying for jobs. Learn more about ChatGPT and the essentials of clear prompting with Google Prompting Essentials Specialization. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to write effective prompts from industry experts in as little as four hours. Upon completion, you’ll earn a certificate from Google and master effective, clear, and specific prompts.

Getting started with ChatGPT for cover letters

ChatGPT can help streamline your cover letter process by identifying keywords, organizing your skills into a coherent structure, and incorporating scenarios and data from your career that illustrate your major career accomplishments. 

Set up ChatGPT for your cover letter

Using ChatGPT and other AI tools can refine the cover letter writing process. According to one 2025 report, in the past year alone, 18 percent of US job seekers have embraced these tools in their job search process [1]. When used properly, ChatGPT can help improve the quality of a cover letter and ensure it features the right keywords. However, because ChatGPT is known to hallucinate, confidently make incorrect statements, and perpetuate biases and stereotypes, it is critical to double-check work carefully when using ChatGPT.

1. Review the job description and keywords.

Review the job posting and find the keywords in the description. Keywords are words that illustrate essential functions of the job. They're often mentioned more frequently than other words, and might be in both the “role description” and “qualifications” sections of the description. You can also identify keywords by copying and pasting the job description into ChatGPT and asking ChatGPT to identify the job description’s keywords. 

Identifying keywords is a critical part of the application process. Hiring managers will not only scan your resume and cover letter for keywords, but most importantly, the ATS, or applicant tracking system, the software that processes resumes and cover letters, will scan your application for keywords. Choose relevant keywords that match your actual skills. The more you have in your resume or cover letter, the higher the ATS will rank you as a fit for the role. 

You can also find frequently used ATS keywords online. Use Google to find the keywords associated with the job you are applying for by searching the job title along with “ATS keywords.”

2. Update your resume, skills, accomplishments, and examples.

Ensure your resume is up to date and targeted to the job description. Reflect on major accomplishments that might not be included in your resume. For example, if you are a salesperson and increased the number of products you sold from one year to the next, calculate your percentage increase between the years and add it to your cover letter. 

3. Determine the tone and structure.

Review the job description and research the company. Is the language on the website or in the job description formal or conversational? You’ll want to match the tone of your cover letter to the tone of the company. Hiring managers want to not only make sure applicants are a cultural fit, and tone can show that, but they also want to see that you’ve done the research to learn about the company. Matching tone signals to the hiring manager that you understand their company.

 4. Input your information and set the prompt.

Paste or upload the job description and your resume into ChatGPT and prompt ChatGPT to create a cover letter for the job based on your resume. Ask it to incorporate the identified keywords, use the tone you’ve identified for the company, and highlight your major career accomplishments. In the prompt, include how many words you would like the cover letter to be. Cover letters should generally be less than 400 words [2]. Note that clarity is important when it comes to prompts. If the prompt gets too complicated, consider breaking it up into multiple prompts. Short, clear prompts generally result in better outcomes.

Review and refine your draft

Review the draft for accuracy. Did the draft include your correct years of experience? Is it the correct word count? Did it highlight your accomplishments? Did it match the company’s tone appropriately? 

1. Ask for improvements.

Review the cover letter and identify what may have fallen short. If the cover letter is more than 400 words, ask ChatGPT to shorten it. If you want it to highlight more accomplishments, let ChatGPT know which accomplishments to include. If the tone is too informal or too formal, ask it to be modified. Double-check that the cover letter aligns with the job requirements and your skills. 

 2. Add personalization.

Show that you understand the company by adding details about it. Perhaps look at how long the company has been in business, or the company’s key business challenges, and ask ChatGPT to incorporate those elements into the letter.

3. Finalize with your voice.

Make sure the cover letter sounds like you. Maybe a sentence is a little stilted, or you want to add just one exclamation mark to show enthusiasm. Smooth the language out so it represents you and your voice.

Common ChatGPT challenges and solutions

ChatGPT can be a huge time saver, but it comes with some downsides to be aware of.

Challenge: ChatGPT can “hallucinate” or fabricate data that appears accurate but is actually unfounded. Solution: It’s critical to double-check statements and data generated by ChatGPT. While ChatGPT might seem confident in its statements, don't assume the output is correct.

Challenge: ChatGPT can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases.

Solution: Carefully review your cover letter and any content created by ChatGPT for stereotypes and biases. Remove any statements that might come across as biased, discriminatory, or prejudiced.

Challenge: ChatGPT may not follow your instructions correctly. For example, even if you ask it to create a 400-word draft, it may not.

Solution: Review the output for what you asked, and if it is not correct, tell ChatGPT to correct it.

What can ChatGPT do for your cover letter?

ChatGPT can quickly draft your cover letter, tailor the contents to the specific job, modify tone, and incorporate your career accomplishments. 

Tailor content to job requirements

ChatGPT can scan a job description and identify key words, key responsibilities, and key qualifications for the job, and then integrate them into a cover letter. 

Improve tone, clarity, and structure

ChatGPT can improve the tone, clarity, and structure of your cover letter. You can paste your cover letter into ChatGPT and then ask it for feedback on tone, clarity, and structure. 

Highlight strengths and relevant accomplishments

ChatGPT can highlight strengths and accomplishments in your cover letter. Note your strengths and accomplishments you want ChatGPT to include, and specifically prompt it to include those successes. 

Overcome writer’s block and blank-page anxiety

ChatGPT can not only help you write your cover letter, but it can also get you started on brainstorming for your cover letter. Start by asking ChatGPT general questions like, “How might I start a cover letter for a job in data analytics?” Begin to fine-tune your prompts and provide the necessary information, like your major accomplishments, your resume, and the job description, to get more accurate answers. 

Do employers care if you use ChatGPT for cover letters?

While only a slight majority of hiring managers dislike AI-created resumes, recruiters don’t want to see a generic, robotic cover letter [3]. They are looking for cover letters that stand out, show the applicant’s authentic voice, and demonstrate that the applicant put work into understanding the company. If you choose to use AI as an aid while writing your cover letter, don’t forget to add in your authentic voice and double-check all statements.

ChatGPT cover letter prompts

In prompting, clarity is paramount. Have a sense of what you are aiming for before creating your prompt.

Prompts for generating a first draft

A prompt for a first draft should be clear and include the key elements you want in your cover letter. Make sure to share the job description and your resume with ChatGPT.

The prompt could look something like this: Create a 400-word cover letter for [this job] based on [this resume]. Incorporate the keywords [keywords]. Highlight [major accomplishment]. Make the tone of the cover letter mature and professional. 

Prompts for adding personalization

To further personalize the cover letter, instruct ChatGPT to add more about you. What makes you special? Perhaps you found your passion for your career through volunteering, or you’ve always wanted to work for the company you are applying to. Maybe you won an award at work. Let ChatGPT know more about who you are and what makes you unique.

The prompt could look something like this: Add that I found my love for [career] through [example].

Prompts for tailoring to a job description

When tailoring your cover letter to a job description, keywords are an important component. Comb the description for words that are directly relevant to the role and mentioned multiple times. 

A prompt could look something like this: Include the words [keywords].

Or, like this: Tailor [this cover letter] for [this role]. Include [these keywords].

Prompts for editing, revising, and polishing

To polish your cover letter, review carefully and make sure it follows best practices for cover letters:

• Check to make sure it’s an appropriate length. If it’s too long, ask ChatGPT to reduce the word count. 

  • A prompt could look like: Reduce the word count to 400 words.

• Make sure the cover letter matches the style of the company you are applying to. If you notice that the company capitalizes specific industry words, ask ChatGPT to capitalize those words. 

  • A prompt could look like: Hyphenate e-commerce. 

• Make sure you have added your authentic voice. Are you usually more cheerful than the cover letter makes you seem? Or more serious? Is there a skill or passion that’s important to you that you want to mention?

  • A prompt could look like: Make the tone of the cover letter slightly more cheerful.

Can people tell if ChatGPT wrote your cover letter?

While recruiters can’t always tell if ChatGPT wrote your cover letter, 29 percent of 1,000 people surveyed by Resume Builder said companies didn't hire them because they found out about the candidate's use of ChatGPT during the hiring process [1]. Recruiters might see the same phrases or examples over and over again across applications. Identical phrasing and examples signal to the recruiter that the applicant has used AI. ChatGPT can also overuse certain words like delve, pivotal, intricate, and realm, which flags the use of AI to recruiters. 

AI tools for cover letters

Various tools exist that allow you to fine-tune and improve ChatGPT.

Custom GPTs

Custom GPTs allow anyone to create a ChatGPT model for a specific use case by simply chatting with ChatGPT, adding instructions to guide its behavior, and specifying the actions you want it to perform. In this way, you can create a custom GPT specifically to create cover letters.

Other AI tools for cover letters

While not specific to ChatGPT, many other AI-based tools can be helpful in writing cover letters. 

Grammar checkers

Grammar checkers like Grammarly can help you spot typos, spelling errors, or grammar mistakes. You can set grammar checkers to follow a specific style guide as well.

Resume/ATS scanners

Tools like Jobscan scan your cover letter and give you an ATS score. 

Explore our free career resources

Join Career Chat on LinkedIn to get timely updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Then explore our free resources to keep learning about cover letters:

• Watch on YouTube: Upgrade Your Cover Letter with ChatGPT

• Refine your interview: Ace Your Interviews with ChatGPT Using This CEO-Approved Process

• Take the quiz: Which AI Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute 

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