Confused about whether or not to invest your time in a cover letter? Or wondering about where to start and what to include or leave out in your cover letter? Or you don’t have time to write one on your own and want to generate one using chatGPT?
All your questions will be answered in detail in this guide including a good understanding of the hiring process.
When it comes to job applications, the role of a well-crafted cover letter cannot be overstated and I will guide you on how to create an amazing cover letter with ChatGPT.
Why Is an Amazing Cover Letter Important?
Imagine being a hiring manager tasked with selecting a Senior Network Engineer from a pool of candidates.
The two stand out, each with equal experience. One submitted only a resume, another presented an impersonal AI-written cover letter (thanks to ChatGPT), and the third demonstrated a genuine connection to the company.
The absence of a cover letter can lead to rejection in 45% of cases, highlighting its role in shaping initial impressions.
Moreover, a well-crafted cover letter has the potential to make recruiters pay more attention to an application. These insights highlight the tangible influence cover letters wield in influencing hiring outcomes.
A well-written cover letter creates interest in the candidate who displays care and enthusiasm about the position. It’s not just one among the many he has applied to.
A cover letter is more than a professional narrative; it’s a powerful tool to showcase your uniqueness, align your skills with the job, and express confidence in your abilities.
It allows you to shape the perception of your experience and reinforces key aspects of your resume.
Cover letters increase interview chances by filling in experience gaps. A well-crafted cover letter can be a game-changer, especially for smaller companies that appreciate candidates who take the time to understand their business.
What Hiring Statistics Indicate?
Cover letters continue to play a crucial role in the interview process, with 60% of companies still considering them a requirement.
Despite the declining trend in mandatory cover letters, 83% of hiring managers read them at least sometimes, and 45% prioritize reviewing the cover letter before delving into the resume.
When considering the content and reading behavior, statistics reveal that 70% of employers recommend keeping cover letters under half a page, pointing out the importance of structure.
Recruiters spend an average of 30 seconds to 2 minutes reading each cover letter, which underlines the need for concise and impactful communication.
Furthermore, the integration of relevant keywords from the job description increases the chances of visibility, and quantifying one’s impact with numbers helps showcase achievements and results effectively.
What Hiring Managers Look for in a Cover Letter?
Recruiters scan through countless cover letters, so making yours stand out is crucial. While specific preferences might vary, here are 10 key characteristics that generally grab their attention:
Keeping these points in mind while feeding a prompt into ChatGPT will help make the cover letter stand out and sound authentic and original.
1. Strong Opening
Hook them from the start! Highlight a relevant achievement, express your enthusiasm for the company, or showcase a unique perspective.
2. Targeted Content
Research the company and tailor your letter to the specific role. Show you understand their needs and how you can contribute. This can make you stand out where smaller companies are often not noticed for their mission and vision.
3. Skills & Achievements
Don’t just list skills; demonstrate them with impactful achievements using quantifiable results. Show what you’ve accomplished, not just what you can do.
4. Keyword Alignment
Integrate relevant keywords from the job description organically throughout your letter. This helps Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) recognize your qualifications.
5. Concise & Focused
Keep it brief and to the point. Aim for one page maximum, highlighting the most relevant information. Recruiters value their time, so respect theirs.
6. Action Verbs
Use strong action verbs to paint a picture of your initiative and impact. Replace passive language with verbs that showcase your achievements.
7. Clear & Compelling Writing
Ensure your writing is error-free, clear, and easy to understand. Maintain a professional writing tone while injecting your personality in your cover letter.
8. Passion & Enthusiasm
Express your genuine excitement about the job and the company. Let your passion shine through and convince them you’re the ideal candidate.
9. Call to Action
Conclude with a clear call to action. Invite them to interview you, express your availability, or suggest your next step.
10. Proofread Meticulously
Double-check for typos and grammar errors, make sure it is clutter free and has consistent formatting. A polished letter demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism.
Bonus tip
Quantify your impact whenever possible. Numbers speak volumes, highlighting your ability to deliver results.
How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter?
Crafting a good cover letter is very important for getting a job. It’s not just about using a tool like ChatGPT, but also about how much effort you put in and what you know.
Below, we’ll talk about the important things to include in a cover letter, like understanding the job, making it personal, and matching the company’s culture.
The following tips will help you write a perfect cover letter that will also impress the hiring manager of the company.
Understanding the Role
Before crafting your cover letter, delve into the job description and company profile. Identify the key skills and qualifications they are seeking. A thorough comprehension of the role allows you to tailor your letter to align with their specific needs.
Personalize Your Approach
Address the hiring manager by name whenever possible. This personal touch shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position. If the job posting doesn’t provide a name, take the extra step to research and find it.
Align with Company Culture
Highlight how your values and work ethics align with the company’s culture. Discuss any shared values or initiatives that resonate with you. This indicates that you are not only a qualified candidate but also a potential cultural fit for the organization.
Research the Company
Go beyond the basics and showcase your understanding of the company’s industry, challenges, and recent achievements. Mention specific projects, products, or initiatives that pique your interest. This demonstrates that you’re not applying to any company but have chosen this one deliberately.
Highlight Transferable Skills
Emphasize transferable skills that make you versatile and adaptable. These skills can bridge any gaps between your past experiences and the requirements of the new role. Show how your diverse skill set positions you as a valuable asset to the team.
Tailor Each Letter
Avoid using a generic or same cover letter for multiple applications. Tailor each letter to the specific job and company. This not only reflects your dedication but also increases your chances of standing out in a competitive job market.
Quantify Your Impact
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with specific numbers. Whether it’s increasing sales, boosting efficiency, or driving engagement, using numerical data adds substance to your accomplishments and provides a clearer picture of your contributions.
Address Employment Gaps
If you have employment gaps in your resume, address them briefly and positively in your cover letter. Explain how you utilized that time for personal or professional development, showcasing your proactive approach to continuous improvement.
Emphasize Soft Skills
Highlight soft skills that are crucial for the position. Whether it’s teamwork, communication, or problem-solving, showcasing these qualities demonstrates your holistic suitability for the role beyond technical competencies.
Reference Mutual Connections
If you have connections within the company, subtly reference them in your cover letter. This can create a sense of familiarity and potentially strengthen your application. However, ensure that your reference is relevant and appropriate.
Demonstrate Industry Knowledge
Showcase your understanding of industry trends, challenges, and innovations. Discuss relevant industry developments in your cover letter, emphasizing your awareness and commitment to staying informed in your field.
Express Willingness to Learn
Demonstrate a growth mindset by expressing your eagerness to learn and adapt. Emphasize your openness to acquiring new skills and knowledge, showcasing your commitment to professional development.
Address Potential Concerns
If there are aspects of your application that may raise questions, address them preemptively in your cover letter. This proactive approach allows you to provide context and reassure the hiring manager about any potential concerns.
Include a Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Define your Unique Selling Proposition—what sets you apart from other candidates. Whether it’s a unique skill, a diverse background, or a particular achievement, clearly articulate what makes you the ideal candidate for the role.
End on a Positive Note
Conclude your cover letter on a positive and forward-looking note. Express gratitude for the opportunity to apply, restate your enthusiasm for the position, and convey your optimism about the potential contributions you can make to the company.
Creating an Amazing Cover Letter with ChatGPT (with Prompt examples)
Below I have mentioned some prompts that you can use to give to ChatGPT for creating an amazing cover letter. For instance, for creating the introduction part you can give ChatGPT below command.
Introduction
“Craft an engaging opening paragraph for a cover letter. Highlight a significant achievement or express enthusiasm for the company and the position.“
Company Research
“Write a paragraph demonstrating knowledge of the company and aligning my skills with the specific role. Show how I can contribute to the company’s goals.“
Here details of keywords about the company like mission, vision and achievements must be included in the prompt.
Skills and Achievements
“Compose a section emphasizing my key skills and achievements. Provide examples of past accomplishments, focusing on quantifiable results.“
Skills and achievements must be precise, if possible presented in numbers and added to the prompt.
Alignment with Job Description
“Create a paragraph that seamlessly integrates relevant keywords from the job description.”
Make sure it reads naturally and aligns with the requirements.
Conciseness and Focus
“Write a concise paragraph for the cover letter that keeps the content focused and highlights the most relevant qualifications. Aim for brevity while conveying key points.”
Action Verbs
“Develop a paragraph using strong action verbs. Showcase my initiative and impact on projects or teams, replacing passive language with dynamic verbs.”
Adding unique, dynamic verbs can increase the authenticity of the cover letter without sounding generic.
Professional Tone and Clarity
“Compose a paragraph maintaining a professional tone with clear and error-free writing. Inject personality while ensuring the language is easy to understand.”
Enthusiasm and Passion
“Write a paragraph expressing genuine enthusiasm for the job and the company. Convey my passion and excitement convincingly.”
Call to Action
“Craft a closing paragraph with a clear call to action. Invite the recruiter to take the next step or express availability for an interview.”
A prompt example to create a cover letter with ChatGPT
Here is a prompt for all of this that you can use:
I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. My key skills include [list of skills], and I have experience in [specific experiences or achievements]. The company values [mention any specific values or aspects].
Please incorporate my experience with [mention a project or achievement] into the cover letter. I prefer a professional tone with a focus on [specific aspect]
Example Prompt
Remember: Personalisation is Important!
It’s important to know that even an AI tool like ChatGPT can help you to write a cover-letter, it’s still really important to personalize and check your cover letter to make it genuine and interesting.
Different industries and job levels might need different things in a cover letter, so it’s very important to adjust what you write to fit the job and the company you’re applying to.
Basically, the numbers show that using cover letters wisely can really boost your chances of getting that important interview.
But what if writing a cover letter is tough for you and you can’t pay someone to help? You can use an AI tool like ChatGPT. It can be super helpful if you know how to use it well.
Is it Ethical to Use ChatGPT?
When you’re deciding whether to write a cover letter using ChatGPT, you might wonder if it’s fair to use ChatGPT.
Using ChatGPT can help create a cover letter, but it’s important to give it specific details like keywords from the job description, for example:
- Your strengths
- Why you’re interested in the job
- What you know about the company
- and what you can offer. etc.
If you don’t give ChatGPT enough details, your cover letter might sound generic and not very personal.
Using ChatGPT for a cover letter is considered “cheating” is a tricky question. It depends on different things, like:
Assistance vs. Automation
If you use ChatGPT solely for brainstorming ideas, overcoming writer’s block, or refining your draft, it’s likely seen as acceptable assistance.
However, relying solely on an AI-generated letter without personalization or proofreading might be considered dishonest.
Industry and Ethical Norms
Some fields, like writing or journalism, place a higher premium on authentic writing, making extensive AI use more questionable. Others, like tech or startups, might be more accepting of such tools.
Legal and Company Policies
Copyright & Terms of Service: Be mindful of any copyright restrictions associated with ChatGPT’s output.
Additionally, some companies might have policies regarding the use of AI for job applications.
Focus on Value, Not Deception
Ultimately, the goal is to showcase your skills and suitability for the role. Ensure the final letter reflects your personality and value proposition, not just AI-generated content.
Other Alternative AI Tools for Creating an Amazing Cover Letter
Other AI Tools for Drafting Resumes and Cover Letters: Powering Up Your Job Search
Numerous AI tools are available for crafting compelling cover letters, each offering unique features to enhance your job search strategy.
Rytr
Rytr features a simple interface suitable for beginners; tailors content based on keywords and tone preferences; includes grammar and plagiarism detection; generates various content formats like blog posts, social media captions, and product descriptions; offers an affordable free plan with limited features, with paid plans starting at $9/month.
Writesonic
Writesonic offers diverse templates for resumes, cover letters, job descriptions, and more; provides SEO optimization for applicant tracking systems (ATS); generates content in over 25 languages; creates landing pages, product descriptions, and other marketing materials; ensures error-free and professional writing with grammar and tone checks. Writesonic pricing starts at $12.67/month.
Resoume
Resoume is a resume builder which is powered by AI, meaning it’s like having your personal resume guru. It analyzes job descriptions and provides tailored suggestions to make your resume shine. With pre-designed templates for every industry, positioning your qualifications has never been easier. Plus, Resoume speaks nine languages, making it a dream for multilingual jobseekers.
Resoume has three pricing plans, Lite, Pro, and Unlimited. Starting from just $9, Lite plan offers 7 days access – but which is enough to make an amazing cover letter – 5 PDF downloads, and 300 AI credits.
Resume.io
Cover letters have never been this effortless, but Resume.io provides pre-built templates, an AI-powered cover letter builder, a skills analyzer, and a performance tracker to help you craft a cover letter that makes a great impression, leaving your hiring manager engaged.
Resume.io offers a free plan with limited features; paid plans provide additional functionalities. You can opt for a 7-day trial plan starting at $3.
ResumeLab
ResumeLab includes an AI-powered cover letter builder with various templates, customizable sections, and integration with Google Calendar for interview scheduling.
You can create an amazing cover letter in 3 simple steps with ResumeLab. Firstly, pick a format for your cover letter, then customize it accordingly, and finally, download your cover letter to impress your recruiter.
ResumeLab provides a free plan with limited features, and advanced functionalities are accessible through paid plans.
JobScan
JobScan utilizes AI-powered cover letter optimization based on ATS keywords, delivers personalized feedback, and compares cover letters to those of successful competitors.
An 18-profession, easy-to-catch-attention, and cleanly designed cover letter increases your chances significantly to pass your cover letter through ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.
JobScan provides a free plan with limited features, and advanced functionalities are available through paid plans.
End Note
Crafting an exceptional cover letter is a crucial step in the job application process, and leveraging tools like ChatGPT can obviously increase your writing efficiency. The importance of a well-crafted cover letter cannot be overstated, as it serves as a powerful tool to distinguish yourself in a competitive job market.
I must say, if you are not using ChatGPT or other similar AI tools, you are far behind. Incorporate ChatGPT as a companion for creating an amazing cover letter. Use all the techniques and tips described in this blog post.
Ultimately, approach ChatGPT cautiously, prioritize transparency and responsible use, and remember that your own writing skills and authenticity are key to making a strong impression with an amazing cover letter.
