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

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated January 30, 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 Create a Cover Letter for a New Job

Last Updated: April 28, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was written by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Stan Kats is the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology & cybersecurity solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan has over 7 years of cybersecurity experience, holding senior positions in information security at General Motors, AIG, and Aramark over his career. Stan received a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,371 times.

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.

• 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.

Tyrone Showers

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.)

• 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.

• 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.

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.

Expert Q&A

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• ↑ https://chat.openai.com/

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ChatGPT cover letters: How to use this tool the right way

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What is ChatGPT?

How to write a cover letter using chatgpt, make ai work for you: 3 extra tips, write a cover letter that stands out.

When applying for a job, you always provide a resume.

But a cover letter holds just as much weight — if not more — in hiring decisions. It gives you a chance to elaborate on your resume and explain why you’re right for the job.

Like a letter of interest , your cover letter is the recruiter or hiring manager ’s first impression of you. It should be professional, persuasive, and well-written. 

With that in mind, written communication isn’t everyone’s strong suit, and that’s okay. There are resume builders and cover letter templates to guide the way. And if those tools aren’t enough, artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT, can also help you put your best foot forward. 

Here’s how to harness AI and write a ChatGPT cover letter that looks professional and wins over recruiters.

ChatGPT is an AI language processing tool that burst into pop culture at the end of 2022. As of June 2023, the program is available for free because it’s still in the research and feedback-collection phase, but there’s a paid subscription option called ChatGPT Plus.

AI research company OpenAI reportedly trained ChatGPT on a massive dataset of over 8 million documents and 10 billion words , which helped the program develop a complex understanding of the patterns and relationships in human speech. 

When you ask ChatGPT a question or give it a command — like “Write a cover letter for me based on my resume” — the AI uses those patterns to create a string of words it predicts will best answer your question. The result is often eloquent and professional-sounding content. 

In the short time it’s been available to the public, ChatGPT has become wildly popular. It gained 100 million active users just two months after its launch , setting a record for the fastest adoption of a new consumer app. It’s clear that people love this tool — and they’re using it for everything from computer code to resumes and cover letters.

While ChatGPT is a remarkable tool, it’s important to remember that it’s just that: a tool. The responses you get depend on the prompt you give, so it’s wise to learn how to use ChatGPT to your advantage. If you want to use this program to write your next cover letter, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Gather your information

For ChatGPT to write your job application cover letter, you’ll need to give it some information about you and the job you’re applying for. The first thing you need to do is gather everything you’re including in the prompt. This should consist of the following:

• Your contact information
• Your work history, including a brief description of past responsibilities and personal achievements
• Your educational history, including any master’s degrees and notable honors and awards
• Your special skills or training relevant to the job posting 
• The job description and roles and responsibilities of the position

This information will help you use ChatGPT as a cover letter generator that writes text specific to your desired job. The chatbot will analyze the job description for key information, like required education or skills, and use your work history and qualifications to draft a letter showcasing your abilities to meet the employer’s needs. 

2. Prep the prompt

Once you have your resume and all other vital information handy, it’s time to ask ChatGPT to make a cover letter. Your prompt should be as specific as possible to help the AI create a tailored response that meets your needs.

Start your ChatGPT prompt by telling the chatbot what you’re looking for. For example:

I need you to write a cover letter for my application at [insert company name]. Please base the letter on the job description below.

Then, copy and paste the description from the original job posting . This encourages ChatGPT to use key phrases from the post and highlight your most relevant experience. 

Next, you need to tell the AI chatbot a little about yourself. Input your contact information, your education history, and other skills from your resume or CV that you feel pertain to the position you’re applying for. You can even add your resume to the prompt to give the chatbot additional details. That way it uses as much information as possible.

Once you add everything you need, your prompt might look like this:

I need help drafting a cover letter for my application at [insert company name]. Please base the letter on the job description below:

[insert job posting]

Here is important information about me:

Contact info: [name, email address, LinkedIn profile ]

Work experience: [relevant work history]

Education history: [degrees, certifications, any applicable awards and honors]

Special skills: [relevant skills for the position]

I am including my resume below. Please highlight my experience and responsibilities from [previous company].

Once you’ve entered all the information above, simply hit “enter” and let the chatbot get to work. In a few seconds, it should have a customized cover letter ready for you. 

Here’s an example of ChatGPT’s response to a prompt asking for a hypothetical cover letter for an aspiring marketing manager:

3. Refine the response

While ChatGPT can write a cover letter based on the details you entered, its initial draft may still have room for improvement. It might not highlight everything you wanted it to, and there’s a chance the writing might sound robotic. 

Luckily, you can ask the chatbot to refine and rewrite its results as many times as you want. You could ask it to adjust the tone of your cover letter to make it more upbeat or formal, or write a paragraph about a specific team goal you helped meet.

You can also tailor the formatting at this stage. When ChatGPT creates resume and cover letter examples, it typically adds a traditional heading. Instead, you can prompt it to reformat the letter for an email and create a subject line. Here’s an example from a prompt that said “Can you make this cover letter suitable for email?”:

Once you have the formatting down, give the letter a thorough read. ChatGPT is a highly advanced AI, but it’s not infallible. Take the time to proofread the cover letter for any typos, incorrect information, or phrasing that doesn’t serve your goal of landing a job interview . At only a few hundred words, you want to make that space count.

For example, ChatGPT may point out hard and soft skills you’re missing from the job description instead of highlighting the ones you do have. If you spot these kinds of errors, simply ask it to generate a new response without them. 

Remember, a cover letter is your opportunity to make a great first impression on your prospective employer. Take the time and ensure ChatGPT creates the best letter possible. It might seem like a lengthy process, but it’s likely shorter than the time it would take you to write a cover letter from scratch.

While ChatGPT can write a decent cover letter with even the simplest prompts, a few tips and tricks will improve its output. Try these suggestions to make your cover letter even better: 

Keep the thread open

As an AI program, ChatGPT learns from the conversations and prompts it gets from users. But once you close the page, the program might “forget” its previous conversations. If you want to make changes to your cover letter, it’s best to make those requests in a single thread. This helps the chatbot remember your asks and you keep track of the changes you made. 

Specify the letter length

While you may have a lot to say in your cover letter, keeping it concise is key. The ideal cover letter is no longer than three paragraphs that span about half a page, or around 150–300 words. ChatGPT may not yield this rule because it wants to include all of the information from the prompt. If it does present you with text that’s too long or too short, ask it to adjust. 

Ask to include keywords

According to a 2019 report, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) . These systems analyze your resume and cover letter and weed out any that don’t include certain keywords or meet their standards. If your letter doesn’t have the right information, it could get lost in the database. 

Ask ChatGPT to include certain keywords and phrases in your cover letter. Read through the job description and look for job-specific information like required software knowledge, soft skills , and GPA requirements .

Tell the chatbot to mention these in the cover letter to increase your chances of getting out of the ATS and onto a hiring manager ’s screen. 

Your ChatGPT cover letter saves you time and makes your job search a little easier — which is why so many people are using this technology. But no matter how many cover letters you and the chatbot write, remember to always give it a personal touch.  

There are millions of people using this language model to help with their job searches, and while AI tools create great resumes and compelling cover letters, you want to avoid submitting something generic. Tailoring your prompt can help you write applications that stand out from other candidates, helping you land a job you love .

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to get ChatGPT to write your cover letter: step-by-step guide with exact prompts

• When applying for jobs, ChatGPT-4 can make the cover-letter writing process more manageable.
• An AI consultant shares tips for writing an effective cover letter using ChatGPT.
• Here's a step-by-step guide, including writing prompts and navigating ChatGPT's limitations. 

Generative AI can be an effective tool for time-consuming tasks like writing cover letters, but only if you know how to use it effectively.

As an AI consultant , marketing and design companies come to me when they need help learning to use AI tools like ChatGPT. I also help companies review potential employees for AI-specific roles by evaluating their understanding of current tools and trends.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get AI to write you a great cover letter that doesn't sound AI-generated. 

Learn the basics

ChatGPT works best with specific directions, so learn what makes a good cover letter before directing ChatGPT to write one. 

Isimemen Aladejobi, a career strategist, outlines three components of an effective cover letter. 

•  A strong introduction that demonstrates company or industry knowledge. Highlight something in the news that's relevant to your prospective department. Use this topical event to segue into why you're interested in this specific position.  Aladejobi recommends always referring to the job title and company by name.
• The body of the cover letter should convey why your skills and experience make you a perfect fit. Highlight what you brought to the table at your last job and connect it to the requirements of the role you're applying for. Even suggest initiatives you could start at the company.
• The sign-off should be simple. Aladejobi suggests, "I'm excited and looking forward to hearing from you," which she says demonstrates enthusiasm without being too wordy. 

With this in mind, you can now start prompting ChatGPT with confidence. 

Writing your cover letter in ChatGPT-4

Be aware of the token limit.

The token limit is ChatGPT's limit on recall and comprehension during a single session. ChatGPT has a token limit of 4,096, and according to OpenAI , 100 tokens are about 75 words.

If ChatGPT starts responding to prompts illogically, you've probably hit the limit. This message to help ChatGPT refocus:

" Please search this chat for the word strawberry and reread that message and provide me a summary of what you think we need to do. We're at step [#] of that message. Tell me if you want a recap of the previous steps, and I'll provide a summary. "

Having this marker will keep ChatGPT on task and ensure an accurate end product. 

Step 1: Onboard ChatGPT to the task

ChatGPT needs very explicit instructions to complete tasks successfully. Below is the exact prompt to copy and paste into the chatbot. 

To apply for a job within your industry use this prompt: 

"Hi ChatGPT. You're now the best cover letter writer on earth. You and I will write a cover letter together for [job title] at [company]. I have [#] years of experience. Here's what we're going to do:

•  You will ask me at least 15 questions about my work history and vision for the role. Make at least one of the questions "What initiatives would you implement in this role?"
• I'm going to give you sections of the job description to read and you're going to generate a strategic plan for the cover letter based on my answers from step one and the job description for me to approve.
• I'm going to give you a news item about the company. Read it and tell me how you plan to connect it to my cover letter application.
• Use this format to write the cover letter:
• Begin with the news item based on my approval of your strategy. Conclude paragraph one: "When I came across this role, I knew it was the role for me. Let me tell you why."
• The next two to three paragraphs should be my career history with clear connections to the position requirements and desired skills. Make sure to say somewhere, "As your [position title], I'll," and include some of the initiatives.
• Wrap up with the following sentence, "I'm excited and looking forward to hearing from you."

If we exceed your token limit, let's use "strawberry" as our focus word so you can get reoriented. 

Related stories

Please begin by summarizing what you think I want you to do."

If you're making a pivot in your career, remove this line from the prompt: " I have [#] years of experience ," and replace it with " I'm making a career transition from [industry] to [industry] so the cover letter needs to heavily showcase how my previous experience is an asset to [Company]. "

And add this to the first task: "Make another question about how I think my previous experience is an asset to this new industry."

Step 2: Check for understanding

ChatGPT should create a summary of this plan. Check that the summary is accurate. If it is, reply with " next step " or " yes ."

Ashley Couto

If ChatGPT gets confused, open a new chat and repaste the prompt.

Step 3: Answer the career questions and have ChatGPT generate a career summary

The bot should provide you with the 15 career questions. Each answer should be two or three sentences long. You can go over for one or two questions, but be wary of potentially hitting the token limit. 

Once you've answered all the questions, add this sentence and press enter:

" Please create a detailed summary of my responses that I can paste into ChatGPT so I don't have to answer all these questions again if I need to generate another cover letter. "

Copy and paste the summary into another document to use for other applications. 

Step 4: Input no more than 2,500 characters of the job description

Copy and paste only the pertinent details from the description into ChatGPT and delete the fluff. Keep skills and competencies, responsibilities, the role overview, and a little about the company if you think it would be helpful.

Step 5: Paste in a company press release or industry-specific news story

Once ChatGPT gives you its plan, decide whether you agree with its intent. If you do, indicate that you want to move forward and press return or make a change. 

With any AI tool, you must be an editor and strategic advisor. Do not assume that what it's generated is the right path. Exercise critical judgment and get ChatGPT to refine.

For example, after I provided the article, ChatGPT presented me with a summary that didn't highlight key issues on how Canadian media companies think about content. I gave it instructions to refine it.

Step 6: Generate the cover letter and revise it with ChatGPT

Once you've approved its strategic approach, ChatGPT will generate the cover letter. 

It will generate a first draft but probably won't be ready for use yet. It's your job now to go back in and revise using specific instructions.

For example, I felt that the third paragraph ChatGPT generated was weak.

Direct it with specific changes to adjust particular paragraphs and go back and forth for a few rounds until you're happy.

And it generated a much stronger attempt.

Step 7: Put it into a text editor

ChatGPT has a suboptimal understanding of grammar and syntax. Once you're happy with the content, put your text through Grammarly to help tighten up the language and avoid problems like using the passive voice.

Step 8: Rinse and repeat with modifications

You can use the same root prompt for future cover letters, but replace step one with this:

"I'm going to paste in a summary of my work experience. Please write me a three-sentence summary of what type of work I do and what you see as my top accomplishment so I can check for understanding."

Based on the previously generated summary, you'll double-check that ChatGPT has a good idea of what you do. If it's missing a few key details, fill it in on those or tell it which summary you want it to prioritize before you move through the rest of the prompt.

Watch: The 3 key words to use on your résumé to land the interview

• Main content

How to Write A Cover Letter with ChatGPT: Prompts + Examples

The job market is competitive, and a well-crafted cover letter can make all the difference.

With the power of artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT from OpenAI, you can create a compelling cover letter that stands out.

Here is how to write a cover letter with ChatGPT:

Write a cover letter with ChatGPT by defining your requirements, choosing a prompt template, generating the text, reviewing and editing, and customizing for each application. ChatGPT can generate unique content, but be sure to review and edit for accuracy and relevance.

This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT.

Can ChatGPT Write a Cover Letter?

Yes, ChatGPT can write a cover letter.

It has been trained on a diverse range of internet text, making it possible for it to create content in a variety of styles and tones.

In the context of writing cover letters, ChatGPT can help generate unique and effective content.

It can understand specific prompts, and in return, it can provide you with professionally sounding, context-appropriate responses.

However, while ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in writing a cover letter, it’s essential to review and edit the output as needed to ensure it accurately reflects your personal experiences and skills.

How To Write a Cover Letter With ChatGPT (Step-by-Step)

Table of Contents

Writing a cover letter with ChatGPT can be a simplified and intuitive process. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Define Your Requirements

Before you start generating your cover letter with ChatGPT, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your requirements.

What position are you applying for? What are the key skills and experiences you want to highlight? What tone do you want to strike — formal, friendly, or something in between?

Answering these questions will guide you in crafting the right prompts for ChatGPT.

Example: Let’s say you’re applying for a Software Engineer position. You want to highlight your skills in Java and Python, your experience working in Agile teams, and your recent successful project. You’d like a professional yet approachable tone.

Step 2: Choose a Prompt

Choose a suitable prompt from the list provided later in this article, or create your own.

The key to getting effective responses from ChatGPT is to be specific and detailed in your prompt.

You can mention the specific skills or experiences you want to highlight, the job role, the company, and the tone you want to use.

Example: You could start with a prompt like, “ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter for a Software Engineer position at XYZ Corp. I want to highlight my skills in Java and Python, my experience in Agile teams, and my recent successful project at my current company. The tone should be professional yet approachable.”

Step 3: Generate the Text

Once you’ve chosen your prompt, input it into ChatGPT and let it generate your cover letter text.

You can run it multiple times until you get a version you’re happy with.

Hint: Choose one of the 50 example cover letter prompts I’ve made for you later in this guide.

Step 4: Review and Edit

Review the generated text. While ChatGPT is advanced, it’s not perfect.

Make sure to check for relevance, accuracy, and consistency. Edit the text as needed to ensure it accurately reflects your personal experiences and skills.

Example: ChatGPT might produce a cover letter that says, “I have extensive experience in Java and Python…” You might want to change that to be more specific, such as, “In my previous role at ABC Company, I leveraged my skills in Java and Python to develop a cloud-based application that increased team productivity by 20%.”

Step 5: Customize for Each Application

It’s important to remember that each job application should be unique.

Use ChatGPT to tailor your cover letter for each application, highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences for each role.

Example: For a role that emphasizes team collaboration, you might want to highlight your experience working in Agile teams and successful collaborative projects.

This step-by-step process allows you to write a cover letter with ChatGPT that is personalized and relevant.

Check out this video on how to write a cover letter with ChatGPT:

50 Best Prompts for Writing a Cover Letter With ChatGPT

Choosing the right prompt is key to getting the best results from ChatGPT.

Here are 50 prompts that can help you get started with your cover letter:

• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, can you assist me in drafting a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please guide me in composing a cover letter that highlights my [Skills/Experience] and passion for [Industry] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me prepare a cover letter that reflects my interest in [Company Name] and the [Industry] sector for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that demonstrates my [Skills/Experience] and ability to [Job Duty] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me craft a cover letter that emphasizes my [Achievements] and how they make me a strong candidate for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please compose a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to [Job Duty] in a [Tone] tone for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, put together a cover letter that highlights my [Skills/Experience] and how they align with [Company Name]’s values and mission for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please formulate a cover letter that demonstrates my [Skills/Experience] and how they contribute to [Company Name]’s success for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please design a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and how they align with the requirements outlined in the job posting for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please write a cover letter that highlights my [Skills/Experience] and how they can be applied to [Job Duty] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, prepare a cover letter that showcases my [Achievements] and how they demonstrate my [Skills/Experience] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, craft a cover letter that demonstrates my passion for [Industry] and how it aligns with [Company Name]’s goals for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, compose a cover letter that highlights my [Skills/Experience] and how they fit with [Company Name]’s culture for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, put together a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to work in a [Tone] and fast-paced environment for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please formulate a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Job Duty] and how it can benefit [Company Name] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, can you design a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to work independently and collaboratively for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me write a targeted letter of interest that spotlights my [Skills/Experience] and how they can contribute to [Company Name]’s growth for the [Job Role].
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that demonstrates my [Skills/Experience] and how they align with the current trends in [Industry] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me write a tailored introduction letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and how they can contribute to [Company Name]’s ongoing projects for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that underscores my creativity and attention to detail for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that highlights my experience working with [Type of Clients or Customers] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, design an attention-grabbing cover letter that emphasizes my passion for [Industry] and how it aligns with [Company Name]’s goals for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that demonstrates my [Skills/Experience] and how they can contribute to [Company Name]’s mission for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please help me write a customized letter of application that showcases my experience in [Specific Industry or Niche] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, compose a cover letter that highlights my experience working with [Type of Software/Technology] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please construct a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Specific Job Duty] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please develop a cover letter that emphasizes my ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, write an engaging cover letter that shows off my experience in [Specific Skill/Experience] and how it can benefit [Company Name] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that highlights my [Achievements] and how they demonstrate my [Skills/Experience] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please craft a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to work with a diverse team for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please formulate a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to adapt to change for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter that highlights my experience working with [Specific Type of Clients/Customer] and how it can benefit [Company Name] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please make a cover letter that demonstrates my [Skills/Experience] and how they align with the requirements outlined in the job posting for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please create a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to work with cross-functional teams for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, give me a cover letter that highlights my experience in [Specific Skill/Experience] and how it can be applied to [Job Duty] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, fashion a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and how they can contribute to [Company Name]’s growth for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, produce a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Specific Job Duty] and how it can benefit [Company Name] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, generate a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to work in a fast-paced environment for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please write a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Specific Job Duty] and how it can help [Company Name] achieve their goals for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please compose a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and how they align with [Company Name]’s values for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please craft a a job application letter that highlights my experience in [Specific Skill/Experience] and how it can be applied to [Specific Job Duty] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, design a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to work with a team and manage [Specific Task/Project] for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, please draft a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and how they can help [Company Name] improve their current [Specific Process/Product] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, produce a cover letter that highlights my experience in [Specific Skill/Experience] and how it can be applied to [Company Name]’s [Specific Project/Initiative] for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please generate a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Specific Job Duty] and how it can help [Company Name] achieve their objectives for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, please put together a cover letter that showcases my [Skills/Experience] and ability to learn quickly for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name].
• ChatGPT, create a cover letter that highlights my experience in [Specific Skill/Experience] and how it can benefit [Company Name] in the long term for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, make a cover letter that demonstrates my ability to [Specific Job Duty] and how it can help [Company Name] stay ahead of the competition for the [Job Role] position.
• ChatGPT, draft a cover letter that showcases my leadership abilities and how they can benefit [Company Name] for the [Job Role] position.

ChatGPT Prompt Template (mad lib style with blank spaces) for Cover Letters

If you prefer to create your own prompts, here’s a template you can use:

“ChatGPT, please help me write a cover letter for the [Job Role] position at [Company Name]. I want to highlight my [Skills/Experience] and [Achievements]. The tone should be [Tone].”

You can fill in the blank spaces with the specific details that apply to your situation.

3 Full Examples of Cover Letters Written By ChatGPT

Here are three full examples of cover letters written by ChatGPT.

Example 1: Software Engineer

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am contacting you to convey my excitement regarding the position of a software engineer at XYZ Corp.

My extensive experience in Java and Python, coupled with my experience working in Agile teams and my recent successful project at my current company, position me as a compelling candidate for this role. I am excited to apply my skills and experience to help XYZ Corp continue to innovate and grow.

In my previous role at ABC Company, I leveraged my skills in Java and Python to develop a cloud-based application that increased team productivity by 20%. My experience working in Agile teams has taught me the importance of communication, collaboration, and adaptability. I am positive that my abilities and prior work experience align well with the requirements of this position.

I appreciate your time in considering my application. I am excited at the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications and how they align with the needs of the company.

[Your Name]

Example 2: Marketing Manager

I am delighted to present my application for the role of Marketing Manager at ABC Inc.

My proficiency in strategizing and implementing effective marketing campaigns, coupled with my deep interest in the field, render me a prime contender for this opportunity.

Throughout my career, I have developed and executed successful marketing campaigns that have led to increased brand awareness and sales. One campaign I am particularly proud of is the launch of our company’s new product line. Through a combination of targeted social media ads, email marketing, and influencer partnerships, we were able to increase our sales by 35% in just three months.

I am confident that my passion for marketing, coupled with my skills in campaign development and execution, make me a strong fit for this position.

I appreciate your consideration of my application and eagerly anticipate hearing back from you.

Example 3: Customer Service Representative

I am happy to submit my application for the job of Customer Service Representative at XYZ Corp. My experience in customer service, as well as my ability to work in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, match well with what the job requires, which makes me a good choice for the job..

In my previous role at ABC Inc, I was responsible for handling customer inquiries and complaints. Through my ability to actively listen and empathize with customers, I was able to resolve issues effectively and efficiently. I also collaborated with other departments to identify and solve recurring issues, which led to a 15% decrease in customer complaints.

Thanks for considering my application. I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to discuss my credentials in more detail and explore how my skills and experience can contribute to the success of your organization.

How Else Can You Use ChatGPT In a Job Search?

While ChatGPT is excellent for generating cover letters, it can also be used in other ways to support your job search.

Here are a few additional ways you can use ChatGPT:

• Resume Writing: ChatGPT can help you generate content for your resume, such as a summary statement, bullet points for your experience, and other sections.
• Interview Preparation: ChatGPT can help you prepare for interviews by generating common interview questions and sample responses.
• Networking : ChatGPT can help you craft an introductory message for networking or outreach emails.

My Experience Using ChatGPT For My Cover Letter

As a writer, I used ChatGPT to generate cover letters during my job search for more writing clients.

I found that it helped me streamline the process and generate unique content quickly. While I still needed to review and edit the output, it saved me a significant amount of time.

In the end, I received several call backs based on my resume and cover letter, which I believe was in part due to the compelling content generated by ChatGPT.

Final Thoughts: How To Write a Cover Letter With ChatGPT

Don’t stop with cover letters.

ChatGPT can help you create a portfolio of writing samples, draft emails, and help produce reports on the job.

Read This Next:

• How To Write a 2 Week Notice: Examples, Templates, & Guide
• How To Write a Job Posting Ad (Ultimate Guide + 10 Examples)
• Is ChatGPT Free? (Latest Updates in 2023)
• How To Write D&D on a Resume (25 Best Examples & Templates)

How to Write Your Cover Letter Using ChatGPT

Are you struggling to write a cover letter? Let ChatGPT guide you through the process and help you create a standout letter.

ChatGPT is growing in popularity as artificial intelligence’s go-to for content generation. You probably have seen courses and other programs designed to help you leverage this new platform and are curious about its benefits.

Access to a platform that can create a cohesive document can be a godsend to people who dislike writing. While ChatGPT can help you increase your efficiency, you still have to review the documents it generates to ensure your cover letter gets noticed.

1. Open Your ChatGPT Account

You can easily create one if you don’t already have an account. Go to the site chat.openai.com . Once you’re there, you’ll see a prompt to open your account or sign up. You can create a new account with your choice of email, including connecting it to an existing Gmail account.

You’ll need access to your mobile phone since you’ll receive a six-digit code sent to your phone via text to confirm your registration. Once you’ve confirmed your registration, you’re ready to get started.

When you’re in ChatGPT, you’ll see you can stay with the free version, ChatGPT 3.5, or pay for access to ChatGPT 4. The features of ChatGPT-4 include faster responses and access to beta features like code interpreter, plug-ins, and browsing.

ChatGPT-4 has a limit of 25 messages every three hours, costing $20 monthly. If you’re wondering what other artificial intelligence options exist besides ChatGPT, you might be interested in learning about the best alternatives to ChatGPT .

2. Enter Your Custom Instructions

Before you ask ChatGPT to write content for you, you need to provide custom instructions to the platform. You do this in the custom instructions; you can access it by clicking on your name.

There are two sections where you input information about yourself. The first one asks: What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses? The second one asks: How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

The first section is where you can tell the platform where you live, what you currently do for work, your goals, and your interests. The second section is where you can talk about the tone and length of ChatGPT’s responses.

You can change the custom instructions at any time, but it will only affect the answers given after the changes are made. If you’re new to the platform, you may ask: What is ChatGPT and what can you do with generative AI? . We recommend checking out that guide if you're not too sure.

3. Submit a Job Description

Once you’ve completed your custom instructions, it’s time to provide a job description that ChatGPT can refer to when creating your cover letter. Remember, the key to writing an effective cover letter is addressing all the critical needs indicated in the job description.

If you’re using the free ChatGPT 3.5 version of the platform, there’s no limit to the number of jobs you can ask it to write cover letters for! You can also ask the platform to regenerate the response if you don’t like the first one you get.

You may be wondering what ChatGPT means for the future of writers and if it means enormous unemployment lines are in your future. You might find some comfort in learning the reasons why ChatGPT won’t take your writing job .

4. Prompt ChatGPT to Write the Elements of Your Cover Letter

Once you’ve submitted the job description, the next step is to ask for a cover letter. Instead of asking it to write one document, you can ask it to focus on each part of your cover letter to create a more focused one.

The Introductory Paragraph

The first paragraph is where you provide basic details about who you are and why you want the job. You can also give a general overview of why you’re the right candidate for the job and why the position excites you.

Your Qualifications

The next part of your cover letter summarizes your experience and qualifications and how they apply to the job you’re applying for. This is where you can include stories about relevant projects or situations to give the hiring manager or recruiter some insight into how you work.

Explain How You Align With the Company’s Values and Goals

In this section of your cover letter, you want to illustrate that you understand the company’s mission and have done your research on the company. You want to focus on how your goals align with the organization’s, and you can also include positive factors you’ve heard about the company culture.

Close With a Call to Action

Your closing paragraph should be where you recap your interest in the job and suggest the next steps for proceeding with your application. Thank the reader for reviewing your application and indicating your interest in discussing the position or scheduling an interview.

This is where you can focus on the talents and skills you hope to bring to the team. If you want to learn more about the platform’s capabilities and how to generate the proper prompts, you may be interested in learning ways to learn how to write effective ChatGPT prompts for the best AI answers .

5. Proofread and Review the Generated Cover Letter

After the AI generates the different parts of your cover letter, you can put them together and read it out loud to see if it makes sense.

Use the content ChatGPT generates as the foundation of your cover letter. You can add elements that add a personal touch to the cover letter, giving the reader an idea about your personality.

The content generated by ChatGPT can help you create a cover letter focused on what the organization hiring you is looking for. It would be best to remember that the platform is available to everyone, and you’re probably not the only one using it to help them apply for the job.

This is why adding what makes you unique to the letter ChatGPT generates can be a vital part of using the platform for job applications and getting noticed. If you enjoy using the platform, you may be interested in learning about the amazing ChatGPT Chrome extensions for better AI prompts and answers in browsers .

Work Smarter, Not Harder With ChatGPT

Using ChatGPT can help you work more efficiently, increasing your productivity. You can use AI to generate documents as the foundation for any written content you’re working on.

Whether you’re looking for help writing a resume or cover letter, AI can help you quickly generate them. Using the content “as is” isn’t recommended, but making changes and corrections is more manageable than creating original content on your own and can help ensure that you touch on the key points the reader is looking for.

How to Write A Cover Letter Using ChatGPT

Careerflow Team

Job hunting is a tedious process. You have to create a top-notch resume, set up an outstanding LinkedIn profile, write a compelling cover letter, prepare for interviews, appear for online tests, reach out to recruiters, and after all this hustle you finally receive an offer letter. And it can be overwhelming 😥 to handle everything on your own. But now ChatGPT can help and assist you with most, if not all, of your job search needs. We have already talked about interview preparation and resume writing with ChatGPT in our previous guides (check them out below) and today we are here to talk about how you can craft the most effective cover letter for your dream job with ChatGPT.

So let’s get started!

Why Should You Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter?

Before you actually start working with ChatGPT, you should know what are its possible advantages and how it will benefit you in the process of writing a cover letter: 

• Enhances creativity: Writing a cover letter can be a daunting task, especially if you're not naturally creative. ChatGPT can help you generate creative ideas and language that you may not have thought of on your own. This can enhance your creativity and help you create a more compelling cover letter.
• Accessible anywhere: You can use ChatGPT from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it easy to create an impressive cover letter on the go, whether you're at home, at work, or in college.
• Free to use: ChatGPT is free to use, which means that you don't have to pay for expensive writing services. This makes it a cost-effective option for job seekers.
• Save time and effort: Writing a cover letter can be a time-consuming and challenging task. With ChatGPT, you can quickly generate personalized language that matches the job description and highlights your skills and experience. This will save you a lot of time and effort.
• Help you stand out: Doesn’t matter if ChatGPT is making headlines in every other article, and has been a topic of conversation all around, there are still many who are not willing to try and experiment with it. But if you do take the initiative to utilize ChatGPT, you will undoubtedly gain an advantage.

Overall, using ChatGPT to create a cover letter is a logical and compelling choice that can save you time, improve your chances of getting an interview, and demonstrate your tech-savvy skills.

Check out: AI Cover Letter Generator

Best Tips for Efficiently Using ChatGPT While Creating Cover Letters

Mastering the art of utilizing ChatGPT is a valuable skill, especially when it comes to creating a cover letter. It requires patience, practice, and perseverance to make the most of ChatGPT. To help you maximize its potential in your job search, Careerflow have compiled a list of the top ChatGPT tips that are sure to give you an edge:

• Provide clear and specific prompts: The more information you provide ChatGPT, the better it will understand your needs and tailor its response accordingly. So while asking for a cover letter, make sure to include details about the job you're applying for, your qualifications, and any other relevant information. This will help ChatGPT generate a more personalized response. For example,

❌Instead of asking: Write a cover letter for an entry-level software engineer role.

✅Ask: I am applying for a software developer position at an ABC company and I would like your help writing a personalized cover letter. The job posting requires experience in software development, specifically in Java and Python. The ideal candidate should also have experience working in a team, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to learn quickly. I would like my cover letter to highlight my experience in these areas and how they make me a suitable fit for the position. Additionally, I would like to convey my enthusiasm for the company and its products. Please also make sure to include a professional and confident tone, and emphasize how I can contribute to the company's success. 

Here is the job description: [paste your target job description].

• Experiment with prompts: Small changes in prompts can have huge effects on ChatGPT output. So experiment with different prompts to see which ones work best for you and generate the most effective cover letter.
• Use specific keywords: ChatGPT is trained to understand language and context, so including specific keywords related to the job and industry you're applying for can help it generate more accurate content for your cover letter. Use keywords from the job description, company website, and industry-related terms to help ChatGPT create content that aligns with the job requirements.

Rule to remember 📢: Generic prompts will lead to generic results and specific prompts will lead to specific results. 

How To Use ChatGPT to Write Cover Letters: A Step-by-Step Guide 

If you are constantly struggling with a single question during your job search– How to write a cover letter? 

Worry not, your search for a solution ends here. We are here to provide you with a step-by-step guide to crafting an effective cover letter with ChatGPT that will help you stand out in your job search. 

Step 1: Inquire About ChatGPT's Requirements

The first step towards creating a cover letter using ChatGPT is to ask ChatGPT what it needs from you to create the most accurate and personalized cover letter. You can use the following prompts to get started:

• Can you please tell me what information and details you would need from my end to create the most effective cover letter for me?
• I'm applying for a job and need you to create a cover letter. Can you please guide me through the information I need to provide you with to write a compelling and effective cover letter?
• I'm applying for my first job and I need help writing a cover letter that will stand out to potential employers. Can you please let me know what information and details you would need from me in order to create the finest cover letter possible?

Step 2: Understand Your Requirements

To make the most of ChatGPT, it's crucial to know what you're aiming for. What job do you want? What qualifications does it require? What message do you want to convey to your potential employer? Here are a few ways that will help you gain clarity:

• Read the job description
• Read the job description carefully and take note of the required skills and qualifications.
• Identify the keywords used in the job description. Later you will be able to request ChatGPT to include some of these keywords in your cover letter. 
• Research the company
• Visit the company's website and read about its mission statement, vision, and values.
• Look for any recent news or press releases about the company and its current projects.
• Identify the company's target audience, products or services, and competitors.
• Analyze the match
• Compare the job description requirements and responsibilities to your own skills and qualifications.
• Analyze how your skills and qualifications match the job description and make note of any gaps that you need to address in your cover letter.
• Investigate your target company's mission statement and culture to see how they align with your personal values and aspirations.

Step 3: Try to Answer a Few Specific Questions in Your Prompt

To ensure that your prompt is on the right track, it is imperative to make sure that it addresses all the common requirements. Some key questions that your prompt should answer:

• What is your current situation – student, working professional or recent graduate?
• What is your desired position?
• What is your specific career goal?
• In what field do you work?
• What's your motivation behind applying for a particular job opening?
• What are your core skills and how will they be useful in your target role?

Step 4: Start a Conversation with ChatGPT

Now that you've completed all your pre-planning and research, it's time to begin speaking with ChatGPT. Follow these steps to start a conversation with ChatGPT:

• Browse to https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/
• Scroll down the page and click on “Try ChatGPT”. 
• Log in with your OpenAI account. If you don't already have an OpenAI account, you can create one or log in using a Google or Microsoft account. 

Step 5: Introduce Yourself

When engaging in a conversation with ChatGPT, it's advisable to begin by introducing yourself. 

• Mention your name, current job, experience, and educational background.
• You can provide additional information such as your interests or hobbies, but make sure it is relevant to the job or company you are applying to.
• Moreover, you can use the following template while introducing yourself: 

"My name is [Your Name], and I am currently working at [Your current job]. I have [Number of years of experience] years of experience in [Your area of expertise], and I hold a degree in [Your field of study] from [Name of the university]."

Rule to remember: Use simple and understandable language and avoid providing too much information irrelevant to the job or company you are applying to while introducing yourself to ChatGPT .

Step 6: Provide the Job Description, Company Information, and Your Resume to ChatGPT

After introducing yourself, provide the job description, company information, and resume to ChatGPT. You can either copy and paste the information or type it in your own words. This information will help ChatGPT understand the requirements of the position and the company culture. 

Here is an example of how you can provide a job description to ChatGPT in your words: “I am applying for a digital marketing specialist position at XYZ Company. The job description requires experience in social media management, content creation, and analytics. The company is a leading provider of marketing services to small businesses, and its mission is to empower entrepreneurs with innovative solutions.”

It is advisable to provide ChatGPT with all three documents: a job description, resume, and company information. But if you are unable to provide all three, at least provide a job description of the role you are seeking.

Step 7: Ask ChatGPT to Write a Cover Letter

Now that ChatGPT has all the necessary information, ask for help with the cover letter. You can provide guidance on the tone, style, and word limit you want. And then ChatGPT will use its language generation capabilities to produce a personalized cover letter that meets your requirements.

Example: Can you help me write a cover letter for this position? I want the tone to be professional but friendly, and I want to highlight my experience in digital marketing and my passion for helping small businesses succeed. Please write my cover letter in 150 words. 

Rule to remember 📢: ChatGPT can give you different results for the same prompt. Simply click on “Regenerate response” and explore all the options. 

Best Prompt Template and Examples to Ask ChatGPT to Write a Cover Letter

Best prompt template to ask chatgpt to create a personalized cover letter.

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Your current job or recent graduate in Your Field]. I have [Number of years of experience] years of experience in [Your area of expertise], where I gained experience in [Mention specific skills, projects, or tools that you have worked on, or your achievements]. Some of my notable achievements include [Mention measurable metrics or accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and experience]. I hold a degree in [Your field of study] from [Name of the university]. I'm interested in pursuing a career in [Your desired field or industry], where I can leverage my [Your specific skills or experience]. I'm applying for the [Position Name] position at [Company Name], which I found on [Job Posting Site]. I'm excited about this opportunity because [Mention what excites you about this opportunity or why you are interested in the company]. I believe that [Company Name] is [Share information about the company or its values]. I think the challenges of this position include [Describe the specific challenges or goals of the role]. I'm confident that my experience in [Your specific skills or experience] can help me succeed in this role. I would describe myself as [Share your personality or work style], and I think this quality will make me a valuable addition to the team. I look forward to seeing the personalized cover letter you create for me.

This is my resume: [Paste your resume] .

This is the job description: [paste your target job description] .

Rule to Remember 📢: This is a generic template and should be customized according to the user's needs. The points can be modified, added, and removed as needed.

5 Best Prompt Examples to Ask ChatGPT to Create a Personalized Cover Letter

Example 1: My name is John Doe, and I am a recent graduate of Computer Science. I have 1 year of experience in software development, where I gained experience developing and maintaining applications using Python, Java, and SQL. Some of my notable achievements include developing a web application that increased user engagement by 30% and implementing a data analytics solution that improved operational efficiency by 20%. I hold a degree in Computer Science from the University of ABC. I'm interested in pursuing a career in software development, where I can leverage my skills to build innovative solutions that solve complex problems. I'm applying for the Software Developer position at XYZ Company, which I found on LinkedIn. I'm excited about this opportunity because I believe that XYZ Company's focus on developing cutting-edge technologies aligns with my career goals. I think the challenges of this position include developing and deploying high-quality software that meets customer requirements and adheres to best practices. I would describe myself as a problem solver and a team player, and I think these qualities will make me a valuable addition to the team. Can you write me a cover letter based on this information? 

Note: The prompt starts with an introduction and talks about the current situation, experiences, target industry, and core skills of a person. Then it also states achievements with proper statistics. Moreover, it talks about career goals and explains why a person is applying for the role. And that is why this prompt will lead to better results. 

Check out the complete conversation with ChatGPT here: https://shareg.pt/shDWyBK

Example 2: My name is John Smith and I'm excited to apply for the Senior Marketing Manager position at ABC Company. I came across this opportunity on LinkedIn and was immediately drawn to it because of the company's reputation for innovative marketing strategies and its commitment to social responsibility. With over 10 years of experience in the marketing industry, including 5 years in a leadership role, I have successfully led cross-functional teams in developing and executing complex marketing campaigns that have generated total revenue of $50 million. Additionally, I have extensive experience conducting market research and using data analytics to measure campaign effectiveness, resulting in a 25% increase in ROI for my previous employer. I am also impressed by the company's mission to empower underrepresented communities and its commitment to sustainability. Could you please help me write a cover letter that highlights my experience in marketing leadership and data analytics? In addition, it showcases my enthusiasm for the role and the company's mission. I want to make sure that my cover letter stands out and captures the attention of the hiring manager.

Note: This prompt provides an introductory statement about an individual's background and accomplishments, while also outlining the key areas that should be emphasized in a cover letter.

Check out the complete conversation with ChatGPT here: https://shareg.pt/YHts5d6

Example 3: I am currently applying for a Marketing Manager role at Acme Corporation. Could you please help me write a cover letter that highlights my skills and experiences? To assist you, I am attaching my current resume which outlines my professional background, skills, and experiences. My top strengths include strategic thinking, project management, and data analysis. I have researched the company and found that Acme Corporation values innovation, customer satisfaction, and teamwork. Lastly, I believe that my volunteer work with a local non-profit organization, where I led a team of volunteers to organize fundraising events, could help me stand out from other candidates.

This is my resume: [Paste your resume].

Note: This is a simple and straightforward prompt that starts with the target role and company and continues to describe top skills and the company’s culture. Moreover, it provides information about volunteer work and has a resume that ensures the cover letter will be personalized.  

Check out the complete conversation with ChatGPT here: https://shareg.pt/qtBK15O

Example 4: I am looking to apply for the position of Senior Software Engineer at XYZ Tech and I want you to write a compelling cover letter. As for my background, I am attaching my current resume which outlines my relevant skills and experience. Over the past 5 years, I have worked on several complex software development projects, including an inventory management system for a major retailer, a real-time chat application, and a payment processing system for a fintech startup. From my past experiences, I have led teams of up to 10 developers, designers, and quality assurance specialists. I have always ensured that our projects are delivered on time and meet or exceed customer expectations. Moreover, I have researched XYZ Tech and I am impressed by the company's reputation for innovation, teamwork, and community involvement. I believe that my passion for software development, my technical expertise, and my experience leading teams make me an ideal fit for the Senior Software Engineer role at XYZ Tech. Finally, I would like to share a personal achievement that I believe showcases my dedication and work ethic. Last year, I completed a marathon in under 4 hours, which required months of intense training and discipline. This experience taught me the value of setting and achieving goals, as well as the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

This is the job description: [paste your target job description].

Note: This is again a detailed prompt that gives ChatGPT all the necessary information about experience, achievements, and extracurricular activities. It also provides a job description and a resume.

Check out the complete conversation with ChatGPT here: https://shareg.pt/b0u3eaZ

Example 5: I am interested in applying for the position of Sales Manager at ABC Company and I want you to write me a cover letter that highlights my relevant experience, skills, and achievements. As a Sales Manager at XYZ Corporation, I was responsible for leading a team of 10 sales representatives. I was also responsible for driving revenue growth through effective sales strategies and client relationship management. During my tenure at XYZ Corporation, I achieved a sales growth rate of 25% year-over-year and increased the team's overall revenue by 35%. In terms of the Sales Manager role at ABC Company, the job description calls for someone with a proven track record of sales success. This person will have experience managing sales teams, and the ability to develop and implement sales plans. Based on my experience, I am confident that I possess the necessary skills to excel in this role. Furthermore, I have researched ABC Company and I am impressed by the company's mission to provide high-quality products and services to its customers while promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration. As someone who is passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and building strong client relationships, I believe that ABC Company's values align with my own. Finally, I would like to share a personal achievement that I believe showcases my dedication and ability to exceed expectations. During my time at XYZ Corporation, I was recognized as the top-performing Sales Manager for three consecutive years, achieving an average sales growth rate of 30% year-over-year. Moreover, I was able to develop and implement a sales training program that resulted in a 50% increase in the team's sales productivity.

Note: In this prompt person is sharing her experience and achievements in great detail and discusses the job description in her own words rather than simply copy-pasting the job description so ChatGPT can avoid unnecessary information. 

Check out the complete conversation with ChatGPT here: https://shareg.pt/iVDyiY6

Also Read: How to Use ChatGPT to Write A Resume

10 Bonus Prompt Templates to Help you Achieve Results Fast

We understand that securing a job requires a great deal of effort and time, and writing long prompts can be another burden. Thus, we're providing you with 10 bonus prompts that you can use to create a cover letter by simply filling in a couple of details. So go and try these templates now!

• I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and want you to write a cover letter for me with a strict word limit of 200 words. My experience and qualifications are summarized in my attached resume.  This is my resume: [Paste your resume].
• I'm excited to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I'd appreciate it if you could write me a cover letter that showcases my skills and experience. Feel free to use my attached resume as a reference.  This is my resume: [Paste your resume].
• Could you please generate a brief and polite cover letter for me to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], using the job description as a reference? Also, my attached resume includes my experience and qualifications.  This is my resume: [Paste your resume]. This is the job description: [paste your target job description].
• I want to get the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and would appreciate a persuasive and convincing cover letter using both my resume and the job description. Keep the tone friendly and stick to the word limit of 200. This is my resume: [Paste your resume]. This is the job description: [paste your target job description].
• I am interested in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I would like you to write a cover letter that emphasizes my ability to [specific skill or competency] and how it can contribute to the company's success. Can you create a persuasive letter?
• I am applying for a [Job Title] position that requires knowledge of [specific language or cultural context], as well as experience in [specific industry or field]. Can you help me create a cover letter that highlights my proficiency in these areas and how they can benefit the company's global initiatives in [specific mission or goal]?
• I am interested in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and would like you to write a cover letter that highlights my achievements in [skill or field], such as increasing sales by [specific metric], and how they can contribute to the company's success.
• I am interested in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and need a cover letter that emphasizes my ability to work well under pressure and deliver results. Can you help me create a persuasive letter that showcases my achievements in [specific accomplishment] and how they can benefit the company?
• I am applying for a [Job Title] position at [Company Name] that requires experience in [specific software or technology]. I need a cover letter that highlights my proficiency in [specific software or technology], as well as my [specific soft skill] and how it can benefit the company's [specific objective or goal].
• I am seeking a [Job Title] position that requires experience in [specific task or skill], as well as knowledge of [specific industry or field]. Can you help me create a cover letter that showcases my ability to [specific achievement or accomplishment] and how it aligns with [Company Name]'s values and mission in this industry?

Note 📢: While these prompts can help you quickly achieve your desired results, it's important to note that they may not result in a fully tailored cover letter that accurately reflects your experience and background. To ensure your letter stands out, we suggest investing time in personalizing it to the best of your ability.

How to create a final cover letter from a chatgpt-generated cover letter .

While artificial intelligence can make the process of creating a cover letter more efficient, it's critical to remember that a strong cover letter should reflect your unique skills and experiences. If you've used ChatGPT to generate a cover letter but feel it lacks the personal touch you need to stand out to employers, don't worry! With a few simple steps, you can transform a ChatGPT-generated cover letter into a final version that effectively communicates your qualifications and sets you apart from the competition. 

• Make sure your cover letter matches the job description: Take the time to read the job description carefully and check if the ChatGPT has included the most important qualifications and requirements for the position in your cover letter. 
• Adjust the tone: ChatGPT can generate cover letters in different tones, such as formal, friendly, or persuasive. Depending on the company culture and job requirements, you may want to adjust the tone of your cover letter to better fit the audience. For example, a more formal tone may be appropriate for a corporate job while a friendly tone may be better for a startup.
• Emphasize your unique skills and experiences: ChatGPT can generate cover letters with a lot of information, but you can make your cover letter stand out by emphasizing your unique skills and experiences. Use the output from ChatGPT as a starting point and add details highlighting why you're the most qualified candidate for the job.
• Edit for clarity and conciseness: While ChatGPT can generate a lot of content, it's critical to keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Employers often receive a large volume of cover letters, so making yours concise and easy to read will increase your chances of getting noticed. Edit out any unnecessary information and focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and experience.
• Customize the opening and closing: The opening and closing of your cover letter are critical components that can help you make a strong first impression. So if you have time try to polish them on your own.
• Review the grammatical errors and typos: Use a grammar checker or proofreading tools like Grammarly and WordTune to catch any mistakes that may have been missed by the ChatGPT algorithm.

Overall, ChatGPT can provide an ideal starting point for creating a cover letter, but customizing the output to fit your requirements is key to making it stand out.

What are the Common Mistakes to Avoid While Creating a Cover Letter Using ChatGPT?

A large number of articles have been published recently regarding how recruiters reject AI-generated cover letters for their lack of personalization. However, these situations and conclusions are very subjective as the personalization of the output of ChatGPT is solely based on information input by the user. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid while creating a cover letter using ChatGPT:

• Not following the correct cover letter format: Not following the correct cover letter format: There are certain conventions that should be followed when it comes to cover letter formattings, such as including your contact information, a formal greeting, an introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing statement. Make sure you follow these conventions and include all the necessary information in your cover letter.
• Never fall for clickbait - “Create your cover letter in 60 seconds with ChatGPT”, and “Get shortlisted for MAANG interview with a ChatGPT-generated resume or cover letter”, these are mere tactics to attract job seekers. No such thing exists in the real world. In the end, technology is here to assist you but cannot completely replace hard work. 
• Completely relying on ChatGPT- There is no doubt that ChatGPT is a great tool for speeding up the cover writer generation process, but relying on it alone has its own disadvantages. In the end, ChatGPT is an AI tool fed with data therefore it overlooks the personalization or factors that can make your cover letter stand out. So ChatGPT intelligence combined with your creativity can do wonders for your job search. 

Using ChatGPT can undoubtedly be a game-changer in streamlining the process of writing a cover letter. But let's be clear: ChatGPT isn't a magic solution that can replace your efforts entirely. Instead, you should use ChatGPT's output as a guide and customize it to emphasize your unique strengths. The more information and details you provide to ChatGPT, the better your cover letter will be at showcasing your skills and making you stand out as a candidate.

As you wrap up your cover letter writing journey with ChatGPT, remember that the power of language and technology is at your fingertips. So why settle for a mediocre cover letter when you can use the most advanced AI language model available to craft a masterpiece? Give it a try and watch your job prospects soar 😉!

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How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter

3 key takeaways:

• How to use AI in your job search
• How to use ChatGPT to write your cover letter
• A faster way to use AI to write (and customize!) your cover letter with Teal's  AI Resume Builder

ChatGPT and AI are taking the internet by storm! 

At this point, you’ve probably heard of it, are a little unsure of it, and you can’t quite pin down how you’ll be able to use it to your advantage in your job search. 

In this article, you'll learn about one of the most helpful ways to use ChatGPT in your job search—writing your cover letter. So let's dive in and explore what ChatGPT is, how to use it in your job search, and what prompts you should use to get the best results. We’ll even showcase examples of the best cover letters we asked ChatGPT to create.

Watch the video below, and read on to learn how to write the perfect cover letter with the help of ChatGPT in a matter of minutes.

What is ChatGPT? 

ChatGPT is a remarkable new AI-powered chatbot. Short for Chat-based Generative Pre-trained Transformer, ChatGPT uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) to quickly and accurately generate human-like conversation in any given context.  

All you have to do is feed it relevant prompts like “Write my cover letter using my resume below as a reference,” and it will create a beautifully crafted and relevant draft just for you.

How can I use artificial intelligence in my job search?

There are a ton of ways you can use ChatGPT in your job search. You can use ChatGPT to write your resume , optimize your LinkedIn profile, write your resume achievements, craft a letter of interest, and so much more. 

The fantastic part about ChatGPT is that it allows you to automate the cumbersome aspects of your job search, which gives you more time to be strategic about your application process. With the help of AI, you can craft personalized resumes and cover letters for every job you apply for.

Additionally, Teal recently launched an integration with ChatGPT inside our AI Resume Builder that allows you to fully leverage AI with your resume and cover letter.

Here's how:

• ‍ Generate professional summaries that are tailored to individual jobs
• Write resume achievements that showcase your biggest career wins
• Generate full cover letters in seconds that are compelling

Create your Teal account and start taking advantage of AI enhance your resumes and cover letters.

Not only will these assets be created quickly and easily with the help of AI, but they’ll also be crafted using your previous work experience and the job description you’re applying for.

Things to consider when using ChatGPT in my job search

When using ChatGPT during your job search, it’s essential to consider the potential drawbacks. 

ChatGPT is still a new technology that is consistently being tested and reiterated. Currently, the platform is told to decline inappropriate requests but claims on its site that it may still sometimes produce harmful instructions or biased content. 

Also, it may accidentally generate incorrect information and needs to gain more knowledge of the world and events after 2021. When using ChatGPT, we suggest that you proceed with caution and, to be extra careful, assess the company's privacy policy to ensure you feel OK with how they use personal data.

Lastly, it is still vital to have real conversations with recruiters to stand out as a qualified candidate - in this case, ChatGPT cannot replace an actual conversation. Use your own writing for one on one contact as much as possible.

How to use ChatGPT to write your cover letter 

To get started, simply Google “ChatGPT,” access the OpenAI website, and sign up for a free account. All you need is an email address, Google account, or Microsoft account - it's easy and doesn't take more than a few minutes. Best of all, both the website and app are free to use. 

Once you’ve logged in, follow the steps below to create an AI-powered cover letter.

• Go to "Matching Mode" in your Teal AI Resume Builder and select one of the jobs from your Job Application Tracker to focus on.
• Go to the "Job Description" tab and scroll to the "Responsibilities" section. Copy the responsibilities.
• Head to ChatGPT and enter this prompt: "Write my cover letter for X role at Y in a conversational tone, using the job responsibilities below as a reference.” 
• Press "Shift" + "Enter."
• Paste the responsibilities below that prompt.
• When you get your result, save it in a separate area (again, Teal’s AI Resume Builder is an excellent option for this), then click "try again" to generate two more versions. Remember to save ChatGPT’s response each time.
• Sort through the options, pull what you like from each generated version, make sure it accurately reflects your experience, and finalize a cover letter you love. 

And remember, while you can do this task individually on ChatGPT for each job application process you move through, there is a better and more efficient way to generate customized cover letters.

ChatGPT cover letter writer

Teal's free, AI-powered software simplifies cover letter creation. 

Instead of toggling between job descriptions and your resume achievements, streamline your workflow with Teal. 

With Teal, not only can you track job postings, but you can also create customized AI-generated cover letters (and professional summaries and resume achievements!) for each one instantly—in one centralized location.

Pulling the details from your resume and any saved job description, the Teal AI Resume Builder ensures every cover letter you create is not only tailored to a specific role but also consistently reflects the skills and qualifications of your resume. Learn more about our AI Cover Letter Generator tool.

Ready to try it yourself?

Teal helps you track all your job postings and job applications and allows you to create customized resumes and cover letters for each one instantly.

The video below showcases the steps for using Teal's AI to create your personalized cover letter directly inside the app without needing prompts or a separate ChatGPT account. 

Sign up for free to start customizing your cover letters, and transform your job search. Track, apply, and personalize all in one place.

@teal_hq Cover letters refuse to go away. But that doesn’t mean they have to take up so much time. Here’s how to use Teal’s Resume Builder with new AI features to create a custom, tailored cover letter in under 30 seconds. #jobsearch #jobsearchhelp #coverletter #coverlettertips #jobsearchhacks #chatgpt #ai #artificialintelligence #techjob #jobsintech #jobseeker #findajob #jobapplication #jobhunt #careertok ♬ original sound - Teal | Your Career Growth Tool

The best ChatGPT prompts to use for cover letters

The best way to see beneficial results from artificial intelligence is by putting in the actual legwork. You cannot expect AI to do everything for you at the click of a button. ChatGPT only works well with help and strategic direction from an actual person. 

That’s why thoughtful prompts are SO necessary. The input you give ChatGPT influences the quality of output you receive. The more detailed suggestions you provide, the more likely it will be able to customize the outcome for you. 

Below are four ChatGPT prompts for writing cover letters that we love. If you’re looking for even more prompts, check our ChatGPT resume prompts and ChatGPT cover letter prompts articles. 

We suggest personalizing these to your experience, the companies you’re applying with, and the job title you’re applying for.

• "Write a conversational cover letter for a job application as a [position] at [company] using my resume below as a reference."
• "Draft a persuasive cover letter in 150 words or less highlighting my qualifications and enthusiasm for the [position] at [ company] using my resume achievements below." 
• "Create a compelling cover letter that explains why I am the best fit for the [position] at [company]. Write the cover letter using the StoryBrand Framework."
• "Compose a professional cover letter demonstrating how my abilities align with the requirements for the [position] at [company]. Use the information below as a guide." 

In each of these prompts, the creator is expected to provide context like a job description and resume achievements or a professional summary to see the best possible outcome. You'll see above that we also directed ChatGPT to write a cover letter with 150 words or less. We noticed that most of the cover letters it created were a bit verbose, so we suggest using that word count limit for each out.

Below, you'll see an example of a cover letter that ChatGPT created for us on the spot using one of the prompts above!

Benefits of using AI to write your cover letter

Incorporating AI into your cover letter writing process offers a range of benefits that can significantly improve your job application efforts.

Save time and accelerate your job applications: Using AI for cover letter creation will save hours of meaningful time by quickly drafting an initial cover letter, allowing you to apply to more jobs efficiently.

Tell a consistent story: Using AI to write your cover letter ensures you craft a seamless and compelling narrative effortlessly because your cover letter aligns with your career journey, resume details, and the specific requirements of any job you apply for.

Customize content for each application: Easily customize your cover letter for each job application. AI can analyze job descriptions and tailor your letter to match specific requirements and keywords, boosting your chances of grabbing attention.

Get compelling insights: AI provides valuable tips on the best skills and achievements to emphasize, conveying the right amount of enthusiasm, and showcasing your unique value to potential employers.

4 ChatGPT cover letter hacks

Rather than struggling with traditional methods, these ChatGPT cover letter hacks are additional alternatives that make AI valuable in your application toolkit.

Seamlessly integrate company culture: Instead of spending hours perusing a company's website to demonstrate your fit, provide ChatGPT with information about culture and values by copying and pasting the website content along with instructions to seamlessly integrate these elements into your cover letter—showcasing your alignment with the organization.

Generate attention-grabbing opening lines: Skip the struggle of finding the perfect opening line by having ChatGPT create attention-grabbing and personalized opening lines that immediately engage hiring professionals and convey your enthusiasm for the position.

Create a storytelling framework: Task ChatGPT with outlining a storytelling framework for your cover letter. (For example, a problem-solution framework or the challenge-action-result framework). Provide key points about your experiences, challenges, and achievements, and direct AI to organize these into a compelling narrative for your cover letter.

Write a personalized cover letter:  A personalized cover letter is highly encouraged for your job search. It showcases to the hiring manager that you've researched the company and the position you're applying for and are genuinely interested in the job. Include the job description and your resume in your input to create a cover letter that sets you apart from other applicants.

Write your cover letter with AI today

In a market where customization is key, AI is the tool you need to save time while maximizing your impact.

With the Teal  AI Resume Builder , you're not just writing cover letters but creating tailored content that reflects your resume's strengths and aligns with the job description of any role you apply for—all within one intuitive platform. No toggling between programs, no copying and pasting, just alignment and efficiency in one central location.

Simplify cover letter creation and amplify your impact with Teal now.

Additional ChatGPT Job Search Resources

• How to Write Your Resume with ChatGPT
• 21 Great ChatGPT Prompts for Your Resume
• 14 ChatGPT Cover Letter Prompts for Your Job Search
• How to Use ChatGPT to Prepare for Your Job Interview 
• How to use ChatGPT for Job Applications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chatgpt write a cover letter.

Yes! Cover letters are an excellent use case for ChatGPT. Writing a tailored cover letter based on each particular job you apply to is a smart tactic. But unfortunately, it takes far too much time.

With the help of AI tools ChatGPT and Teal, job seekers can now write a cover letter instantly that showcases their key skills and why they are the right person for a position.

Want to write an AI cover letter without worrying about multiple programs or files? Try Teal's Cover Letter Generator ! 

Should I use ChatGPT for my cover letter?

Yes! It's perfectly OK to use AI tools like ChatGPT for your cover letter. However, it's important to remember that you should always review and customize AI-generated content to match your unique skills and experiences. While ChatGPT can save you time by generating initial content, human review and personalization are the key to ensuring your cover letter effectively represents you and your qualifications.

Can employers tell that ChatGPT generated my cover letter?

It's highly unlikely an employer would know that you used ChatGPT to write your cover letter—as long as you take the time to review and customize the content. AI tools create generic drafts, but you know your experiences and qualifications best. There are now tools that can test for it (like GPT Zero), but we doubt people will use them often.Carefully editing the letter to reflect what makes you a unique candidate in your own authentic voice is key. With your personal touch, your cover letter will shine through as genuinely as if you wrote it from scratch yourself. So use AI as a time-saver, but make the end result distinctly your own.

Can ChatGPT write cover letters?

Yes! ChatGPT can write multiple cover letters. In fact, you can use it to write a tailored cover letter for each unique job you apply for. Just make sure to include your resume and the job description for the best output.

Want to skip the steps and write your cover letter with AI? Try Teal's Cover Letter Generator ! 

Alli Tunell

Related articles.

30 Best Core Competencies For Your Resume (+ Examples)

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? (Ideal Length for 2024)

Lying on a Resume? Learn the Risks & Consequences (+ Better Alternatives)

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters

Using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters

Job hunting can feel like a job of its own, which is why some are using ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters. Learn how AI can make the process of creating these documents easier as well as its limitations.

ChatGPT has become a popular choice for all kinds of content creation . Here’s what you need to know about using ChatGPT for your resume or cover letter.

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Should I use AI in my job search?

The process of searching for a new job is rarely easy. Not only are you constantly checking job boards to find positions that both interest you and fit your skillset, but you’re also updating your resume and cover letter with every new application and editing these documents to suit each potential employer.

Using AI like ChatGPT for your job search can help you if you’re truly stumped for how to express your thoughts. Of course, it isn’t foolproof, either. Because this technology is so new, its output won’t be entirely accurate, and is no substitution for putting in the work yourself. The AI does the best it can with the information it’s given, which means it’s up to the job seeker to be both specific and accurate when inputting prompts, and to make any necessary adjustments to achieve a specific result.

If you plan to use ChatGPT for resume writing or crafting a cover letter, make sure you have a solid understanding of how to write both documents. After all, they’re a potential employer’s first impression of you; if you’re not well-represented because you relied on AI instead of your own skills, you’re not likely to get the job. ChatGPT can be useful for helping you come up with new ways to talk about your relevant skills and experience, but your personal touch is what will really make your resume and cover letter stand out.

Tips for writing a resume and cover letter

Whether you’re editing existing documents or starting from scratch, here are some tips to make sure that your resume and cover letter can help you make a good first impression.

• Use simple, professional formatting. Use a template to ensure that you’re delivering something that makes you look your best and is easy to read.
• Less is more. A busy resume can feel overwhelming for a recruiter. Show results where you can and leave off any unnecessary details.
• Proofread. Even if you’re using ChatGPT to help you with your job search, you’ll still need to look over the results to not only make sure that the content is accurate, but that it’s grammatically correct and sounds like you.
• Insert yourself. Make sure that your resume and cover letter are representative of you and not a chatbot. Your own personality should shine through, even if you’ve used AI to help you put things together.

At the end of the day, recruiters want to learn about you and whether you’re a good fit for a job. The best way for you share that information with them is with a well-written cover letter and a resume that’s easy to read .

What are the drawbacks of using ChatGPT to write a resume or cover letter?

Leveraging AI like ChatGPT to write your resume or cover letter does have a few pitfalls:

• This AI is very new technology and is certainly not foolproof. It’s constantly being tested and adjusted due to its newness.
• It may accidentally generate inaccurate statements due to its limited knowledge of the world after 2021.
• If you’re not proofreading carefully, you may gloss over some major errors. ChatGPT may generate content that is biased or harmful and it’s on you to catch those statements and not use them in your resume or cover letter. The AI may also repeat information between sections of a generated resume.
• The AI works with the information it’s given. The quality of the output depends entirely on the quality of the input.
• If you’re not specific enough when entering your prompts, you will get vague, generalized output. Similarly, if your prompt is poorly formatted, the AI may not understand what you’re asking for.
• ChatGPT may embellish some of your accomplishments. While it may be tempting to leave these in place, it’s never a good idea to lie about what you have and have not done.

This AI is not a replacement for doing the actual work yourself, but it can be a useful tool during the process of looking for a new job. Only you can truly know what you’ve achieved through your work and life experiences, and you’re the one who is best suited to crafting any type of resume or cover letter.

Entering resume and cover letter prompts into ChatGPT

The goal of using ChatGPT to write your resume or cover letter is to lessen the stress of creating these documents. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You still must give the AI very clear instructions about what you want it to generate.

Prompts for using AI to write a resume

You can use AI to review an existing resume and provide feedback or tailor your resume to a specific posting. Make sure you ask very clear questions about what you’re looking for, as well as providing very clear guidance to the AI about what its role is. In both scenarios you’ll need to include your resume in its entirety, but if you’re looking for tailored edits, you should also include the job posting.

Prompts for these scenarios might look like:

• I am going to provide my resume and want you to act as a reviewer and provide feedback on it. How can I make it more readable? Are there any action verbs I should use? Am I using too many buzzwords?
• I will provide you with a job description for a position I am applying for. Understand the key points and requirements for this role and summarize them. Then review my resume and provide feedback on how to tailor it for this job.

These might seem overly specific but if you’re not specific enough, you won’t get the response you’re looking for.

Prompts for using AI to write a cover letter

When using ChatGPT to work on your cover letter for a specific job, you’ll need to provide:

• Your resume
• The job description of the role you’re interested in
• Information about what kind of tone you’d prefer

You can also ask the AI to review your cover letter for readability and help you get through a bout of writer’s block.

Prompts for these sorts of asks might look like:

• Write a cover letter for a [position] role at [Company] in a professional tone. Use my resume and the job description as a reference.
• I want you to review my cover letter for readability and relevance to a job post. I will share the job post as a reference. Tailor my cover letter for the job referenced in the post and adjust wording to make it more relevant.

These prompts may feel awkward to write, almost as though you’re explaining something to a small child. But the clearer and more specific you are, the more pleased you’re likely to be with the results.

While AI like ChatGPT is making some waves on the tech scene, it doesn’t totally replace human writing and editing skills, especially when it comes to resumes and cover letters. It certainly has value but comes with a few caveats. Use ChatGPT with caution, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for grammatical errors .

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21 ChatGPT Prompts to Get You to Start Writing Your Cover Letter

In This Guide:

Is it ethical to use chatgpt to write your cover letter, six cover letter structures to experiment with, how to use chatgpt for cover letter writing, using chatgpt to write various sections of your cover letter, edit your cover letter writing style with this chatgpt prompt, three different cover letters based on seniority, key takeaways.

Sorting through hundreds of applications for that most coveted role of Senior Network Engineer, you've found three candidates that fit the bill.

All have the relevant experience, yet:

• the first submitted just a resume;
• the second - an impersonal cover letter, solely written by the likes of an AI (e.g. ChatGPT);
• the third candidate has taken the time to study your organization and to align it with their unique skill set.

Highlighting that all three candidates have the same amount of experience...

...wouldn't a well-written cover letter sort of bias you to choose the one that shows the most care (and in some cases - enthusiasm) toward the job and company?

If you're applying for a job, hear us out!

The cover letter isn't just a professional narrative , but the greatest asset to demonstrate your:

• unique value and how your skills match the job;
• interest in the company and role;
• confidence in your abilities.

Your cover letter allows you to shape how your potential employers see your experience. It further highlights what you want them to remember from your resume .

Checklist: Pros to including a cover letter

Checklist: downsides to cover letter writing.

The choice of writing a cover letter is entirely up to you.

But here's where an ethical question comes in.

What if you simply can't write your cover letter (and can't afford to hire an experienced cover letter writer to help you out)? And you don't have an AI resume builder tool to create it for you, based on your resume?

Would using ChatGPT to your advantage be counted as "cheating"?

You've probably been living under a rock for the past six months or so if you haven't heard of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer).

The free language model can supposedly do anything: from debugging codes to pointing out interesting destinations around you.

ChatGPT works as so: you write a prompt (a well-formulated, clear, and concise question or instructions). Within a few seconds, the AI chatbot provides you with a response to your query.

What is more, candidates have been using ChatGPT to restructure their resumes, prepare for interviews, and even write cover letters.

This guide will precisely focus on giving you the know-how of using ChatGPT for your cover letter with:

• Beginners luck: six structures to get to know the writing process;
• The most concise cover letter writing prompt;
• How to align your cover letter to the job;
• More advanced ChatGPT writing prompts for separate cover letter sections;
• Matching the style of the job advert to your cover letter…

… and so much more!

To answer the ethics question of writing a cover letter with ChatGPT, we’ve found a viral story for you.

One that presents you with the biggest “don’t”. Ever.

How not to write a cover letter with ChatGPT

Mandy Tang, a career coach and business owner, was sorting through job applications when she stumbled across a cover letter that covered every single one of her requirements.

"The letter was really well-formed, incredibly well-written, and had literally everything I wanted. But then I looked closer and realized it was just a copy and paste of everything I had put in the job description.”

Mandy Tang, career coach, and business owner

Tang decided to check with ChatGPT what the case was. She pasted in her job advert and told the chatbot to write a cover letter for it.

ChatGPT then regurgitated her requirements: word for word.

So, here's the moral of the story.

If you want to use ChatGPT to help you write a cover letter, be prepared with as much relevant information (including your resume) to get writing. Either copy and paste your resume or use a dedicated AI resume builder to create your cover letters.

Don't just copy-paste the advert in and expect the chatbot to work its magic.

How do you differentiate a well-written cover letter from a generic one?

The truth is that excellent cover letters are like diamonds in the rough.

Candidates use them to tell quick stories without diving too much into the nitty-gritty details.

Checklist: Before you start writing your cover letter, prepare

Cover letters' main purpose is to catch recruiters' interests by finding the balance between:

• dedicated cover letter space and filler words/ language;
• key skills or achievements without repeating candidate resumes;
• showing authentic interest in the role while highlighting job keywords;
• being specific and personable, yet ticking all the requirement boxes by allowing recruiters to imagine what the candidates' potential would be if they joined the company.

Attaining that level of perfection in cover letter writing sometimes seems impossible.

Here's where the role of ChatGPT comes in.

To kick off this cover letter/ChatGPT writing exercise, we've prepared six structures for you to experiment with.

The end goal is evident: for you to find the one that matches both your experience and the organization you're applying for best.

Without further ado, discover the:

Standardized cover letter prompt

The structure outline commences with a paragraph, where you'd introduce yourself, mention the role you're applying for, and how you've learned about it.

In the next paragraphs, you’d highlight relevant skills , experience , or accomplishments . Ones that align with the job requirements .

The next paragraph would focus on how you can help the company grow.

Sign off with a paragraph about how excited you are for the role and/or company, and thank hiring managers for their time.

Here's the prompt to get you writing:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this standardized structure. In the first paragraph, mention the role I'm applying for [Senior Architect] and that I've learned about it [from a friend who works at the company]. Use the next paragraph to highlight any of my relevant skills, experiences, or accomplishments that align with the job. The third and final paragraph should sign off with my excitement for the role. I'd also like to thank the recruiters for their time in assessing my resume and how I look forward to the next stages of the process. Ensure that the cover letter uses professional language and tone and follows industry best practice examples. If you've understood the assessment, can I please paste in my resume?

ChatGPT would next provide you with a template cover letter that follows this structure, which you could edit.

Certainly, I'd be happy to help you write a cover letter for the Senior Architect position. Please feel free to paste in your resume so I can review it and tailor the cover letter accordingly.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Senior Architect position that I learned about from a friend who works at your esteemed organization. With my extensive experience in the field of architecture, I am confident that I have the skills and expertise required to excel in this role.

As a seasoned architect with over 10 years of experience, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, including commercial and residential buildings, public infrastructure, and urban planning. My experience has given me a deep understanding of the design process, from initial concept to final construction, as well as an ability to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders at all levels. I am also well-versed in the latest architectural software and tools, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit, which have enabled me to produce high-quality designs and renderings.

I am excited about the opportunity to apply my skills and experience to the Senior Architect position at your organization. I believe that my expertise in architecture and design, as well as my ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients, make me an ideal candidate for this role.

Thank you for considering my application for the Senior Architect position. I appreciate the time you have taken to assess my resume, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further with you.

[Your Name]

But to go one step further, paste in your resume:

And, voilà:

Of course, this isn't the final version of your cover letter. You'll need to tweak the role you're applying for. But it's a pretty good starting point.

2. Best candidate structure

This cover letter structure is more focused on the specific job you’d be applying for and showcasing to recruiters why they should choose you.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this structure. In the first paragraph, highlight details about the company and give specific reasons as to why I'm interested in joining it. Use the next paragraph to highlight any of my relevant skills, experiences, or accomplishments that align with the job. The third and final paragraph should once again highlight why I'm a good fit for the company culture and role. Ensure that the cover letter uses professional language and tone and follows industry best practice examples. Make sure that it's not longer than three paragraphs. If you've understood the assessment, can I please paste in my resume?

Next, paste in your resume and the job advert itself to get a more personalized cover letter for the role.

Here’s my resume: [paste in your whole experience, strengths, achievements, etc.]

Here’s the job I’m applying for: [paste in everything in the job requirements]

The first cover letter ChatGPT produced was a bit too long.

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Architect position within your Sports Team at AECOM. I was impressed by your firm's commitment to delivering sustainable and equitable solutions that improve communities, as well as your dedication to fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a Senior Architect with over 10 years of experience in designing commercial and residential buildings, I am excited to apply my skills and knowledge to help your team achieve its goals.

Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in CAD and 3D design, BIM software, and project management. I have designed the initial structures of 20+ commercial buildings valued between $15-50 million and managed the realization and construction of 15+ commercial buildings, coordinating a total of 150+ people. Additionally, I have developed building information models using Revit and mentored junior architects in designing major government buildings. My experience in negotiating alternative solutions with stakeholders, stepping in for the lead architect, and planning budgets up to $100M highlights my leadership, negotiation, and budget planning skills.

As a Senior Architect within your Sports Team, I am confident that I can contribute to the development of solutions to complex technical problems in sports-related projects and other public and private sector projects. I am adept at managing multiple projects at various stages of development, ensuring that project teams meet quality, schedule, contractual, and budget goals. My ability to maintain project records and files, review construction documents for compliance with client/project requirements, and lead in the management and preparation of proposals for architectural projects including the development of work effort estimates demonstrates my attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to provide leadership and mentorship of staff and internal project teams.

I am excited about the opportunity to grow my career with AECOM through your technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. As an architect with a strong commitment to sustainability and a dedication to providing clients with personal spaces that meet their needs, I believe I would be an excellent fit for AECOM's mission and values. I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to your team and work with a global network of experts who are leading the change toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

Thank you for considering my application. I am available for an interview at your convenience and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

That’s why we asked the chatbot to shorten the cover letter using this prompt:

Can you make this cover letter be a bit shorter?

What do you think of ChatGPT’s final writing:

3. Narrative

This is one of the most exciting cover letter outlines out there. Yet, the cover letter is an exercise of focusing more on skill alignment and the organization you’re applying for, than yourself.

We’d recommend you use the narrative structure for instances where the job advert is very much value focused on soft skills and character fit.

Now, it’s story time!

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to help me write a cover letter that consists of three paragraphs and follows this storytelling structure. In the first paragraph, introduce my professional background that is relevant to the job of [3D Artist]. Use the next paragraph to share a relevant story from my experience that demonstrates my skills, experience, or personal qualities. Explain how this story relates to the job requirements. Sum up the cover letter with a paragraph about why I'm a great fit for the role, in terms of skills and enthusiasm for the industry. Use professional language and tone, but at the same time keep this cover letter compact. Follow some best industry practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in my resume?

The prompt we’ve provided you with is a bit generic. If you want to go for the gold:

• jot down a few details for ChatGPT about the storyline you want to tell with your experience;
• focus on an industry-wide challenge that you’ve overcome via your experience;
• think about the narrative which would impress recruiters the most and include it in the prompt.

Feel free to edit and add to this ChatGPT prompt, so that your cover letter turns into a real modern-day professional fairy tale.

3. Solution

This framework allows you to present to potential employers your problem-solving skills from the get-go.

It's a very good one for more technical roles.

Here's the prompt you could use:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following problem-solving structure to write the cover letter. I'll provide you with both the job advert and my resume. In the first paragraph, mention one specific challenge that this company may face, which the role can solve. The next paragraph should focus on how up to three skills and one of my past professional roles make me the perfect candidate to resolve this problem. Finalize with more information about why I'm the perfect candidate for the role. Use professional language and tone, but at the same time keep this cover letter compact. Follow the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in my resume?

After a shortener prompt, here’s the final result that ChatGPT produced:

This structure is one of the most prominent and useful ones for you. It’d focus on a tailored sales pitch to the role you’re applying for.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following skill-based structure to write the cover letter. List between 3–5 skills from my experience that are relevant to the job. Use my resume to provide brief examples of how I've used those particular skills in the past. Make sure to include both technical and soft skills. Keep this cover letter to be compact with a maximum of four paragraphs. Use professional language and tone. Follow the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in both my resume and the job advert?

3. T-Format

The T-format cover letter writing structure matches individual job requirements and keywords with resume experience items.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I'd like you to use the following T-format structure to write the cover letter. I'll provide you with both the job advert and my resume. Make this cover letter no more than five paragraphs long. List the job requirements or key skills mentioned in the job posting within the left column. In the right column, provide my provide corresponding experiences and qualifications. Use professional language and tone, while following the best cover letter writing practices. If you've understood the task, can I please paste in both my resume and the job advert?

It provides you with a very structured and easy-to-read end result:

These six structures are a good starting point for writing your cover letter. Of course, the more personalized prompts you provide to ChatGPT, the better the end results would be.

You’d ultimately need to tweak the text - here and there - but this chatbot provides you with excellent food for thought.

Moving on, within the next part of our guide, we’ll look at how the chatbot could help you write more specific cover letter sections.

The full prompt experience

Okay, so maybe you're struggling with the whole cover letter writing process and need help asap from ChatGPT.

Once again, this is your reminder not to solely rely on technology to write your cover letter. Instead, use it as a starting point to get writing.

Here's a very useful prompt for you.

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with the job advert and my resume. Use this information to create a professional and effective cover letter. Focus the cover letter to be written using the best practices and industry standards. Tailor the cover letter's content to the specific job and company that I am applying to, highlighting my relevant skills and experience. Also, make sure to explain why I am a strong candidate for the position. Please ensure that the cover letter is clear and concise. The cover letter should have appropriate formatting and layout to make it visually appealing and easy to read. Do make sure that it effectively communicates my qualifications and interest in the job. Finally, don't include any personal opinions or statements. I'll first provide you with my resume, then the job advert. Is that okay?

–  Read the full ChatGPT conversation here

When pasting in your resume, make sure to include all relevant sections, including

Once again, make sure to include all the relevant items in the job advert.

Here's what ChatGPT came up with:

It's a pretty good effort, but if you're writing a cover letter, you need to go above and beyond.

That means as a rule of thumb, you can surely take what ChatGPT has written for you. But you need to personalize it further to show your character and what makes you stand out.

Aligning resume and job advert

The cursor has been blinking like crazy for the past 20 minutes in your Word document. Looking down at the status bar, the word count is still zero.

You have so much you want to say about yourself, the job, and the company. Yet, your mind is like that blank page in front of you.

From where do you start writing your cover letter?

The first stage of the process is research.

The best candidates don't just go on and on about how skillful they are in Python and/or C++.

But rather - their cover letters show recruiters how their visions and the company's ones for the future align.

Remember: your cover letter is never solely about you, but what you'd bring to the company.

This is one of the most useful ChatGPT prompts to get you writing: discovering how your resume answers the company's pain points.

The experience-job advert alignment prompt

Here's the prompt we've used:

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with information about the job I am applying for and my relevant skills and experience. You will help me discover two things. The first - which areas of my expertise align with the job I'm applying for? The second - what skills would I need to highlight in my cover letter to make a good first impression? Is that understood?

Once you get the good to go from ChatGPT, it's time to paste your resume.

Checklist: In this case, Andrew Clark's resume:

ChatGPT has a bad tendency to fill in the gaps by fabricating any missing information. So, make sure you've pasted in all the information that's relevant to your application.

Next, you have to paste in the job advert. Once again, the more information you can provide to ChatGPT, the better the assessment will be.

We've provided the Senior Business Intelligence Analyst role in full by including:

• Key responsibilities
• Proven characteristics for success
• Personal traits
• Qualifications (both the must-have and the preferred ones)
• Any additional information (about both the company and its offer to candidates)

Asking ChatGPT if the role suits your experience is always a good idea. Here’s what the chatbot told us about Andrew Clark’s resume:

Overall, your experience and skills position you well for the role of a Business Intelligence Analyst. Your cover letter should showcase your relevant experience and highlight your technical and interpersonal skills, as well as your passion for learning and personal attributes that make you a good fit for the company culture.

Find out more about the chatbot's assessment.

It started listing all the crucial requirements for the role that align with the candidate's experience. Those included:

• data analysis
• visualization skills
• collecting requirements
• defining reporting standards
• creating dashboards.

Into the specifics, ChatGPT looked into technical skills that it recommends being integrated within the cover letter.

Technical skills that matched the Senior Business Intelligence Analyst role are:

• dealing with large datasets;
• building advanced dashboards with BI tools (e.g. Tableau Desktop);
• data modeling experience;
• SQL and/or Python;
• experience with ETL (e.g. Alteryx).

ChatGPT didn't disappoint with key soft skills either.

The main ones it told us to focus on (based on priority):

• working collaboratively to develop reliable, robust, and self-serve reporting;
• curiosity and passion for learning;
• ability to see the big picture;
• operating with a bias toward action and ownership;
• ability to build lasting and meaningful relationships;
• commitment to quality;
• cultural awareness.

BONUS alignment prompt

Next, we decided to dive deeper into the skills' alignment with this prompt:

Could you be more specific about the skills' alignment between my resume and the job advert? Which ones do you think would be a good idea to focus on, based on my current professional experience?

ChatGPT wanted us to focus on these four crucial areas to land the job:

• Data analysis and modeling: preparing budgets, variance analysis, identifying collaboration opportunities, and data modeling (data and platform integrations).
• Reporting and visualization: creating dashboards and reports; BI tools (e.g. Tableau Desktop).
• Collaboration and communication: working across functions, leadership, and communication across the board.
• Technical skills: SQL, Python, ETL tools.

One final tip from ChatGPT:

In your cover letter, it would be beneficial to focus on your experience with data analysis and modeling, as well as your technical skills, especially your proficiency with BI tools and your knowledge of SQL and/or Python. Additionally, you should highlight your collaboration and communication skills, especially your ability to work across functions and lead teams to achieve shared outcomes.

ChatGPT could help you start writing your cover letter with ideas of areas you can focus on.

What if you happen to have some experience in cover letter writing and just want to improve your cover letter?

ChatGPT is the perfect assistant that can do that for you.

This next section of our guide is specifically for those more advanced writers. It'll show you how to tailor individual cover letter sections.

Ultimately allowing you to have more control over what ChatGPT writes, while injecting more of your personal style.

Use these prompts to tweak individual sections of your cover letter.

Cover letter introduction and first paragraph

You could use ChatGPT to help you write about…

Something that impressed you about the company

Within the prompt, mention the role you're applying for and the company. You could also specify the tone of voice and your cover letter introduction length.

One of the most important and personalized elements you need to include is what you actually like about the company.

Be honest and as specific as you can possibly be when presenting ChatGPT with the instructions.

Here’s an effective prompt and cover letter introduction by ChatGPT:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a [lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson].

I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. I want to show that I am genuinely attracted to the company’s brand and have used or followed their products or services before.

A former colleague that referred you to this job

Referencing a colleague is a great starting point for building authentic trust between recruiters and yourself.

Apart from the generic details about the role you're applying for, you could also provide ChatGPT with instructions about

• words it needs to avoid;
• tone of voice;
• introduction length;
• projects you've collaborated on with your former colleague;
• give recognition to the colleague that recommended you.

Check out this prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm [a lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or fewer. I was referred to this job by [a former colleague, Kathryn Hydefield], so mention that connection in my cover letter.

Consider the following as well:

- Avoid using extreme words like “greatest” or “best”

- Show excitement and gratitude

- Keep it brief and let the recommendation speak for itself

- Mention a project you've worked on together previously

- Mention the good intentions of the person recommending you

This is a great starting point, but you'll need to fill in all relevant details.

Your motivations for applying to this job

Perhaps you'd like to start the cover letter with some information about your interest in the role.

ChatGPT can help you restructure your thoughts (and subsequently interest) with this prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm [a lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Please do focus on the reason why I'm applying for the role: [that I'm interested in applying my experience in a more global company].

A great achievement

In some cases, you'll want to kick off your cover letter with one of your greatest achievements.

Style it up with ChatGPT:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a lawyer, applying for [a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that leads with an impressive achievement and features quantifiable results.

Want to make ChatGPT’s job an even easier one?

Prepare in advance your greatest/ most impressive achievement with details of what you’ve achieved.

If the end results are supported by data, you’ll turn into the ultimate cover letter rock star.

Something newsworthy

Maybe the most impressive item of your career is that national award you won last year, recognizing your contributions to string theory research. Or, perhaps, your client feedback remains at a steady AVG of 98%.

Kick off your cover letter with this "newsworthy" ChatGPT prompt:

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a lawyer, applying for [a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that mentions something newsworthy (e.g. an award or recognition) and what its implications are to the role or industry.

Your vision

Cover letters are usually about alignment between individuals and the company they’re applying for.

Stating how your ambitions and vision for the future correspond with the company’s ones can open many doors for you.

Let's build a cover letter introduction for me. I'm a [lawyer, applying for a litigator at Johnson, Johnson & Johnson]. I want to create a custom, authentic, and enthusiastic cover letter introduction of 50 words or less. Write a stand-out opening paragraph that mentions how my ambitions for the role align with the company's ones.

All of these six prompts can help you sort the information that you’d like to talk about.

But don’t solely rely on ChatGPT - you have all the talents and skills to present yourself.

Middle paragraphs of your cover letter

Now that you have the intro written, it's time to look at the body of your cover letter.

What these middle paragraphs aim to show is:

• that you've done your homework about the company;
• that you have the relevant skills and experience ;
• how you'll help the company succeed, based on your past successes.

Here are three useful prompts you can tailor and experiment with.

1. The research prompt

You know the company; you love the company. What is more, the role you're applying for is precisely what you're looking for.

Want to formulate this more professionally in the body of your cover letter?

I want you to act as a cover letter copywriter. I'm a [junior .net developer], applying for a [.net developer at Tesla]. Help me write the middle paragraphs of the cover letter, which should be no more than 100 words long. Make sure the tone is professional and shows my enthusiasm for the opportunity. Please focus the body of the cover letter on information about the company and why this role would be perfect for me.

2. Highlighting relevant skills, qualifications, and experience

This is one of the biggest questions recruiters are looking to have answered while reading your cover letter:

Do you have the right skills for the job, right now?

ChatGPT can help you communicate this across:

I'm a [communication officer], applying for a [project manager role at Home Depot]. Key skills for the role include [communication and partnership management; meeting project deadlines; and applying the Agile framework to attain results]. I want you to act as a cover letter writer and help me write the middle paragraphs of the cover letter. They should be no more than 100 words long and should sound professional and enthusiastic. One of the most important things to achieve in this section is to highlight the alignment between my experience with those three crucial skills for the role.

When listing this prompt, be specific about the key skill requirements and your experience.

If you want to go above and beyond, you could paste in your resume and the job advert, as we did in the previous sections of this guide.

The new prompt would follow the style of that above and end with something along the lines of:

… I'll first paste in my resume and then the job advert for you. Is that okay?

Once you get the “good-to-go” from ChatGPT, paste in all relevant information and watch the magic happen right before your eyes.

3. Forward-facing

The future is the ultimate sales pitch of your experience.

Rather than focusing just on your strengths, you’d present recruiters with what they’d ultimately get if they hire you.

I'm [an Amazon PPC expert], looking to land a role as [an Amazon Account Manager]. I want you to help me write the body of my cover letter, which should be no more than 100 words long. Make it sound amicable, professional, and enthusiastic. Focus these paragraphs on how my ambitions align with those of [Amazon]. Also, how my unique skill set would bring in success to the company.

Ending of a cover letter and ChatGPT

One of the best ways to end your cover letter is with a promise.

Either of what you'd bring to the table or how this opportunity would help you grow.

Here are the best two prompts you can use to finish off your cover letter with a snap:

I want you to help me write the final sentence of my cover letter. It should be no more than 50 words long, and should sound professional and engaging. Let the sentence show how I'd help [Sears' sales department] grow.

I want you to help me write the final sentence of my cover letter. It should be no more than 50 words long, and should sound professional and engaging. Let the sentence show how the role of [data analyst at Google] would grow my professional skills and abilities.

This is one of the greatest prompts of all time - let’s say you’ve your cover letter is already complete, but you’re applying to a smaller company.

You’d need to fix the language to sound more easily accessible to the recruiters.

ChatGPT can do that for you:

Can you help me adjust the tone of my cover letter? I've currently written one that it's more professional. I want it to sound more friendly, as I'll be applying for a role within a [startup]. I'll first provide you with my initial cover letter. Is that alright?

You’d next provide your cover letter:

And in just a few seconds, you’d receive:

Checklist: This style prompt could come in handy for you if you’re tailoring your cover letter for a/ an:

Including as much as possible from the relevant information would really help ChatGPT tailor and re-write your cover letter.

Of course, we can’t end this guide without providing you with a few more concrete examples of using ChatGPT to write your cover letter.

So here’s what we were able to produce with the help of the chatbot for

Entry-Level Candidate Cover Letter Example

I want you to act as a cover letter writer. I will provide you with just my resume - I'm an entry-level professional, looking for experience in [Engineering]. Could you please help me write my cover letter?

Mid-Career Level Cover Letter

I'm a [Cisco Certified System Administrator] in the middle of my career. I'm currently looking for a change of pace. I'll provide you with my resume, so you could help me write a cover letter for my mid-career move. The cover letter should be no more than four paragraphs long, sounding ambitious and professional. Use best cover letter writing practices to attain the wanted results. Is it okay if I share my resume with you?

C-Level Exectuve Cover Letter

I'm a CEO currently on the lookout for new opportunities. Once I provide you with my resume, please help me write a cover letter for more senior opportunities. The cover letter should be no more than four paragraphs long, sounding ambitious, professional, yet down to earth. Use best cover letter writing practices to attain the wanted results. Is it okay if I share my resume with you?

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What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's what you need to know

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot with natural language processing (NLP) that allows you to have human-like conversations to complete various tasks. The  generative AI  tool can answer questions and assist you with tasks such as composing emails, essays, code, and more.

Also :  How to use ChatGPT: What you need to know now

It's currently  open to use for free . A paid subscription version called ChatGPT Plus launched in February 2023 with access to priority access to OpenAI's latest models and updates.

Who made ChatGPT?

AI startup OpenAI launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022. OpenAI has also developed  DALL-E 2  and DALL-E 3 , popular  AI image generators , and Whisper, an automatic speech recognition system. 

Who owns ChatGPT currently?

OpenAI owns ChatGPT. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI thanks to multiyear, multi-billion dollar  investments. Elon Musk was an investor when OpenAI was first founded in 2015, but has since completely severed ties with the startup and created his own AI chatbot, Grok .

How can you access ChatGPT?

On April 1, 2024, OpenAI stopped requiring you to log in to use ChatGPT. Now, you can access ChatGPT simply by visiting  chat.openai.com . You can also access ChatGPT  via an app on your iPhone  or  Android  device.

Once you visit the site, you can start chatting away with ChatGPT. A great way to get started is by asking a question, similar to what you would do with Google. You can ask as many questions as you'd like.

Also: ChatGPT no longer requires a login, but you might want one anyway. Here's why

There are still some perks to creating an OpenAI account, such saving and reviewing your chat history and accessing custom instructions. Creating an OpenAI account is entirely free and easy. You can even log in with your Google account.

For step-by-step instructions, check out ZDNET's guide on  how to start using ChatGPT . 

Is there a ChatGPT app?

Yes, an official ChatGPT app is available for both iPhone and Android users. 

Also: ChatGPT dropped a free app for iPhones. Does it live up to the hype?

Make sure to download OpenAI's app, as there are a plethora of copycat fake apps listed on Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store that are not affiliated with the startup.

Is ChatGPT available for free?

ChatGPT is free to use, regardless of what you use it for, including writing, coding, and much more. 

There is a subscription option , ChatGPT Plus, that users can take advantage of that costs $20/month. The paid subscription model guarantees users extra perks, such as priority access to GPT-4o and the latest upgrades. 

Also: ChatGPT vs ChatGPT Plus: Is it worth the subscription fee?

Although the subscription price may seem steep, it is the same amount as Microsoft Copilot Pro and Google One AI, Microsoft's and Google's premium AI offerings. 

The free version is still a solid option as it can access the same model and most of the same perks. One major exception: only subscribers get guaranteed access to GPT-4o when the model is at capacity. 

I tried using ChatGPT and it says it's at capacity. What does that mean?

The ChatGPT website operates using servers. When too many people hop onto these servers, they may overload and can't process your request. If this happens to you, you can visit the site later when fewer people are trying to access the tool. You can also keep the tab open and refresh it periodically. 

Also: The best AI chatbots

If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, you can subscribe to  ChatGPT Plus  for general access during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements, including priority access to GPT-4o.

You can also try using Bing's AI chatbot, Copilot . This chatbot is free to use, runs on GPT-4, has no wait times, and can access the internet for more accurate information.

What is ChatGPT used for?

ChatGPT has many functions in addition to answering simple questions. ChatGPT can compose essays , have philosophical conversations, do math, and even code for you . 

The tasks ChatGPT can help with also don't have to be so ambitious. For example, my favorite use of ChatGPT is for help creating basic lists for chores, such as packing and grocery shopping, and to-do lists that make my daily life more productive. The possibilities are endless. 

ZDNET has published many ChatGPT how-to guides. Below are some of the most popular ones. 

Use ChatGPT to: 

• Write an essay
• Create an app
• Build your resume
• Write Excel formulas
• Summarize content
• Write a cover letter
• Start an Etsy business
• Create charts and tables
• Write Adruino drivers

Can ChatGPT generate images?

Yes, ChatGPT can generate images, but only for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. Since OpenAI discontinued DALL-E 2 in February 2024, the only way to access its most advanced AI image generator, DALL-E 3, through OpenAI's offerings is via its chatbot and ChatGPT Plus subscription.

Also: DALL-E adds new ways to edit and create AI-generated images. Learn how to use it

Microsoft's Copilot offers image generation, which is also powered by DALL-E 3, in its chatbot for free. This is a great alternative if you don't want to shell out the money for ChatGPT Plus.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT runs on a large language model (LLM) architecture created by OpenAI called the  Generative Pre-trained Transformer  (GPT). Since its launch, the free version of ChatGPT ran on a fine-tuned model in the GPT-3.5 series until May 2024, when the startup upgraded the model to GPT-4o. 

Also:   Here's a deep dive into how ChatGPT works  

With a subscription to ChatGPT Plus , you can access GPT-3.5, GPT-4, or  GPT-4o . Plus, users also have the added perk of priority access to GPT-4o, even when it is at capacity, while free users get booted down to GPT-3.5. 

Generative AI models of this type are trained on vast amounts of information from the internet, including websites, books, news articles, and more.

What does ChatGPT stand for?

As mentioned above, the last three letters in ChatGPT's namesake stand for Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), a family of large language models created by OpenAI that uses deep learning to generate human-like, conversational text. 

Also: What does GPT stand for? Understanding GPT 3.5, GPT 4, GPT-4 Turbo, and more

The "Chat" part of the name is simply a callout to its chatting capabilities. 

Is ChatGPT better than a search engine?

ChatGPT is a language model created to converse with the end user. A search engine indexes web pages on the internet to help users find information. One is not better than the other, as each suit different purposes. 

When searching for as much up-to-date, accurate information as you can access, your best bet is a search engine. It will provide you with pages upon pages of sources you can peruse. 

Also: The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and more

As of May, the free version of ChatGPT can get responses from both the GPT-4o model and the web. It will only pull its answer from, and ultimately list, a handful of sources, as opposed to showing nearly endless search results.

For example, I used GPT-4o to answer, "What is the weather today in San Francisco?" The response told me it searched four sites and provided links to them. 

If you are looking for a platform that can explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner, then ChatGPT might be what you want. If you want the best of both worlds, there are plenty of AI search engines on the market that combine both.

What are ChatGPT's limitations?

Despite its impressive capabilities, ChatGPT still has limitations. Users sometimes need to reword questions multiple times for ChatGPT to understand their intent. A bigger limitation is a lack of quality in responses, which can sometimes be plausible-sounding but are verbose or make no practical sense. 

Instead of asking for clarification on ambiguous questions, the model guesses what your question means, which can lead to poor responses. Generative AI models are also subject to hallucinations, which can result in inaccurate responses.

Does ChatGPT give wrong answers?

As mentioned above, ChatGPT, like all language models, has  limitations  and can give nonsensical answers and incorrect information, so it's important to double-check the data it gives you.

Also: 8 ways to reduce ChatGPT hallucinations

OpenAI recommends that you provide feedback on what ChatGPT generates by using the thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons to improve its underlying model. You can even join the startup's Bug Bounty program , which offers up to $20,000 for reporting security bugs and safety issues.

Can ChatGPT refuse to answer my prompts?

AI systems like ChatGPT can and do reject  inappropriate requests . The AI assistant can identify inappropriate submissions to prevent the generation of unsafe content.

Also:  6 things ChatGPT can't do (and another 20 it refuses to do)

These submissions include questions that violate someone's rights, are offensive, are discriminatory, or involve illegal activities. The ChatGPT model can also challenge incorrect premises, answer follow-up questions, and even admit mistakes when you point them out.

These guardrails are important. AI models can generate advanced, realistic content that can be exploited by bad actors for harm, such as spreading misinformation about public figures and influencing elections .

Can I chat with ChatGPT?

Although some people use ChatGPT for elaborate functions, such as writing code or even malware , you can use ChatGPT for more mundane activities, such as having a friendly conversation. 

Also:  Do you like asking ChatGPT questions? You could get paid (a lot) for it

Some conversation starters could be as simple as, "I am hungry, what food should I get?" or as elaborate as, "What do you think happens in the afterlife?" Either way, ChatGPT is sure to have an answer for you. 

Is ChatGPT safe?

People are expressing concerns about AI chatbots replacing or atrophying human intelligence. For example, a chatbot can write an article on any topic efficiently (though not necessarily accurately) within seconds, potentially eliminating the need for human writers.

Chatbots can also write an entire essay within seconds, making it easier for students to cheat or avoid learning how to write properly. This even led  some school districts to block access  when ChatGPT initially launched. 

Also:  Generative AI can be the academic assistant an underserved student needs

Now, not only have many of those schools decided to unblock the technology, but some higher education institutions have been  catering their academic offerings  to AI-related coursework. 

Another concern with AI chatbots is the possible spread of misinformation. ChatGPT itself says: "My responses are not intended to be taken as fact, and I always encourage people to verify any information they receive from me or any other source." OpenAI also notes that ChatGPT sometimes writes "plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers."

Also:  Microsoft and OpenAI detect and disrupt nation-state cyber threats that use AI, report shows

Lastly, there are ethical concerns regarding the information ChatGPT was trained on, since the startup scraped the internet to train the chatbot. 

It also automatically uses people's interactions with the free version of the chatbot to further train its models, raising privacy concerns. OpenAI lets you turn off training in ChatGPT's settings.

Does ChatGPT plagiarize?

Yes, sort of. OpenAI scraped the internet to train ChatGPT. Therefore, the technology's knowledge is influenced by other people's work. Since there is no guarantee that when OpenAI outputs its answers it is entirely original, the chatbot may regurgitate someone else's work in your answer, which is considered plagiarism. 

Is there a ChatGPT detector?

Concerns about students using AI to cheat mean the need for a ChatGPT text detector is becoming more evident. 

In January 2023, OpenAI released a free tool to target this problem. Unfortunately, OpenAI's "classifier" tool could only correctly identify 26% of AI-written text with a "likely AI-written" designation. Furthermore, it provided false positives 9% of the time, incorrectly identifying human-written work as AI-produced. 

The tool performed so poorly  that, six months after being released, OpenAI it shut down "due to its low rate of accuracy." Despite the tool's failure, the startup claims to be researching more effective techniques for AI text identification.

Also: OpenAI unveils text-to-video model and the results are astonishing

Other AI detectors exist on the market, including GPT-2 Output Detector ,  Writer AI Content Detector , and Content at Scale's AI Content Detection  tool. ZDNET put these tools to the test, and the results were underwhelming: all three were found to be unreliable sources for spotting AI, repeatedly giving false negatives. Here are  ZDNET's full test results .

What are the common signs something was written by ChatGPT?

Although tools aren't sufficient for detecting ChatGPT-generated writing, a  study  shows that humans could detect AI-written text by looking for politeness. The study's results indicate that  ChatGPT's writing style is extremely polite . And unlike humans, it cannot produce responses that include metaphors, irony, or sarcasm.

Will my conversations with ChatGPT be used for training?

One of the major risks when using generative AI models is that they become more intelligent by being trained on user inputs. Therefore, when familiarizing yourself with how to use ChatGPT, you might wonder if your specific conversations will be used for training and, if so, who can view your chats.

Also:  This ChatGPT update fixed one of my biggest productivity issues with the AI chatbot

OpenAI will use your conversations with the free chatbot to automatically training data to refine its models. You can opt out of the startup using your data for model training by clicking on the question mark in the bottom left-hand corner, Settings, and turning off "Improve the model for everyone."

What is GPT-4?

GPT-4 is OpenAI's language model that is much more advanced than its predecessor, GPT-3.5. Users can access GPT-4 by subscribing to ChatGPT Plus for $20 per month or using Microsoft's Copilot.

Also: What does GPT stand for? Understanding GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and more

GPT-4 has advanced intellectual capabilities, meaning it outperforms GPT-3.5 in a series of simulated benchmark exams. The newer model also supposedly produces fewer hallucinations. 

What is GPT-4o?

GPT-4o is OpenAI's latest, fastest, and most advanced flagship model. As the name implies, it has the same intelligence as GPT-4. However, the "o" in the title stands for "omni," referring to its multimodal capabilities, which allow it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs and output text, audio, and image outputs. 

Also:  6 ways OpenAI just supercharged ChatGPT for free users

The model is 50% cheaper in the API than GPT-4 Turbo while still matching its English and coding capabilities and outperforming it in non-English languages, vision, and audio understanding -- a big win for developers.

Are there alternatives to ChatGPT worth considering?

Although ChatGPT gets the most buzz, other options are just as good -- and might even be better suited to your needs. ZDNET has created a list of the best chatbots, which have all been tested by us and show which tool is best for your requirements. 

Also: 4 things Claude AI can do that ChatGPT can't

Despite ChatGPT's extensive abilities, there are major downsides to the AI chatbot. If you want to try the technology, there are plenty of other options: Copilot , Claude , Perplexity ,  Jasper , and more.  

Is ChatGPT smart enough to pass benchmark exams?

Yes, ChatGPT is capable of passing a series of benchmark exams. A professor at Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania's business school, used ChatGPT to take an MBA exam and the results were quite impressive. 

ChatGPT not only passed the exam, but the tool scored between a B- and a B. The professor, Christian Terwiesch, was impressed at its basic operations management, process analysis questions, and explanations.

OpenAI also tested the chatbot's ability to pass benchmark exams. Although ChatGPT could pass many of these benchmark exams, its scores were usually in the lower percentile. However, with GPT-4, ChatGPT can score much higher.

For example, ChatGPT using GPT-3.5 scored in the lower 10th percentile of a simulated Bar Exam, while GPT-4 scored in the top 10th percentile. You can see more examples from OpenAI in the chart below.

Can ChatGPT be used for job application assistance?

Yes, ChatGPT is a great resource to help with job applications. Undertaking a job search can be tedious and difficult, and ChatGPT can help you lighten the load. ChatGPT can build your resume  and write a cover letter .

Also :  How to use ChatGPT to write an essay

If your application has any written supplements, you can use ChatGPT to help you write those essays or personal statements . 

What are the most common ChatGPT plugins, and how do I use them?

Plugins allowed ChatGPT to connect to third-party applications, including access to real-time information on the web. The plugins expanded ChatGPT's abilities , allowing it to assist with many more activities, such as planning a trip or finding a place to eat. 

Also:  My two favorite ChatGPT Plus features and the remarkable things I can do with them

On March 19, 2024, however, OpenAI stopped allowing users to install new plugins or start new conversations with existing ones. Instead, OpenAI replaced plugins with GPTs , which are easier for developers to build. 

Users can find 3 million ChatGPT chatbots, also known as GPTs, on the GPT store. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of spam in the GPT store.

What is Microsoft's involvement with ChatGPT?

Microsoft was an early investor in OpenAI, the AI startup behind ChatGPT, long before ChatGPT was released to the public. Microsoft's first involvement with OpenAI was in 2019, when the company invested $1 billion, and then another $2 billion in the years after. In January 2023, Microsoft extended its partnership with OpenAI through a multiyear, multi-billion dollar investment .

Also: ChatGPT vs. Copilot: Which AI chatbot is better for you?

 Neither company disclosed the investment value, but unnamed sources told Bloomberg that it could total $10 billion over multiple years. In return, OpenAI's exclusive cloud-computing provider is Microsoft Azure, powering all OpenAI workloads across research, products, and API services.

Microsoft has also used its OpenAI partnership to revamp its Bing search engine and improve its browser. 

On February 7, 2023, Microsoft unveiled a new Bing tool , now known as Copilot, that runs on OpenAI's GPT-4, customized specifically for search.

What does Copilot (formerly Bing Chat) have to do with ChatGPT?

In February 2023,  Microsoft unveiled  a new version of Bing -- and its standout feature was its integration with ChatGPT. When it was announced, Microsoft shared that Bing Chat, now Copilot, was powered by a next-generation version of OpenAI's large language model, making it "more powerful than ChatGPT." Five weeks after the launch, Microsoft revealed that Copilot had been running on GPT-4 before the model had even launched. 

How does Copilot compare to ChatGPT?

Copilot uses OpenAI's GPT-4, which means that since its launch, it has been more efficient and capable than the standard, free version of ChatGPT. At the time, Copilot boasted several other features over ChatGPT, such as access to the internet, knowledge of current information, and footnotes.

In May 2024, however, OpenAI supercharged the free version of its chatbot with GPT-4o. The upgrade gave users GPT-4 level intelligence, the ability to get responses from the web via ChatGPT Browse with Bing, analyze data, chat about photos and documents, use GPTs, access the GPT Store, and Voice Mode. Therefore, after the upgrade, ChatGPT reclaimed its crown as the best AI chatbot. 

What is Gemini and how does it relate to ChatGPT?

Gemini is Google's AI chat service, a rival to ChatGPT. On February 6, 2023, Google introduced its experimental AI chat service, which was then called Google Bard. Over a month after the announcement, Google began rolling out  access to Bard first via a waitlist . Now, it is available to the general public. 

Artificial Intelligence

How to use chatgpt (and how to access gpt-4o), what does gpt stand for understanding gpt-3.5, gpt-4, gpt-4o, and more, chatgpt vs. chatgpt plus: is a paid subscription still worth it.

How to use GPT-4 in ChatGPT: Prompts, tips, and tricks

• Getting the hang of a few clever tricks can turn your GPT-4 experience from good to mind-blowing.
• It's all about asking the right way to get spot-on answers or creative gems, fast and fuss-free.
• The better you get at telling GPT-4 exactly what you want, the more it feels like it's reading your mind.

When OpenAI launched the latest version of ChatGPT, the generative AI company said GPT-4 was capable of passing the bar exam, the SATs, or even an AP Art History exam. But getting the most out of the chatbot requires an understanding of how to use GPT-4, what works -- and what doesn't.

As a writer, I've followed the development of generative AI text models closely. Eventually, curiosity got the best of me and I had to see what the program could -- and couldn't -- do. I asked GPT-4 to generate a variety of different texts, including social media marketing posts, a cover letter to a job application, a poem, and the outline of a novel. I even asked it to generate its own list of GPT-4 tips and tricks. (And yes, this article is written by a human.)

I tried ChatGPT Plus. Here's everything it can do

While switching from the older GPT-3.5 to GPT-4 is straightforward, creating the right ChatGPT prompts is a nuanced experience. The best results come from understanding how to write an effective GPT-4 prompt and understanding what the text generator can and cannot do.

How to find and use GPT-4 in ChatGPT

First, using Chat GPT-4 from OpenAI requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription. If you use the free program, you are limited to GPT-3.5. While you can use other programs that are based on GPT-4 without a subscription, like Microsoft Copilot , a subscription is required to use the latest GPT directly from OpenAI.

Using GPT-4 with a ChatGPT Plus subscription is straightforward:

• Navigate to chat.openai.com . Or, use the ChatGPT app . Log into your account, if you haven't already.
• At the top of the chat window, you'll see the name of the version that you are using. Click on this and select GPT-4 from the menu instead of GPT-3.5.
• Once you've swapped to GPT-4, use the text bar to chat or ask for generated content.

ChatGPT update: How is GPT-4 different from GPT-3.5?

Top gpt-4 prompts, tips, and tricks.

While switching ChatGPT to GPT-4 is simple, using the generative AI isn't always that way. The prompts that you type in dictate what type of information is spit back out. Too few details, and you won't get anything close to what you are looking for. The first two tricks below use GPT-4's newest features, while the remainder of the list helps build your skills in writing effective AI prompts.

1. Use images to add more detail to your prompts.

One of the new features in GPT-4 is the ability to use images as well as text in the prompt. For example, if you want ChatGPT to write a Facebook post, include the image that you have to accompany the post to give the program more data to work with. To do this, you'll simply click on the paperclip icon to add a file into the prompt. (This is different from creating an image with ChatGPT, which is done using a DALL-E integration, as ChatGPT is a text-based generator.)

2. Ask about current events.

Earlier versions of ChatGPT were not able to access current events. While GPT-3.5 could discuss events that happened before its training finalized, it couldn't answer questions about what happened since. However, GPT-4 now has a feature called Browse with Bing that allows it to look up information on the web, so it can now tell you what yesterday's trending news stories are or who won the big game.

3. Be specific about your purpose.

Are you writing an Instagram caption or a professional email? GPT-4 understands some of the nuances between content written for different purposes. For example, when I asked for social media posts, I got casual conversation interspersed with emojis. When I asked for a cover letter, the program spit back professionally worded text.

Purpose can extend beyond general formats. When I asked for an engaging social media post, ChatGPT generated text that asked a question or included instructions like "slide into my DMs." It similarly understood when I instead asked for something educational or entertaining.

4. Clarify who the audience is.

GPT-4 will spit out better results if you clarify who your reader is. For example, I got vastly different results when I asked for a social media post aimed at teenagers compared to when I asked for a post directed towards women over age 50. Including both the purpose and audience together will help increase the odds that the first text generated is spot on.

5. Request revisions or ask follow-up questions.

If you don't get the text you are looking for the first time, ask for revisions. Use phrases like "Edit that" and add information or request something like shorter length or a different audience. GPT-4 is also conversational. As long as you are using the same chat window, you can ask follow-up questions without retyping in your earlier prompts.

6. Try third-party GPTs for more features.

While ChatGPT is a text generator, third-party integrations and custom GPTs expand the number of tasks the AI can handle. Click on the "Explore GPTs" option in the sidebar, and you'll find a number of additional tools. For example, this is where you'll find the DALL-E integration to use GPT-4 to generate images, not just text. You'll also find AI tutors, travel planning assistants, and more here. ChatGPT is also used to power browser extensions for more capabilities.

7. Ask GPT-4 to revise something that you already wrote to make it better.

GPT-4 can also be used as a virtual editor. You can ask GPT-4 to look for grammatical mistakes or to make revisions by copying and paste-ing content that you already wrote. Use prompts like, "Are there any grammatical errors in this" or "Revise this" and paste your content in quotes. Ironically enough, this also works with content that GPT-4 already generated -- it caught a missing Oxford comma in content that the program itself had generated just a few minutes before, though it also flattered itself with phrases like "beautifully written."

8. Avoid words and phrases with multiple meanings.

GPT-4 doesn't always understand words and phrases with double meanings. I was impressed that the program knew big foot meant Bigfoot and understood that "break a leg" was a theatrical expression of good luck and not a threat. But, when I asked it to describe a transparent person, it began describing a ghost rather than an open person who lacks a good poker face. Whenever possible, choose words that have singular meaning and avoid words or phrases that could mean multiple things.

9. Use Chat GPT-4 for brainstorming.

ChatGPT can do more than just spit out text -- the conversational nature can also help you brainstorm ideas or talk over projects that you're stuck on. For example, you could ask it for topic ideas for your next blog, or gift ideas for an upcoming holiday. Try starting a prompt with "Brainstorm 5 ideas for..."

10. Verify all factual information.

While there are a number of changes to GPT-4, it still has the same disclaimer at the bottom of the page: "ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information." While the text generator is impressive, it's far from perfect and has generated inaccurate information in the past . In fact, when I asked the AI for some tricks on using GPT-4, it told me that it couldn't access data for current events that happened after training was complete.

However, GPT-4's new Browse with Bing allowed it to accurately tell me who won the game last weekend, proving the new system is capable of working with some new information through its plug-ins. If GPT-4 can't even accurately tell you its own capabilities, it's bound to make other factual mistakes.

11. Understand the program's limitations.

While GPT-4 did better on the bar exam than GPT-3.5, the program didn't perform as well across other subjects, such as literature. By nature, generative AI learns from patterns and mimics them, but fails at creating something entirely innovative. While it can continue a conversation from the same window, it doesn't retain this data long-term and can't pick up a conversation or prompt where you left off days later. Generative AI has also been tied to biases in training data, including cultural and racial prejudice.

12. Avoid sharing sensitive or private information.

GPT-4 uses the information that you type in to train itself. That means your content isn't exactly private, so perhaps GPT-4 isn't the best option for typing up that scathing breakup letter.

How to use ChatGPT to make AI-generated images and art

Q. what is gpt-4.

ChatGPT is a generative language machine-learning program -- it uses artificial intelligence to create text. GPTs are variations of the ChatGPT program. GPT-4 is the latest foundational model. That means it's the most advanced version of ChatGPT available. It's also a multimodal language model, which means you can feed the program text and images. For example, if you want to ask ChatGPT to write a Facebook post for you, you can include the picture that you want the program to write about. (While ChatGPT is a language-based program and only generates text, it does have a DALL-E integration that can be used to generate images for subscribers.)

GPT-4 makes large gains in academic and professional tasks compared to the earlier model. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, says that while the earlier GPT-3.5 scored in the bottom tenth percentile of the bar exam, GPT-4 scored in the top 90th percentile.

As the latest iteration, GPT-4 requires a subscription, while non-subscribers can use GPT-3.5 without any monthly fees.

Q. How much does GPT-4 cost?

While GPT-3.5 is available free without a subscription, GPT-4 is one of the perks of the $20 a month ChatGPT Plus. The subscription includes access to the platform's most cutting edge features, which includes GPT-4. The subscription also has a few other perks, which you'll find in this ChatGPT Plus guide.

Q. What are the Chat GPT-4 token limits?

GPT-4 requires a lot of computing power. To help negate the traffic, GPT-4 is limited to 40 messages, refreshing that limit every three hours.

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Read this before you use ChatGPT to write your university application cover letter

On this page, the limitations and risks of chatgpt, why you shouldn’t use chatgpt, even as a last resort, 1. chatgpt can’t beat a human expert, 2. chatgpt has no historical knowledge of a winning cover letter, 3. the risks of rejection or dismissal after enrolment is real, study abroad with idp today - get the edge even without chatgpt, topics covered.

• 28 May 2024

You’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, the AI-powered app that is revolutionising the world and changing how the world interacts. In fact, you might be wondering if ChatGPT is the perfect solution to writing a winning university application cover letter.

Yes, the OpenAI chatbot seems to have infinite potential to solve any writing challenge on Earth. However, should you take chances on your entire academic and professional future with this shortcut?

It might seem like a no-brainer to breeze through your university admissions using a chatbot that provides seemingly complex and sophisticated answers to simple questions. Why spend days writing an academic essay when it can be done within minutes, and all without grammatical errors?

But the stakes are high. In this article, we are going to highlight some crucial points to consider before you use ChatGPT to write your university application letter, or even during the rest of your university studies after getting in.

One downside of using the chatbot is that you will not just be technically cheating the university, but also yourself.

The University of Oxford defines plagiarism as “presenting someone else’s work, with or without their consent, as your own without full acknowledgement.”

And since ChatGPT isn’t a living breathing human being, one could argue using the chatbot is perfectly fair game, based on certain definitions. However, there are reports that a growing number of universities are rethinking the idea of plagiarism which could eventually lead to including ChatGPT as a tool for ‘cheating’.

However, as you’ll quickly realise, ChatGPT is more of an AI that consolidates existing information online (up to 2021) and doesn’t exactly produce true inspiration or motivation to help you in your application writing.

To prove a point, we gave ChatGPT the following prompt: "Write for me a university cover letter for a student in Indonesia who wants to pursue an electrical engineering undergraduate degree at the University of Sheffield in the UK.” 

We can see that the letter is written in a very mechanical way, as if it were adapted from a template. The generic terms used, placements and even sentence constructs might betray the fact that it was written by AI. Just imagine the university receiving similar copies of this cover letter submitted by multiple applicants!

Not only does it come off as cookie-cutter, any personality or uniqueness to you is non-existent. It also shows a lack of research done towards the course curriculum or the school’s specific achievements.

One concerning issue is how ChatGPT assumed that the writer was a member of a robotics club and was experienced in building electrical systems. This inventing of facts to help better fit the narrative of the application letter can be a trap for your credibility.

Because there is no connection between the real person and ChatGPT, trying to use the chatbot to write a university application letter isn’t a good idea. Worse of all, the consequences of getting caught can be severe.

It’s important to understand that ChatGPT can’t beat an education expert because it just doesn’t have the depth of experience or understand what’s on the line.

For example, education counsellors at IDP meet students through individualised sessions to fully understand their needs, achievements and future plans. Plus, all this is done at the student’s convenience, at no cost. In fact, you might even enjoy having some fees waived in the application process.

More importantly, you get to tell your whole story to our experts who can then flesh out a compelling narrative and highlight key points to be included in the university cover letter.

ChatGPT doesn’t know everything, including what works and what doesn’t in a successful cover letter.

In contrast, education experts in IDP have years of experience in knowing which letters will likely result in success. After assisting thousands of students and having first-hand application and communication experience with the universities themselves, the counsellors know what the institutions are looking out for.

Chatbots like ChatGPT just don’t have that human touch and depth of knowledge to assist you with writing a compelling cover letter. It’s not just about mechanically listing facts about yourself, but also how it is presented to best portray your motivations in the best light possible.

If that still doesn’t deter you, consider the real risks of getting caught using ChatGPT!

Firstly, your application would likely be rejected and you could be blacklisted throughout the university for future applications. This might make any future attempts of getting in exponentially harder, if not impossible.

Secondly, you could enter a common database and be flagged for ‘cheating’. This could indeed affect any future application chances if your particulars are double-checked against this database.

Thirdly, tools are being developed and refined to detect AI-written essays and they could retrospectively be used by universities to analyse your old application cover letter. If caught, this could result in serious penalties or even expulsion from your course.

The reward just isn’t worth the risk.

Do it the right way, get in touch with an expert at IDP (and not ChatGPT)!

Need help crafting your best cover letter possible, risk-free? Look no further than the education experts at IDP. Make use of their experience to write your cover letter and apply the right way.

Our education counsellors are also happy to help you select the right course and study destination for your career aspirations.

From understanding your unique situation to answering all your questions, seek help from us and make your best decision possible.

Take the next step with IDP today and get tailored advice from our team of education experts to help you reach your goals.

Simply book your free online counselling session with us today and we’ll take it from there!

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Job seekers and hiring managers depend on AI — at what cost to truth and fairness?

For both individuals seeking jobs and managers looking to hire, ai has come to the rescue, automating many laborious tasks. but there are risks to handing off your job or talent search to a digital assistant..

Employers and job seekers are increasingly turning to generative AI (genAI) to to automate their search tasks, whether it’s creating a shortlist of candidates for a position or writing a cover letter and resume. And data shows it can improve the chances at getting that job or finding the perfect talent match.

For human resources and hiring managers who are seeing an increase in responsibilities, genAI can create a short list of potential candidates in seconds — and automate much of the onboarding process.

For job seekers, genAI tools like ChatGPT can not only become creative companions in crafting narratives and emails to potential employers, but even assist applicants in passing assessment tests.

The darker side to using AI in hiring is that it can bypass potential candidates based on predetermined criteria that don’t necessarily take all of a candidate’s skills into account. And for job seekers, the technology can generate great-looking resumes, but often they’re not completely truthful when it comes to skill sets.

“The use of AI in talent acquisition is particularly prevalent in tech hubs and innovative industries where the demand for skilled professionals is high,” said Rick Hammell, founder and CEO of Helios , a workforce management platform startup. “The benefits and potential problems associated with using AI to find talent have global implications.”

Hammell and others see genAI offering improved recruitment outcomes, better candidate matching, and enhanced diversity and inclusion efforts . The challenges, however, include algorithmic bias , data privacy issues, and transparency.

“The need for transparent and ethical AI practices are concerns that organizations across different countries must address to ensure fair and unbiased hiring processes,” Hammell said.

GenAI aids job seekers with research, resumes, cover letters and more

A survey by Resume Builder updated earlier this month found that 18% of US workers used ChatGPT in their job search over the past year. The majority (75%) used it for research, but almost as many (73%) used it for resume creation. They also used the AI-powered bot for interview preparation (69%) and cover letter creation (62%), and more than half (51%) used it to create email communications.

The primary reasons job seekers used ChatGPT were to improve the quality of their application materials (88%), to appear more professional (76%), and to save time (65%).

Resume Builder’s survey of 1,000 US workers actively engaged in a job search within the past year also found that ChatGPT users are more likely to negotiate higher salaries and get more frequent interview requests than those who did not use the tool.

About one-third of respondents (29%) said they did not get hired because the employer became aware of their use of ChatGPT in the hiring process. However, 55% said they their prospective employer “praised” their use of the technology in the job search process.

“My guess is that some employers think ChatGPT promotes lying or cheating, while others see the efficiency and better application materials. It really shouldn’t matter if someone is using ChatGPT, as long as they use their experiences to create the information for applications. If they are using it to pass assessments, that isn’t right,” Julia Toothacre, Resume Builder’s resume and career strategist said in a report .

Not surprisingly, younger job seekers were more likely to use the chatbots, with 24% of 18- to 24-year-olds, 21% of 25- to-34-year-olds, and 25% of 35- to-44-year-olds saying they used the tool. Only 9% of 45- to 54-year-olds used ChatGPT in the hiring process. Men were also more likely to say they used ChatGPT than women (25% vs. 10%), according to Resume Builder’s report.

“The numbers related to age discrepancies in ChatGPT use aren’t surprising for a few reasons,” the report stated. “First, younger generations have historically been more likely to embrace new technologies. Second, there are a lot of people on social media right now sharing their ChatGPT hacks for job searching, so I think it’s something that younger generations are learning about more rapidly. They are likely frustrated with the hiring process and want to try anything they can to get ahead of the competition.”

Gartner’s 2023 survey of nearly 3,000 job candidates from 13 countries in 24 industries and spanning 21 job functions found an even higher percentage of job seekers using genAI tools in their search. Among the 38% of respondents to the Q3 2023 survey who used generative AI, 43% reported using it to generate text for their resumes, and 42% used it to craft their cover letters.

The Gartner survey also found:

• Overall, those who used generative AI said it was responsible for a significant percentage of the final work.
• A third of candidates try to optimize their resume for AI technologies.
• Additionally, a third of candidates believe AI can introduce bias into the hiring process, while a similar number believe it can reduce bias.

In some cases, employees also trust AI over their human managers to offer them career advice. Nearly half of Gen Z employees surveyed by an outplacement services firm Intoo indicated they’d trust a chatbot like ChatGPT for advice over their manager, who many said don’t support their career development.

GenAI automation helps overwhelmed hiring managers

On the hiring side, companies are adopting genAI to streamline their talent acquisition process. A recently published survey of 113 HR leaders by Gartner revealed HR technology as their top budget priority for the third consecutive year. Technology for “talent management” rose from seventh place last year to third this year.

A recent survey of 1,000 HR managers performed by payroll automation provider Sage showed that 95% of respondents have experienced a workload increase over the last year, and 91% noted an increase in their responsibilities. Seventy-seven percent of the respondents also believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize their work processes by reducing time-consuming tasks and ultimately easing burnout, according to the Sage survey.

More HR vendors and others are now offering AI-powered platforms to automate the creation of potential job candidate lists for hiring managers who are tasked with culling from lists of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of job candidates.

HR technology company  Phenom , for example, sells an AI-enabled hiring platform that creates a shortlist of job candidates for recruiters and hiring managers. Its technology, which the company claims is used by 200,000 hiring managers, creates a candidate list based on skills, experience, and location using “fit” scores, an assessment to evaluate a candidate’s suitability for a specific role and company.

“It streamlines interview scheduling for hiring teams, interviewers, and candidates through automation. It additionally enables hyper-personalized interactions with candidates, employees, and alumni through generative,” said John Harrington, senior director of product marketing at Phenom.

For job seekers, Phenom’s tool uses a semantic search engine that scans career websites to help candidates identify relevant job opportunities through context-driven algorithms, according to Harrington.

Startup Eightfold AI recently  announced  its AI-powered applicant tracking system (ATS) that handles the recruitment process for companies from end-to-end. The tool is also aimed at streamlining the recruitment process, enabling organizations to quickly identify and secure top talent through AI-powered recommendations. The Eightfold Talent Tracking tool also generates job descriptions, recommends job-posting platforms, and handles pre-onboarding integrations.

Iffi Wahla, CEO of startup Edge , a network that connects companies with remote talent around the world, believes AI bot tech — including OpenAI’s new ChatGPT-4o — will be used more often by companies to screen candidates. It will also increasingly be used by job seekers to write resumes, fill out applications, and prepare for interviews. And users of AI tech, he said, are likely to get more frequent interview requests than those who don’t use it.

Wahla believes that use of genAI by job seekers will leap from Resume Builder’s 18% figure last year to 50% of candidates this year. From 70% to 80% of Edge’s prospects who are registered with his talent network admit to using AI to help them craft resumes and other materials, Wahla said.

The Edge talent network’s AI-powered platform is currently serving the medical, dental, and insurance industries, helping them find talent to fill open positions while also automating onboarding processes. It can also handle remote workforce management for HR, functions like benefits administration, payroll management, and vacation oversight to ensuring legal compliance and handling taxes.

For companies, the time spent onboarding new employees after adoption Edge’s platform was reduced by 70%, Wahla said. The AI handles user questions, so there’s not as much back and forth with the recruiters or hiring managers, and it can also walk new employees through the steps of onboarding.

Job seekers, use genAI judiciously

What may be an issue is when chatbots craft resumes that aren’t particularly honest about the job seeker’s actual skills, embellishing on their talents because that’s what the AI was trained to do.

“Job seekers should definitely use AI to help them with the job search process, but it needs to be utilized with caution,” said Resume Builder’s Toothacre. The problem, she explained, is that AI is pulling its information from what is online, and not all advice and information is accurate.

Not all hiring managers and executives are enamored with the idea that AI is crafting a job applicant’s online persona and skill set.

“Any applicant using ChatGPT or other generative AI to pass assessments or write a cover letter would be a hard pass for me. I think it’s totally fine to use for interview practice or to generate ideas. But any time you are substituting the work of an AI for your own organic work, that’s where it crosses a line for me,” Andre Kazimierski, CEO of house painting business  Improovy , told Resume Builder.

Job seekers need to make sure that whatever AI drafts for them, it makes sense for their experience and job function. “AI can sound too generic at times, so this is where putting your eyes on it is helpful,” Toothacre said.

She is also concerned about the use of AI to complete assessments. “Skills-based assessments are in place to ensure you are qualified and check your knowledge. Using AI to help you pass those assessments is lying about your experience and highly unethical.”

There’s plenty of evidence that genAI can improve resume quality, increase visibility in online job searches, and provide personalized feedback on cover letters and resumes. However, concerns about overreliance on AI tools, lack of human touch in resumes, and the risk of losing individuality and authenticity in applications are universal issues that candidates need to be mindful of regardless of their geographical location, according to Helios’ Hammell.

“Encouraging a balanced approach that combines AI assistance with personalization and creativity is essential for job seekers navigating the global job market,” Hammell said.

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