How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Cover Letter

Crafting a compelling cover letter can be a daunting task. You want to make a great impression on potential employers, highlighting your unique skills and get invited for interviews.
A cover letter is part of your strategy to secure the first interview, next to a CV and other materials. In this blog post, we’ll talk about using ChatGPT to help us get started with a new cover letter from scratch and what you can do to stand out.

Gather necessary information

Before we craft the first prompt, you need to gather a few pieces of information: 

• Job Description: Understand the role you’re applying for.

• Company Information: The company’s values, culture, and mission.

• Personal Information: Have your resume, work experience, and skills ready.

• Contact Information: Ensure you have the contact details of the person you’re addressing the letter to.

Some of this information we will integrate as is in a prompt (such as contact information or the name of the role). 

Other pieces we need to derive from your resume. Most importantly, we need to identify what your top skills are for this position. Let’s look at an example. This company is hiring an IT support person:

Requirements:

Ideal candidate will have at least 1 year experience in the following:

• Ability to diagnose and fix hardware and software issues for both desktops and servers

• Experience installing and troubleshooting problems on WinXP, Windows7, Win2003/2008 Server, Active Directory, Exchange, DNS

• End-User and Help Desk experience in MS Office Suite and other common desktop applications

• Experience in troubleshooting network related issues that can be related to network infrastructure such as switches and routers

• Configuration of TCP/IP settings on network and troubleshooting TCP/IP issues

• Certifications such as A+, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP, CNE, CCNA are a plus but not required

• Candidate must live within close proximity of Metro Area (for which you are applying), or be willing to commute.

How do your skills and experience match the requirements? Take a look at your CV and identify your personal top strengths. 

For instance, your top skills might be “Windows Server administration”, “Troubleshooting network issues” and “Configuration of computer networks”. Keep these in mind as we integrate them into a ChatGPT prompt.

Create a Prompt for ChatGPT

When working with tools like ChatGPT, it all comes down to a specific and well-formulated prompt. A more specific prompt yields more tailored responses. For instance, we could start with a basic prompt such as:

“Write a cover letter for a IT Support position at XYZ Corp”

Based on this prompt, ChatGPT will generate a cover letter for us. It’s not advisable to use this as-is. It will be generic and will not relate to the position you are applying for or featuring your key strengths.
Therefore, let’s iterate on our prompt to get a more tailored cover letter. Here’s another example:

"Write a cover letter for an IT Help Support position at XYZ Tech. My name is Alex Taylor, and I have 2 years of experience in system administration.

I have a strong background in Windows Server administration, using Windows 7, 8, 10, and Windows Server.
I’m a good troubleshooter, diagnosing issues with networks and designing TCP/IP networks from scratch. I am passionate about developing innovative solutions and have a proven track record of exceeding project goals.
The values of XYZ Tech resonate with me, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team. My contact information is included in my resume."

Generate the Cover Letter

Use the prompt to generate the cover letter. You can input your prompt into ChatGPT and let it work its magic. Here’s a sample response based on the above prompt:

Alex Taylor

[Your Address]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Your Email Address]

[Your Phone Number]

[Date]

Hiring Manager

XYZ Tech

[Company Address]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the IT Help Support position at XYZ Tech. With two years of experience in system administration and a strong background in Windows Server administration, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.

In my previous role, I gained extensive experience working with various Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8, 10, and Windows Server. My responsibilities included diagnosing and resolving network issues and designing TCP/IP networks from scratch. My passion for developing innovative solutions has consistently enabled me to exceed project goals and deliver exceptional results.

The values of XYZ Tech truly resonate with me, and I am particularly drawn to your commitment to providing cutting-edge technology solutions that drive business success. I am eager to bring my problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and dedication to customer service to your esteemed company.

Please find my contact information included in my resume. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how I can contribute to the continued success and growth of XYZ Tech. Thank you for considering my application.

Warm regards,

Alex Taylor

4. Review and Edit

Especially newer versions of ChatGPT are very good at producing compelling artifacts quickly. While the cover letter above looks good at first glance, you should spend some time editing it so it has your tone of voice and also highlights everything the hiring manager needs to know about you.

Once you’ve reviewed and edited the content, double-check for any grammatical errors or inconsistencies. It’s always a good practice to have a friend or mentor review your letter before you submit it.

Stand out with a video cover letter

Sending a cover letter when applying for positions is table stakes, as a cover letter is a requirement for many job applications. Let’s talk about ways you can stand out from other applicants.
In this paragraph, we will explore how you can use a video cover letter to introduce yourself to the hiring manager, even before the first interview has been scheduled. 

Your new cover letter is a great starting point for a video cover letter. If you are applying for a customer-facing role, or where interpersonal skills are crucial, hiring managers use the interview to find out if you fit in. Does your demeanor match the company’s culture? Are you able to articulate yourself in a concise way? A written resume and cover letter does not showcase this. 

When applying for jobs, a written cover letter is mandatory. But a nice addition is a link to a one or two minute video, where you introduce yourself. Use your cover letter as a starting point for a video introduction.

While that might seem like a lot of extra work initially, it will pay off. Is there something you’d like to highlight that a written CV or cover letter can’t communicate? Take your cover letter and record it as a video.
You don’t need to read it sentence by sentence. Rather, you should focus on a few highlights that make you stand out. If you ran into your hiring manager at a café fetching coffee, what would you tell them?

Record a video and share it. To get started with that, sign up at https://coverletter.video for a free account. 

Conclusion

Using ChatGPT to write your cover letter can save you time and help you produce a polished and professional document. By providing clear prompts and ensuring thorough reviews, you can create a cover letter that showcases your skills and enthusiasm effectively. 

If you are looking for opportunities to stand out or highlight skills a written resume can’t show, you should record your first video cover letter today.

Happy job hunting!