Cover letters are the worst part of job hunting. You know you should write one. You know it should be tailored. But staring at a blank document, trying to explain why you’re perfect for this specific role for the 15th time this week? That’s exhausting enough to make you skip applying altogether.
Here’s the good news: you can use AI to write a cover letter with ChatGPT in minutes instead of hours. The catch? You need to know how to prompt it correctly, or you’ll end up with generic fluff that hiring managers can spot instantly.
The quick answer: Paste the job description + your relevant experience + one specific reason you want this job. Ask for 250-300 words, conversational tone. Then edit heavily: add one personal detail, remove any phrase you wouldn’t actually say, and read it out loud before sending. Total time: 10-15 minutes per tailored letter.
This is Part 2 of our 20-part series on how AI can improve your life in 2026. See all parts →
Why Most AI Cover Letters Fall Flat
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about what goes wrong. Because if you just ask ChatGPT to “write me a cover letter,” you’ll get something like this:
“I am writing to express my sincere interest in the Marketing Manager position at your esteemed organization. With my extensive experience and proven track record of success, I believe I would be an excellent addition to your team…”
Sound familiar? It’s generic. It’s stiff. It says nothing specific about you or the company. Hiring managers read dozens of these every day.
The problem isn’t that AI can’t write good cover letters. The problem is that most people don’t give it enough to work with. ChatGPT is a tool, not a mind reader. Give it vague instructions, get vague results.
What You Need Before You Start
The secret to a good AI-generated cover letter is preparation. Spend five minutes gathering the right inputs, and ChatGPT will give you something worth using.
Here’s what to have ready:
The job description. Copy the entire thing. The responsibilities, requirements, preferred qualifications. All of it. This is what ChatGPT will use to tailor your letter.
Your resume or key achievements. Either paste your full resume or write out 3-4 specific accomplishments that are relevant to this job. Numbers help. “Increased sales by 40%” is better than “improved sales performance.”
Why you want this specific job. Not just “I need a job.” What about this company or role appeals to you? Did they recently launch something interesting? Do their values align with yours? Even one specific reason makes a difference.
Your tone preference. Do you want to sound formal, conversational, confident, enthusiastic? Tell ChatGPT upfront.
Step-by-Step: How to Write a Cover Letter with ChatGPT
Here’s the process that actually works.
Step 1: Give ChatGPT Context
Start by giving ChatGPT everything it needs in one message. Here’s a template:
Prompt: “I’m applying for [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Here’s the job description: [paste it]. Here’s my relevant experience: [paste resume or key achievements]. I’m interested in this role because [one or two specific reasons]. Write a cover letter that’s [tone: conversational/professional/confident], around 250-300 words, that highlights how my experience matches what they’re looking for.”
This single prompt gives ChatGPT the job requirements, your qualifications, your motivation, and your preferred style. That’s the foundation for something actually useful.
Step 2: Review and Identify What’s Missing
ChatGPT will generate a first draft. Read it and ask yourself:
- Does the opening hook grab attention or is it generic?
- Does it mention specific skills from the job description?
- Are my achievements included with actual numbers?
- Does it mention something specific about the company?
- Does it sound like something I would actually say?
Most first drafts need work on at least one of these. That’s normal.
Step 3: Ask for Specific Improvements
Now iterate. Don’t just say “make it better.” Be specific:
“Rewrite the opening to start with my biggest relevant achievement instead of ‘I am writing to express…’”
“Add a sentence about [specific company project or value] and why it resonates with me.”
“Make the tone more conversational. Remove phrases like ‘esteemed organization’ and ‘proven track record.’”
“Shorten the second paragraph. It’s too long.”
Each specific instruction gets you closer to something you’d actually send.
Prompts You Can Copy and Use
Here are prompts that work well for different situations:
For a Standard Application
Prompt: “Write a 250-word cover letter for [Job Title] at [Company]. Use these details: [paste job description]. My relevant experience includes: [2-3 achievements with numbers]. I’m interested because [reason]. Keep it professional but warm, not stiff or overly formal.”
For a Career Change
Prompt: “I’m transitioning from [Current Field] to [Target Field]. Write a cover letter for [Job Title] that emphasizes my transferable skills: [list them]. Acknowledge my non-traditional background but focus on how my experience brings a valuable perspective. Keep it confident, not apologetic.”
For Entry-Level Positions
Prompt: “I’m a recent graduate applying for [Job Title]. I don’t have much work experience, but I have: [relevant coursework, projects, internships, volunteer work]. Write a cover letter that shows enthusiasm and potential without overpromising. Keep it under 250 words.”
To Fix a Generic Draft
Prompt: “Here’s my cover letter draft: [paste it]. It sounds too generic. Rewrite it to: (1) open with a specific achievement, (2) mention [company’s recent project or value], and (3) remove any phrases that sound like corporate jargon.”
Making It Sound Like You
The biggest risk with AI cover letters is that they sound like AI wrote them. Here’s how to fix that:
Read it out loud. If you stumble over a sentence or it sounds unnatural, rewrite it. Would you actually say “I am confident that my skills would be a valuable asset”? Probably not.
Add one personal detail. Something only you would know. Maybe you’ve used their product. Maybe you saw a talk by their CEO. Maybe you have a friend who works there and raves about the culture. One authentic detail makes the whole letter feel real.
Cut the fluff. AI loves filler phrases. “I believe,” “I am confident,” “I am excited to.” These waste space. Get to the point.
Match your resume’s voice. If your resume is straightforward and direct, your cover letter should be too. Consistency matters.
Other AI Tools for Cover Letters
While ChatGPT is the most popular choice, it’s not the only option. Claude is excellent at following nuanced instructions and tends to produce less formulaic text. Google Gemini integrates well if you’re already in Google’s ecosystem and can pull context from your Google Docs resume.
If you want something more specialized, tools like Kickresume and Rezi offer dedicated cover letter generators that are optimized specifically for job applications. They’re less flexible than general AI chatbots but can be faster for simple applications.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sending the first draft. AI output is a starting point, not a finished product. Always edit.
Letting AI invent achievements. ChatGPT will sometimes add impressive-sounding accomplishments you never told it about. Read carefully and remove anything that isn’t true.
Using the same letter for every job. Even with AI, you need to customize each letter. At minimum, change the company name, job title, and one specific reason you’re interested.
Ignoring the company. A cover letter that only talks about you and never mentions the company feels self-centered. Show you’ve done research.
Making it too long. 250-300 words is enough. Hiring managers skim. Respect their time.
Putting It All Together
Here’s what a good workflow looks like:
Minute 1-2: Copy the job description and jot down your 2-3 most relevant achievements.
Minute 3-5: Write one sentence about why you want this specific job. Quick company research if needed.
Minute 6-8: Paste everything into ChatGPT with your prompt. Get a first draft.
Minute 9-12: Review, ask for 1-2 specific improvements, read the revised version out loud.
Minute 13-15: Final edit. Add one personal touch. Remove any AI-sounding phrases. Done.
That’s a tailored cover letter in about 15 minutes. Not 45 minutes of staring at a blank screen.
Common Questions About AI Cover Letters
Is it okay to use AI to write my cover letter?
Yes, as long as you treat it as a drafting tool and not a replacement for your own voice. Edit thoroughly, verify everything is accurate, and make sure the final version sounds like you.
Will employers know I used ChatGPT?
They might suspect if the letter sounds generic or uses obvious AI phrases. That’s why editing matters. A well-edited AI-assisted letter is indistinguishable from one written entirely by hand.
Can I use the same AI cover letter for multiple jobs?
You can use a similar structure, but you should customize each one. At minimum, update the company name, job title, and your reason for interest. Tailoring is the whole point.
What if ChatGPT makes up achievements I didn’t mention?
This happens sometimes. Always read the draft carefully and remove anything that isn’t true. AI can help you present your real experience better, but it shouldn’t fabricate experience you don’t have.
The Bottom Line
Writing cover letters used to be one of the most tedious parts of job hunting. AI has changed that. With the right prompts and a few minutes of editing, you can create tailored, professional cover letters that actually represent who you are.
The key is treating ChatGPT as a writing partner, not a magic button. Give it good inputs. Review its outputs. Add your own voice. That combination works.
If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 of this series on tailoring your resume with AI. Between a tailored resume and a tailored cover letter, you’ll stand out from most applicants before the interview even starts.
For more AI guides, visit our Start Here page or explore our AI writing assistant guide for other ways AI can help with your writing.
Series Navigation: ← Part 1: Tailor Your Resume | Series Hub | Part 3: AI Interview Practice →
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