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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 write a cover letter (and why you should)

As if perfectly crafting a resume that encapsulates your entire career isn't difficult enough, job applications also require a cover letter. This letter is meant to help you express specific details about why you are interested in the company, what makes you qualified, and, ultimately, why the company should hire you. 

How to use ChatGPT to create: Code | Excel formulas | Essays | Resumes  | Apps  | Charts and Tables  

If executed properly, a cover letter has the potential to make you stand out from other applicants by showcasing your genuine interest in the role, the experiences that make you a good fit, and what makes you different from other candidates who have similar qualifications.

However, synthesizing those ideas into a one-page letter can be a time-consuming and challenging task -- ChatGPT is here to help. 

How to use ChatGPT to help craft your cover letter 

Whether you've started writing a cover letter and feel stuck or don't even know where to start, ChatGPT can help you produce the cover letter of your dreams. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT

With a couple of prompts and your direction, ChatGPT will create a polished cover letter within seconds. 

1. Sign in to ChatGPT

Visit ChatGPT's website and sign in using your account. If you don't have an account, you can create one or sign in using your existing Google or Microsoft account. 

If you haven't created an account, click on Sign up. Otherwise, log in with your OpenAI credentials.

2. Ask ChatGPT to write you a cover letter

All you have to do is ask ChatGPT to write you a cover letter for the role and company of your choice. You should also include details about the experiences you would like the cover letter to highlight. 

For example, a possible input would be, "Can you write me a cover letter for the role of Associate Editor at ZDNET? I graduated from the University of North Carolina, majored in Journalism, and love technology."  

Also: More fun with DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT: Can it design a T-shirt?

That is only a loose example; you can be as specific or general as you'd like. The more direction you give ChatGPT, however, the better your output will be.

3. Kick it up a notch and paste in the job description (optional)

If you want your cover letter to be tailored to the exact role you are applying for, you can copy and paste the job description into ChatGPT before asking it to write your cover letter. This method is by far the most efficient way to get your cover letter written in a way that reflects the exact role and duties. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT to do research for papers, presentations, studies, and more

Like before, you can also include details about your own personal experience you'd like to include. Your prompt could look something like this, "Can you write me a cover letter for the position of [role title] at [employer]? This is the job description: XYZ. For context, I [include experience you'd like to highlight]."

4. Co-edit your cover letter

Despite ChatGPT's best efforts and advanced capabilities, there might be something you want to tweak in the letter. If that's the case, it's super simple to change something. All you have to do is ask ChatGPT to tweak a specific aspect of your letter and it will. 

Also: How to use ChatPDF: The AI chatbot that can tell you everything about your PDF

For example, following the prompt above, you would be able to say, "Can you emphasize my passion for tech a little bit more?"

Are cover letters necessary for a job application?

Cover letters are not always required for a job application. However, almost all job applications either require one or give you the option to submit one. The benefits of a cover letter include having the employer get to know you more and helping you stand out from other applicants. 

Should you use ChatGPT to write a cover letter?

ChatGPT can write an impressive cover letter within seconds, allowing you to focus more attention on other parts of your application that require a lot of time and effort. 

Also: 6 ways to ace a job interview

Once ChatGPT produces the letter, you can always add your own edits to give it your personal flair. 

What should be showcased in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should help to set you apart from other applicants. Therefore, in your cover letter, you should specifically communicate what makes you interested in the role and what experiences make you a great fit. 

How to use ChatGPT to summarize a book, article, or research paper

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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 .

Ace your job search

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

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 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 3,169 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.

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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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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 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

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How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Cover Letter

Can you use ChatGPT to write a cover letter? Here's how to write a tailored cover letter using a little help from artificial intelligence.

What Is ChatGPT?

You might also like these articles on chatgpt and artificial intelligence:.

• How to Use ChatGPT to Make Your Job Search Easier
• How to Use ChatGPT to Write or Update Your Resume
• How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Resignation Letter
• WEBINAR: How to Use ChatGPT in Your Job Search

Is It Wrong to Use AI to Write My Cover Letter?

How to use chatgpt to write a cover letter, step 1: create an openai chatgpt account, step 2: write detailed and informative prompts .

• Create a generic cover letter outline.
• Create a short cover letter applying to a social media marketing position.
• Create an outline for what a cover letter should include.
• Generate a list of skills and relevant experience to include in a cover letter for a marketing manager role.
• Create a resume for an SEO manager role that accentuates experience with Google Analytics and keyword research.
• Personal details 
• Company name (If the organization is particularly well-known, you can use ChatGPT to generate company-specific content, too) 
• Professional experience (Including job titles held, previous companies, and any promotions received) 
• Skills and expertise (Match these up with skills mentioned in the job posting) 
• Education completed 
• Fun facts about yourself (If you're looking to write a light, jovial cover letter, consider adding some fun facts about yourself that might be relevant to the job description) 
• Job description (Yes, you can even copy + paste the entire job description into the ChatGPT chat bar) 
• Your Resume (You can copy + paste your resume, too) 

Step 3: Add Your Personal Details, Achievements, or Other Information 

Step 4: edit your cover letter to add your voice, chatgpt prompts to use to create a cover letter, prompts to get started writing a cover letter.

• Create an outline of what a great cover letter should include.
• Create a few goals that a mid-career [JOB TITLE] should mention in a cover letter to impress a hiring manager.
• Give me a list of best practices for writing a cover letter that hiring managers will actually read.
• Create a checklist of ways to write a cover letter that is ATS-friendly.

Prompts to Write the Introduction Paragraph to Your Cover Letter

• Create a list of best practices for writing the introductory paragraph in a professional cover letter.
• In a jovial tone, introduce myself according to the facts about myself and my career that I have pasted below [FACTS ABOUT YOU, YOUR CAREER].
• Create a cover letter for an entry-level position as a [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY]. Relate my excitement for the position to [COMPANY] mission statement. [COPY + PASTE MISSION STATEMENT.]
• Create a listen of interesting questions to use as the first line of my cover letter for a [JOB TITLE] position at [COMPANY]. 

Prompts to Write a Cover Letter for a New Job in a New Industry 

• Tell me what skills and expertise are important for [JOB ROLE] in [INDUSTRY].
• Write a paragraph about my career based on the resume I have pasted below. Identify transferrable skills between my past positions in [JOB TITLE] and how they could apply to [NEW JOB TITLE].
• Tell me about the history or [JOB ROLE] in [INDUSTRY].
• Tell me interesting facts about [COMPANY] or [INDUSTRY] that showed I did research on their history.*

Prompts to Detail Your Skills in Your Cover Letter

• Create two paragraphs for the middle section of a cover letter detailing my skills, as listed below. Emphasize [PARTICULAR SKILL] and knowledge of [TOOLS or SOFTWARE]. [COPY + PASTE THE SKILLS SECTION FROM YOUR RESUME.]
• Tell me how to effectively discuss [SKILLS] in my cover letter to interest a hiring manager. 
• Create a list of unique skills and creative skills that might apply to [JOB ROLE] but may not be obvious. 
• [PASTE SKILL FROM JOB LISTING] Tell me everything you know about learning [SKILL]. 

Prompts to Explain Your Unique Experience

• Make a list of the types of stories that people find interesting or compelling that I can include in a cover letter for a job in [INDUSTRY].
• Tell me about individual experiences that hiring managers think are impressive to include as an anecdote in my cover letter. 

Prompts to Create a Compelling Closing Paragraph 

• Create a few closing paragraphs for a cover letter in [INDUSTRY] based on my resume. [COPY + PASTE RESUME.]
• Create a closing paragraph for my cover letter that reiterates everything I have written so far in my cover letter. [COPY + PASTE COVER LETTER DRAFT.]

Prompts to Edit and Double-Check Your Cover Letter Draft

• Tell me a few things hiring managers hate to see when reading cover letters.
• Create a list of action-based words I can use to make my cover letter more exciting and action-packed.
• Create a list of some great accomplishments that a [JOB TITLE] in [INDUSTRY] could achieve to impress a hiring manager.
• Create a list of things that are unnecessary to include in a cover letter so that I can edit mine to be less than 300 words. [COPY + PASTE RESUME.] 
• cover letter
• Artificial Intelligence

Caileen is an experienced content creator with a demonstrated history of working to achieve healthy and organic growth. Enthusiastically skilled in SEO, content strategy, and creating evergreen, valuable, and actionable content Caileen has been working for over two decades in content strategy and writing for career-oriented startups. Caileen is passionate about writing content to help folks determine the best career for their ever-changing lives—especially mid-career professionals who find their career needs changing due to parenthood, values, and ambitions.  Caileen's advice has been featured by Thrive Global, FlexJobs, Microsoft, WeWork, The Ladders, FastCompany, and more. 

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How To Write a Cover Letter With ChatGPT

Hate writing cover letters? Here’s how to use ChatGPT to shortcut the process — including tips on how to make it sound like it was written by a human.

9 months ago   •   6 min read

Hands up if you love writing cover letters!

If you’re sitting there with your hand firmly down, you’re not alone. Of all the factors in the job hunting process, cover letters are perhaps the worst — and the most controversial. For every recruiter who says that cover letters are unnecessary, there’s another who won’t consider candidates without one.

Manually crafting a cover letter for every single application is exhausting and time-consuming, but what’s the alternative?

Believe it or not, the answer may be ChatGPT.

(P. S. For a done-for-you cover letter that's more accurate than ChatGPT, check out the free AI cover letter generator tool . Unlike ChatGPT, it's been custom-built with the help of recruiters and writes incredibly effective and personalized cover letters)

Can ChatGPT really help you write an effective cover letter?

Yes — with the right input and customization. In other words, don’t simply expect to ask ChatGPT to write a cover letter and send it off as is.

But it can help speed up the process. By filling in ChatGPT with the appropriate information, you can automate a lot of the less-fun parts of writing a cover letter — leaving you more time to focus on the bits of the process that matter.

Here’s how to get started.

How to use ChatGPT to write a cover letter

• A good cover letter starts in the same place as your resume — with your accomplishments. Locate the most recent version of your resume, or, if you prefer, a simple text list of your achievements and qualifications.
• Find the job description. You can copy and paste this from the job posting (and it’s always a good idea to have a copy saved so you can reference it throughout the application process).
• Write down some details about the company. You can copy these from the job posting or company website.
• Create an account at the ChatGPT website (or sign in if you already have one).
• Choose which version of ChatGPT you want to use. GPT-3.5 is the currently available free version, while GPT-4 is much better at writing but requires a subscription.
• Write a prompt. We’ll go into more details about prompts later, but essentially, you should ask ChatGPT to create a cover letter based on your resume , tailored to the company and job description.
• Edit your cover letter . You can use ChatGPT for this step or do it manually.

A two-step guide to writing an effective ChatGPT prompt

The most important part of getting good results from ChatGPT is writing an effective prompt. Here’s how to do just that.

Step One: Give ChatGPT a command

The first step to using ChatGPT to write a cover letter — or anything else — is to give it a command. This is how you tell it what you want to do.

Here’s the command we used — you can copy and paste this or tweak it to your liking:

Write a cover letter based on the RESUME, tailored to the JOB DESCRIPTION and COMPANY. Identify ways in which I specifically meet the requirements, have experience with the responsibilities, and will fit the company culture.

• Use quotation marks at the start and end of the command to tell ChatGPT that everything inside them is your request
• Use ALL CAPS for variables that you’ll fill in later (that’s the next step!)

Step Two: Fill in the variables

Now we need to define everything we put in capital letters. Add a line break (you’ll want to do this every time) and then type:

After this header, copy in your resume or a plain text version of your accomplishments and qualifications. There’s no need to reformat your resume, even if this section looks strange — ChatGPT will still be able to read it.

Add another line break, and then type:

--JOB DESCRIPTION--

Then copy the job description from the job ad. Add one more line break and type:--COMPANY--Add the information you gathered about the company — you can usually get this straight from the company’s website.

• Typing RESUME, COMPANY, and JOB DESCRIPTION in capital letters tells ChatGPT that these should be linked to the variables in your command
• Putting “--” at the start and end of these variables helps distinguish them from other headers in your resume
• Don’t use quotation marks around “--RESUME--” “--JOB DESCRIPTION--” or “--COMPANY--"

That’s it — just two steps! Now let’s take a look at the results.

Example of a cover letter written with ChatGPT

Here’s the full prompt we used with ChatGPT:

And here’s the resulting cover letter that ChatGPT wrote:

So, how did ChatGPT do? Like most AI-assisted writing, it’s technically sound, but it’s missing something important — personality . A good cover letter should show the hiring manager who you are, not just what you’ve done.

If you want to generate a cover letter with real personality, try out an alternative to ChatGPT that's tailor-made to produce effective cover letters with personality: the AI cover letter generator .

That doesn’t mean this cover letter is bad — it just needs some editing.

How to edit a ChatGPT cover letter

You can keep using ChatGPT to edit your cover letter, or you can do it manually. The best approach? A bit of both!

Editing your cover letter with ChatGPT

If you want to see how far you can go with ChatGPT, try giving it some follow up commands. Try telling it:

“Rewrite the cover letter, highlighting [my commitment to sustainability, my experience with building LLMs].”

“Rewrite the cover letter in a [friendlier, less formal] tone.”

“Rewrite the cover letter, but avoid overly complex sentences or industry jargon. Instead, write as if you were talking to the hiring manager in person.”

“Rewrite the cover letter to be less than [100] words.”

Remember that ChatGPT is still learning — the more specific commands you give it, the better your results will be.

Editing your cover letter manually

Ideally, you’ll go over the cover letter on your own to (at least) inject a bit of personality, as well as to check it for accuracy. Think of the ChatGPT version as a first draft — all the ideas are there, but it still needs a bit of polish.

Here’s how to make your ChatGPT-generated cover letter sound a bit more human:

• Add a couple of anecdotes from your life.
• Be more specific about your key experiences.
• Talk about why this job or company appeals to you in particular or what got you started in your career.
• Showcase your personal values — for example, you might want to express your commitment to sustainable business practices or your passion for mentoring junior colleagues.
• Rewrite the cover letter in your own natural voice.
• Copy and paste the cover letter into a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs and proofread for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.
• Make sure everything in the cover letter is accurate and reflects what you want to say.

Potential drawbacks of using ChatGPT to write a cover letter

Using ChatGPT to write your cover letter isn’t necessarily a bad thing (unless you’re only copying and pasting the AI-written version and doing no editing of your own). That said, it does have some potential downsides.

ChatGPT cover letters are generic

ChatGPT is an AI model trained on a huge data set. That means that a lot of what it puts out tends to sound the same — which is a big problem if you’re trying to stand out in a sea of applicants. At best, it could make your cover letter forgettable; at worst, it could stand out as being obviously written by AI, which is a turn-off for most recruiters.

How to fix it: Include as many details as you can about the role, the company’s culture, and your own experiences. Even adding one or two personal anecdotes can go a long way toward giving your cover letter a more unique voice.

ChatGPT can’t convey emotional intelligence

AI like ChatGPT also lacks the ability to convey emotions effectively, making it more difficult to build a rapport with anyone reading your cover letter. This is particularly true if you’re applying for a role or industry that values creativity (like writing, design, or marketing), or for smaller companies and start-ups that encourage personal connections.

How to fix it: Don’t be afraid to tear apart and rebuild the cover letter that ChatGPT generates; or, just use a stronger alternative to ChatGPT (like this AI cover letter generator ). Try structuring your cover letter to tell a story about who you are and where you’re going next in your career — and why that makes you the perfect person for the job.

ChatGPT may not keep your data safe

OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) doesn’t permanently store conversations, but it does retain any data you enter for 30 days. Your conversations can also be used to improve the AI model and may be reviewed by human trainers — so if there’s something you don’t want anyone else to see, don’t type it into ChatGPT!

How to fix it: Limit your personal information as well as anything private or confidential — you can always manually add in any sensitive information later. Or use alternatives to ChatGPT that keep your data provide.

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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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I asked ChatGPT to write my cover letters. 2 hiring managers said they would have given me an interview but the letters lacked personality.

• An updated version of the AI chatbot ChatGPT was recently released to the public. 
• I got the chatbot to write cover letters for real jobs and asked hiring managers what they thought.
• The managers said they would've given me a call but that the letters lacked personality.

A new version of an artificial-intelligence chatbot from OpenAI , ChatGPT, has had the internet in a frenzy over the past few weeks.

Praised by users for its impressive range of knowledge and easy-to-use format, people have been using the chatbot to write code , news articles , and even college essays .

I decided to test out its usefulness for one of the more boring tasks in life — applying for jobs. Cover letters, while widely hated, are one of the most time-consuming requirements on an application. 

I gave ChatGPT some real job descriptions and a few brief sentences about my made-up experience. I then sent the cover letters to hiring managers to see what they thought. 

Hiring managers would have followed up

Both of the recruiters who looked at the two AI-generated cover letters, one for a social-media assistant and the other for a purchase-ledger clerk, said they seemed like they were written by genuine candidates.

"We would likely think this was written by a genuine candidate and follow up with a screening call," Chris Willsher, a recruitment expert at the UK recruiting company Reed, said.

"The structure of the letter is good," he added. "But it lacks some detail around the company they're applying for." 

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Stephanie Petry, the director of talent attraction at the software platform Jobber, agreed that ChatGPT's application for the ledger-clerk position was pretty good.

"I would likely send the ledger-clerk candidate through to the next round so I could get a better feel for their personality during the interview process," she said.

Petry wasn't so keen on ChatGPT's cover letter for the social-media-assistant role. 

"Their writing style is not what I would expect from someone in that role," she said. "Their tone is too formal and dry, and I'd expect them to show more creativity and character."

The letters lacked personality 

Both Willsher and Petry said the letters lacked personality and research about the companies. 

"It lacks the personal touch where we learn about a candidate's human experiences, anecdotal evidence to back up their skills, and passion for the role," Willsher said.

Petry added that the cover letters sounded too stiff. She said they seemed like they were written by a junior candidate.

She added: "They lack character and seem almost too formal and professional that I'd want to get to know the person a bit better."

Willsher said candidates would be better off using AI to generate a template to draft a job application.

He said: "While AI can be a real bonus for candidates, we'd recommend that they use AI to generate a template which they can check and build on to paint the best picture of themselves."

Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, has a global deal to allow OpenAI to train its models on its media brands' reporting.

Watch: Why this robot could save your life one day

• Main content

How to use ChatGPT to write code: What it can and can't do for you

O ne of the more intriguing discoveries about ChatGPT is that it can write pretty good code. I first tested this out last year when I asked it to write a WordPress plugin my wife could use on her website. ChatGPT did a fine job, but it was a very simple project. 

How to use ChatGPT to write: Resumes  | Excel formulas | Essays | Cover letters  

So, how can you use ChatGPT to write code as part of your daily coding practice? Here's a quick summary:

• ChatGPT can produce both useful and unusable code. For best results, provide clear and detailed prompts.
• ChatGPT excels in assisting with specific coding tasks or routines, rather than building complete applications from scratch.
• Use ChatGPT to find and choose the right coding libraries for specific purposes, and engage in an interactive discussion to narrow down options.
• Be cautious about the ownership of AI-generated code and always verify the code's reliability. Don't blindly trust the generated output.
• Treat interactions with ChatGPT as a conversation. Refine your questions based on the AI's responses to get closer to the desired output.

Now, let's explore ChatGPT in considerably more depth.

What types of coding can ChatGPT do well?

There are two important facts about ChatGPT and coding. The first is that the AI can, in fact, write useful code. 

The second is that it can get completely lost, fall down a rabbit hole, chase its own tail, and produce unusable garbage.

Also: The best free AI courses

I found this out the hard way. After I finished the WordPress plugin, I decided to see how far ChatGPT could go. 

I wrote out a very careful prompt for a Mac application, including detailed descriptions of user interface elements, interactions, what would be provided in settings, how they would work, and so on. Then, I fed the prompt to ChatGPT.

ChatGPT responded with a flood of text and code. Then, it stopped mid-code. When I asked it to continue, it vomited out even more code and text. I requested continue after continue, and it dumped out more and more code. But... none of it was usable . It didn't identify where the code should go, how to construct the project, and -- when I looked carefully at the code produced -- it left out major operations I requested, leaving in simple text descriptions stating "program logic goes here".

Also: Yikes! Microsoft Copilot failed every single one of my coding tests

After a bunch of repeated tests, it became clear to me that if you ask ChatGPT to deliver a complete application, it will fail. A corollary to this observation is that if you know nothing about coding and want ChatGPT to build you something, it will fail.

Where ChatGPT succeeds -- and does so very well -- is in helping someone who already knows how to code to build specific routines and get specific tasks done. Don't ask for an app that runs on the menu bar. But if you ask ChatGPT for a routine to put a menu on the menu bar, and then paste that into your project, the tool will do quite well.

Also, keep in mind that while ChatGPT appears  to have a tremendous amount of domain-specific knowledge (and it often does), it lacks wisdom . As such, the tool may be able to write code, but it won't be able to write code containing the nuances for very specific or complex problems that require deep experience to understand.

Also:  How to use ChatGPT to create an app

Use ChatGPT to demo techniques, write small algorithms, and produce subroutines. You can even get ChatGPT to help you break down a bigger project into chunks, and then you can ask it to help you code those chunks.

So, with that in mind, let's look at some specific steps for how ChatGPT can help you write code.

• How to use ChatGPT to write code

I started with a prompt that was designed to elicit information about what libraries would provide the functionality I wanted. A library (for those of you reading along who aren't programmers) is a body of code a programmer can access that does a lot of the heavy lifting for a specific purpose. A big part of modern programming is finding and choosing the right libraries, so this is a good starting point.

In this case, I'm looking at blocks of code written by other people that will summarize text. Here's my first prompt:

Describe ten different open source AI libraries (and the languages they work with) that I can use to generate a summary of the main core contents of any web page, ignoring any ads or embedded materials.

This prompt gave me exactly what I wanted, including a mention of OpenAI's offerings. I think OpenAI would do great here, but for this hypothetical project, I don't want to budget for API fees. So. I'll narrow down the question:

Are any of these free?

ChatGPT hedged its bets with its answer. Here's what it said: "Yes, all ten of these AI libraries are open source and free to use. However, some of them may have usage limits or require payment for access to additional features or resources." So, based on that, I clarified my query:

Which of these libraries have no usage limits and don't require any additional payment or licensing?

Notice how this is very much a conversation. I don't have to re-ask the originating question. I'm just drilling down in the same way I might if I had an expert at hand and was seeking clarification. In this case, ChatGPT gave me eight library choices, but none of them mentioned the PHP language that I was planning to code in. So, here's the next prompt:

Of those 8 libraries, can I use any with PHP?

It returned three libraries, but I wasn't sure about what each did. So, another question:

What's the difference between Sumy, Gensim, and NLTK?

I still wasn't sure, so I clarified my use plan and then asked:

If I want to create summaries of web page news articles, which library would work better?

The answer I got was clear and promising: "Sumy is specifically designed for text summarization, which is the task of creating a summary that captures the most important information from a piece of text." So, now it was time to see what was involved in using Sumy with PHP. I asked my last question for this part of the project:

Can you explain how to use Sumy from PHP?

Feel free to play along on your computer and paste these prompts into your instance of ChatGPT. Notice that, in step one, I decided what program module I was going to get help on. Then, in this step, I had a conversation with ChatGPT to decide what library to use and how to integrate it into my project.

Also: The best AI chatbots

That may not seem like programming, but I assure you it is. Programming isn't just blasting lines of code onto a page. Programming is figuring out how to integrate all the various resources and systems together, and how to talk to all the various components of your solution. Here, ChatGPT helped me do that integration analysis.

By the way, I was curious whether Google's Gemini AI (formerly Bard) could help in the same way. Gemini can't actually write code, but it did give some extra insights into the planning aspect of programming over ChatGPT's responses. So, don't hesitate to use multiple tools to triangulate on answers you want. Here's that story: Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Can Gemini help you code?  Since I wrote that article, Google added some coding capabilities to Gemini, but they're not all that great. You can read about it here: I tested Google Gemini's new coding skills. It didn't go well . And even more recently, I dug into Gemini Advanced . It's still not passing many tests.

Also: How I test an AI chatbot's coding ability - and you can too

Coding is next. 

That limitation means you have to do it yourself. As we know, the first draft of a piece of code is rarely the final code. So, even if you were to expect ChatGPT to generate final code, it would really be a starting point, one where you need to take it to completion, integrate it into your bigger project, test it, refine it, debug it, and so on.

Also:   I asked ChatGPT to write a short Star Trek episode. It actually succeeded

But that doesn't mean the example code is worthless -- far from it. Let's take a look at a prompt I wrote based on the project I described earlier. Here's the first part:

Wite a PHP function called summarize_article. As input, summarize_article will be passed a URL to an article on a news-related site like ZDNET.com or Reuters.com.

I'm telling ChatGPT the programming language it should use. I'm also telling it the input but, while doing so, providing two sites as samples to help ChatGPT understand the style of article. Honestly, I'm not sure ChatGPT didn't ignore that bit of guidance. Next, I'll tell it how to do the bulk of the work:

Inside summarize_article, retrieve the contents of the web page at the URL provided. Using the library Sumy from within PHP and any other libraries necessary, extract the main body of the article, ignoring any ads or embedded materials, and summarize it to approximately 50 words. Make sure the summary consists of complete sentences. You can go above the 50 words to finish the last sentence, if necessary.

This is very similar to how I'd instruct an employee. I'd want that person to know that they weren't only restricted to Sumy. If they needed another tool, I wanted them to use it. 

Also: How to get a perfect face match using Midjourney AI

I also specified an approximate number of words to create bounds for what I wanted as a summary. A later version of the routine might take that number as a parameter. I then ended by saying what I wanted as a result:

Once processing is complete, code summarize_article so it returns the summary in plain text.

The resulting code is pretty simple. ChatGPT did call on another library (Goose) to retrieve the article contents. It then passed that summary to Sumy with a 50-word limit and then returned the result. But once the basics are written, it's a mere matter of programming to go back in and add tweaks, customize what's passed to the two libraries, and delivering the results.

One interesting point of note. When I originally tried this test in early 2023, ChatGPT created a sample call to the routine it wrote, using a URL from after 2021. At that time, in March 2023, ChatGPT's dataset only went to 2021. Now, the ChatGPT knowledge base extends to the end of December 2023. But my point is that ChatGPT made up a sample link that it couldn't possibly know about:

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/teslas-musk-says-fremont-california-factory-may-be-sold-chip-shortage-bites-2022-03-18/

I checked that URL against both Reuters' site and the Wayback Machine, and it doesn't exist. Never assume ChatGPT is accurate. Always double-check everything it gives you.

Does ChatGPT replace programmers? 

Not now -- or, at least -- not yet. ChatGPT programs at the level of a talented first-year programming student, but it's lazy (like that first-year student). The tool might reduce the need for entry-level programmers, but at its current level, I think it will just make life easier for entry-level programmers (and even programmers with more experience) to write code and look up information. It's definitely a time-saver, but there are few programming projects it can do on its own -- at least now. In 2030? Who knows.

How do I get coding answers in ChatGPT?

Just ask it. You saw above how I used an interactive discussion dialog to narrow down the answers I wanted. When you're working with ChatGPT, don't expect one question to magically do all your work for you. But use ChatGPT as a helper and resource, and it will give you a lot of very helpful information. Of course, test that information -- because, as John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, says , "Our biggest concern was around factuality, because the model likes to fabricate things."

Is the code generated by ChatGPT guaranteed to be error-free?

Hell, no! But you also can't trust the code human programmers write. I certainly don't trust any code I write. Code comes out of the code-making process incredibly flawed. There are always bugs. Before you ship, you need to test, test, and test again. Then, alpha test with a few chosen victims. Then beta test with your wider user community. Even after all that, there will be bugs. Just because an AI is playing at this coding thing doesn't mean it can do bug-free code. Do not trust. Always verify. And you still won't have it fully bug-free. Such is the nature of the universe.

How detailed should my description of a programming issue be when asking ChatGPT?

Detailed. Look at it this way: the more you leave open for interpretation, the more the AI will go its own way. When I give prompts to ChatGPT to help me while programming, I imagine I'm assigning a programming task to one of my students or someone who works for me. Did I give that person enough details to go off and create a first draft or will that person have to ask me a ton of additional questions? Worse, will that person have so little guidance that they'll go off in entirely the wrong direction? Don't be lazy here. ChatGPT can save you hours or even days programming (it has for me), but only if you give it useful instructions to begin with.

If I use ChatGPT to write my code, who owns it?

As it turns out, there's not a lot of case law yet to definitively answer this question. The US, Canada, and the UK require something that's copyrighted to have been created by human hands, so code generated by an AI tool may not be copyrightable. There are also issues of liability based on where the training code came from and how the resulting code is used. ZDNET did a deep dive on this topic, spoke to legal experts, and produced the following three articles. If you're concerned about this issue (and if you're using AI to help with code, you should be), I recommend you give them a read.

• Who owns the code? If ChatGPT's AI helps write your app, does it still belong to you?
• If you use AI-generated code, what's your liability exposure?
• A thorny question: Who owns code, images, and narratives generated by AI?

What programming languages does ChatGPT know?

Most of them.  I tested common modern languages , like PHP, Python, Java, Kotlin, Swift, C#, and more. But then I had the tool  write code in obscure dark-age languages like COBOL, Fortran, Forth, LISP, ALGOL, RPG (the report program generator, not the role-playing game), and even IBM/360 assembly language. 

As the icing on the cake, I gave it this prompt:

Write a sequence that displays 'Hello, world' in ascii blinking lights on the front panel of a PDP 8/e

The PDP 8/e was my very first computer , and ChatGPT actually gave me instructions for toggling in a program using front-panel switches. I was impressed, gleeful, and ever so slightly afraid.

Can ChatGPT help me with data analysis and visualization tasks?

Yes, and a lot of it can be done without code. Check out my entire article on this topic:  The moment I realized ChatGPT Plus was a game-changer for my business .

I also did a piece on generated charts and tables:  How to use ChatGPT to make charts and tables

But here's where it gets fun. In the article above, I asked ChatGPT Plus "Make a bar chart of the top five cities in the world by population," and it did. But do you want code? Try asking:

Make a bar chart of the top five cities in the world by population in Swift. Pull the population data from online. Be sure to include any necessary libraries.

By adding "in Swift," you're specifying the programming language. By specifying where the data comes from and forcing ChatGPT Plus to include libraries, it knows to bring in the other resources the program needs. That's why, fundamentally, programming with an AI's help requires you to know things about programming. But if you do, it's cool. Because three sentences can get you a nice chunk of annotated code. Cool, huh?  

How does ChatGPT handle the differences between dialects and implementations of a given programming language?

We don't have exact details on this issue from OpenAI, but our understanding of how ChatGPT is trained can shed some light on this question. Keep in mind that dialects and implementations of programming languages (and their little quirks) change much more rapidly than the full language itself. This reality makes it harder for ChatGPT (and many programming professionals) to keep up.

Also:  How I used ChatGPT to write a custom JavaScript bookmarklet

As such, I'd work off these two assumptions:

• The more recent the dialectic change, the less likely ChatGPT knows about it, and
• The more popular a language overall, the more training data it likely has learned from, and therefore the more accurate it will be.

What's the bottom line? ChatGPT can be a very helpful tool. Just don't ascribe superpowers to it. Yet.

You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz , on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz , on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz , and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV .

• How to use ChatGPT to write Excel formulas
• ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: Which AI chatbot should you use?
• How to use ChatGPT to build your resume
• How does ChatGPT work?
• How to get started using ChatGPT

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How To Use ChatGPT For Keyword Research

ChatGPT for keyword research can be a powerful assistant. Understand any topic for keyword research in minutes with these prompts.

Anyone not using ChatGPT for keyword research is missing a trick.

You can save time and understand an entire topic in seconds instead of hours.

In this article, I outline my most effective ChatGPT prompts for keyword research and teach you how I put them together so that you, too, can take, edit, and enhance them even further.

But before we jump into the prompts, I want to emphasize that you shouldn’t replace keyword research tools or disregard traditional keyword research methods .

ChatGPT can make mistakes. It can even create new keywords if you give it the right prompt. For example, I asked it to provide me with a unique keyword for the topic “SEO” that had never been searched before.

“ Interstellar Internet SEO : Optimizing content for the theoretical concept of an interstellar internet, considering the challenges of space-time and interplanetary communication delays.”

Although I want to jump into my LinkedIn profile and update my title to “Interstellar Internet SEO Consultant,” unfortunately, no one has searched that (and they probably never will)!

You must not blindly rely on the data you get back from ChatGPT.

What you can rely on ChatGPT for is the topic ideation stage of keyword research and inspiration.

ChatGPT is a large language model trained with massive amounts of data to accurately predict what word will come next in a sentence. However, it does not know how to do keyword research yet.

Instead, think of ChatGPT as having an expert on any topic armed with the information if you ask it the right question.

In this guide, that is exactly what I aim to teach you how to do – the most essential prompts you need to know when performing topical keyword research .

Best ChatGPT Keyword Research Prompts

The following ChatGPT keyword research prompts can be used on any niche, even a topic to which you are brand new.

For this demonstration, let’s use the topic of “ SEO ” to demonstrate these prompts.

Generating Keyword Ideas Based On A Topic

What are the {x} most popular sub-topics related to {topic}.

The first prompt is to give you an idea of the niche.

As shown above, ChatGPT did a great job understanding and breaking down SEO into three pillars: on-page , off-page & technical .

The key to the following prompt is to take one of the topics ChatGPT has given and query the sub-topics.

What Are The {X} Most Popular Sub-topics Related To {Sub-topic}?

For this example, let’s query, “What are the most popular sub-topics related to keyword research?”

Having done keyword research for over 10 years, I would expect it to output information related to keyword research metrics, the types of keywords, and intent .

Let’s see.

Again, right on the money.

To get the keywords you want without having ChatGPT describe each answer, use the prompt “list without description.”

Here is an example of that.

List Without Description The Top {X} Most Popular Keywords For The Topic Of {X}

You can even branch these keywords out further into their long-tail .

Example prompt: List Without Description The Top {X} Most Popular Long-tail Keywords For The Topic “{X}”

List Without Description The Top Semantically Related Keywords And Entities For The Topic {X}

You can even ask ChatGPT what any topic’s semantically related keywords and entities are!

Tip: The Onion Method Of Prompting ChatGPT

When you are happy with a series of prompts, add them all to one prompt. For example, so far in this article, we have asked ChatGPT the following:

• What are the four most popular sub-topics related to SEO?
• What are the four most popular sub-topics related to keyword research
• List without description the top five most popular keywords for “keyword intent”?
• List without description the top five most popular long-tail keywords for the topic “keyword intent types”?
• List without description the top semantically related keywords and entities for the topic “types of keyword intent in SEO.”

Combine all five into one prompt by telling ChatGPT to perform a series of steps. Example:

“Perform the following steps in a consecutive order Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, and Step 5”

“Perform the following steps in a consecutive order Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4 and Step 5. Step 1 – Generate an answer for the 3 most popular sub-topics related to {Topic}?. Step 2 – Generate 3 of the most popular sub-topics related to each answer. Step 3 – Take those answers and list without description their top 3 most popular keywords. Step 4 – For the answers given of their most popular keywords, provide 3 long-tail keywords. Step 5 – for each long-tail keyword offered in the response, a list without descriptions 3 of their top semantically related keywords and entities.”

Generating Keyword Ideas Based On A Question

Taking the steps approach from above, we can get ChatGPT to help streamline getting keyword ideas based on a question. For example, let’s ask, “ What is SEO? ”

“Perform the following steps in a consecutive order Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, and Step 4. Step 1 Generate 10 questions about “{Question}”?. Step 2 – Generate 5 more questions about “{Question}” that do not repeat the above. Step 3 – Generate 5 more questions about “{Question}” that do not repeat the above. Step 4 – Based on the above Steps 1,2,3 suggest a final list of questions avoiding duplicates or semantically similar questions.”

Generating Keyword Ideas Using ChatGPT Based On The Alphabet Soup Method

One of my favorite methods, manually, without even using a keyword research tool, is to generate keyword research ideas from Google autocomplete , going from A to Z.

You can also do this using ChatGPT.

Example prompt:

“give me popular keywords that includes the keyword “SEO”, and the next letter of the word starts with a”

Tip : Using the onion prompting method above, we can combine all this in one prompt.

“Give me five popular keywords that include “SEO” in the word, and the following letter starts with a. Once the answer has been done, move on to giving five more popular keywords that include “SEO” for each letter of the alphabet b to z.”

Generating Keyword Ideas Based On User Personas

When it comes to keyword research, understanding user personas is essential for understanding your target audience and keeping your keyword research focused and targeted. ChatGPT may help you get an initial understanding of customer personas.

“For the topic of “{Topic}” list 10 keywords each for the different types of user personas”

You could even go a step further and ask for questions based on those topics that those specific user personas may be searching for:

As well as get the keywords to target based on those questions:

“For each question listed above for each persona, list the keywords, as well as the long-tail keywords to target, and put them in a table”

Generating Keyword Ideas Using ChatGPT Based On Searcher Intent And User Personas

Understanding the keywords your target persona may be searching is the first step to effective keyword research. The next step is to understand the search intent behind those keywords and which content format may work best.

For example, a business owner who is new to SEO or has just heard about it may be searching for “what is SEO.”

However, if they are further down the funnel and in the navigational stage, they may search for “top SEO firms.”

You can query ChatGPT to inspire you here based on any topic and your target user persona.

SEO Example:

“For the topic of “{Topic}” list 10 keywords each for the different types of searcher intent that a {Target Persona} would be searching for”

ChatGPT For Keyword Research Admin

Here is how you can best use ChatGPT for keyword research admin tasks.

Using ChatGPT As A Keyword Categorization Tool

One of the use cases for using ChatGPT is for keyword categorization .

In the past, I would have had to devise spreadsheet formulas to categorize keywords or even spend hours filtering and manually categorizing keywords.

ChatGPT can be a great companion for running a short version of this for you.

Let’s say you have done keyword research in a keyword research tool, have a list of keywords, and want to categorize them.

You could use the following prompt:

“Filter the below list of keywords into categories, target persona, searcher intent, search volume and add information to a six-column table: List of keywords – [LIST OF KEYWORDS], Keyword Search Volume [SEARCH VOLUMES] and Keyword Difficulties [KEYWORD DIFFICUTIES].”

Tip : Add keyword metrics from the keyword research tools, as using the search volumes that a ChatGPT prompt may give you will be wildly inaccurate at best.

Using ChatGPT For Keyword Clustering

Another of ChatGPT’s use cases for keyword research is to help you cluster . Many keywords have the same intent, and by grouping related keywords, you may find that one piece of content can often target multiple keywords at once.

However, be careful not to rely only on LLM data for clustering. What ChatGPT may cluster as a similar keyword, the SERP or the user may not agree with. But it is a good starting point.

The big downside of using ChatGPT for keyword clustering is actually the amount of keyword data you can cluster based on the memory limits.

So, you may find a keyword clustering tool or script that is better for large keyword clustering tasks. But for small amounts of keywords, ChatGPT is actually quite good.

A great use small keyword clustering use case using ChatGPT is for grouping People Also Ask (PAA) questions.

Use the following prompt to group keywords based on their semantic relationships. For example:

“Organize the following keywords into groups based on their semantic relationships, and give a short name to each group: [LIST OF PAA], create a two-column table where each keyword sits on its own row.

Using Chat GPT For Keyword Expansion By Patterns

One of my favorite methods of doing keyword research is pattern spotting.

Most seed keywords have a variable that can expand your target keywords.

Here are a few examples of patterns:

1. Question Patterns

(who, what, where, why, how, are, can, do, does, will)

“Generate [X] keywords for the topic “[Topic]” that contain any or all of the following “who, what, where, why, how, are, can, do, does, will”

2. Comparison Patterns

“Generate 50 keywords for the topic “{Topic}” that contain any or all of the following “for, vs, alternative, best, top, review”

3. Brand Patterns

Another one of my favorite modifiers is a keyword by brand.

We are probably all familiar with the most popular SEO brands; however, if you aren’t, you could ask your AI friend to do the heavy lifting.

“For the top {Topic} brands what are the top “vs” keywords”

4. Search Intent Patterns

One of the most common search intent patterns is “best.”

When someone is searching for a “best {topic}” keyword, they are generally searching for a comprehensive list or guide that highlights the top options, products, or services within that specific topic, along with their features, benefits, and potential drawbacks, to make an informed decision.

“For the topic of “[Topic]” what are the 20 top keywords that include “best”

Again, this guide to keyword research using ChatGPT has emphasized the ease of generating keyword research ideas by utilizing ChatGPT throughout the process.

Keyword Research Using ChatGPT Vs. Keyword Research Tools

Free vs. paid keyword research tools.

Like keyword research tools, ChatGPT has free and paid options.

However, one of the most significant drawbacks of using ChatGPT for keyword research alone is the absence of SEO metrics to help you make smarter decisions.

To improve accuracy, you could take the results it gives you and verify them with your classic keyword research tool – or vice versa, as shown above, uploading accurate data into the tool and then prompting.

However, you must consider how long it takes to type and fine-tune your prompt to get your desired data versus using the filters within popular keyword research tools.

For example, if we use a popular keyword research tool using filters, you could have all of the “best” queries with all of their SEO metrics:

And unlike ChatGPT, generally, there is no token limit; you can extract several hundred, if not thousands, of keywords at a time.

As I have mentioned multiple times throughout this piece, you cannot blindly trust the data or SEO metrics it may attempt to provide you with.

The key is to validate the keyword research with a keyword research tool.

ChatGPT For International SEO Keyword Research

ChatGPT can be a terrific multilingual keyword research assistant.

For example, if you wanted to research keywords in a foreign language such as French. You could ask ChatGPT to translate your English keywords;

But don’t worry, there is a workaround: If you have access to a competitor keyword research tool, you can see what webpage is ranking for that query – and then identify the top keyword for that page based on the ChatGPT translated keywords that do have search volume.

Or, if you don’t have access to a paid keyword research tool, you could always take the top-performing result, extract the page copy, and then ask ChatGPT what the primary keyword for the page is.

Key Takeaway

ChatGPT can be an expert on any topic and an invaluable keyword research tool. However, it is another tool to add to your toolbox when doing keyword research; it does not replace traditional keyword research tools.

As shown throughout this tutorial, from making up keywords at the beginning to inaccuracies around data and translations, ChatGPT can make mistakes when used for keyword research.

You cannot blindly trust the data you get back from ChatGPT.

However, it can offer a shortcut to understanding any topic for which you need to do keyword research and, as a result, save you countless hours.

But the key is how you prompt.

The prompts I shared with you above will help you understand a topic in minutes instead of hours and allow you to better seed keywords using keyword research tools.

It can even replace mundane keyword clustering tasks that you used to do with formulas in spreadsheets or generate ideas based on keywords you give it.

Paired with traditional keyword research tools, ChatGPT for keyword research can be a powerful tool in your arsenal.

More resources:

• Tools Of The Trade: When To Use ChatGPT And When To Use Google 
• What Is ChatGPT & How Can You Use It?
• 8 ChatGPT Alternatives You Can Try In 2024

Featured Image: Tatiana Shepeleva/Shutterstock

Dan Smullen, a News SEO Consultant from Dublin, Ireland has an MBA with a specialism in Marketing from the prestigious ...

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