In a recent live session, I tried something new. Instead of just giving tips, I shared my screen and built a cover letter from the ground up using AI. Here’s exactly what I did, so you can follow along and try it yourself in a few minutes.
Remember, AI can’t replace your personality or unique experiences. It’s just a starting point, and the first draft often sounds a bit stiff. The goal isn’t to avoid effort, but to use your time wisely.
Step 1: Grab a Real Job Posting
I picked a marketing manager job ad from LinkedIn, copied it, and pasted it into a new document. The more details you give your AI tool, the better it can match your background to the job.
Step 2: Keep a Draft Resume on Hand
For projects like this, I always keep a demo version of my resume ready, with my contact details removed. I suggest you do the same, so you don’t have to search for it when you’re applying.
Step 3: Write One Clear Prompt
The prompt was: “Compare the job description with my resume and write a one-page cover letter which meets the specific requirements of this position and links them to my own experience in such a way that I am presented as the only suitable candidate for the role.”
I put the job ad, my resume, and that prompt into Perplexity. You could also use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. In less than thirty seconds, it created a full cover letter that matched my background to the company’s needs, even picking up details like my part-time teaching.
Step 4: Spot the AI Tells
Be careful about this. The draft began with phrases such as ‘I am Watch out for this. The draft started with phrases like ‘I am writing to express my strong interest,’ which recruiters see all the time and quickly spot as AI-generated. Also, AI tools often use a lot of em dashes. If you see several in your draft, take it as a sign to slow down and revise. Most people don’t. You should use Grammarly or the editor in Word to go over your draft and ensure that it sounds like your own voice. Alter the general opening sentences, get rid of the em dashes, and include a specific detail that only you would know. Since AI can’t show your personality, that personal touch can win you the interview.
It used to take all evening to find a job that fit your resume and write a cover letter. Now, you can get a first draft in under a minute, giving you more time for what matters. Pick a job you really want, use the prompt, and edit your letter; your next job could depend on it.
I host a free live session like this every week as part of the 60 Days to Hired Network. You can join by clicking here. For more tips, check out my book, 60 Days to Hired, available wherever books are sold.
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