There might be nothing job seekers dread more than writing up cover letter after cover letter. But could an
According to the American Staffing Association, nearly 40% of job seekers have used AI tools to apply for jobs — and as AI capabilities continue to grow, so will the number of people utilizing it. But job seekers may still be nervous about integrating AI into their search because the
"The job search is incredibly time-consuming, especially if you're doing it the right way," he says. "If you're taking the time to really analyze job postings, and then tailor your application materials, meaning your resume and your cover letter, that's going to take you a lot of time. So in my experience, using AI to support your efforts is incredibly viable."
Read more:
But just because
Pick the right AI tool
Depending on the job seeker's skill level, Spencer suggests two routes: If someone is just starting their career, they may want to look at an AI tool that specializes in cover letters; if they have more experience writing cover letters, they can likely use a more general AI tool like Chat GPT to generate ideas rather than a cover letter itself.
"I might need something that could write a custom cover letter for me, then make edits and tweaks to ensure it's accurate and in my style," says Spencer. "If I have more time and a [higher] skill lever, I might go for a tool that only does a little bit of the work for me."
Read more:
Spencer advises job seekers to always check the AI's work, regardless of the tool. This may mean familiarizing yourself with cover letter templates and examples for the desired role or industry, as well as refining how the tools discuss your experiences and passion for the role.
Know how to prompt AI
Beyond providing a template, AI can help the user narrow down what they should mention in their cover letter. Any good cover letter includes a show of genuine interest in the role and company and three to five examples of experiences or accomplishments that demonstrate why you would be successful in the role, notes Spencer. AI can ensure the job seeker does just that.
"I would probably start with a prompt like, 'Based on the following job description, what are the top needs and priorities for the employer hiring for this role?' Then I would copy and paste in the job description," says Spencer. "Another similar one, 'Based on the following job description, what are the top five responsibilities for someone in this role that they would need to carry out?'"
Read more:
Especially with a tool like ChatGPT, it's important for the user to be specific. If they are using AI to write the entire first draft of a cover letter, Spencer advises users to indicate a specific tone (professional, creative or witty for example), the length, key points, the target audience and their resume. The more context, the better, says Spencer.
"I personally would never recommend opening up a general AI tool and saying, 'Please write a cover letter for me for this job,'" he warns. "It's going to have a lot of inaccuracies and untrue information about you."
Don't let AI fears hold you back
Spencer emphasizes that AI cannot produce the perfect cover letter, but it can generate ideas or provide the structure that leads to an effective cover letter. In other words, AI is another tool that the user still has complete control over. Ultimately, it shouldn't even be obvious a job seeker used AI on their resume or cover letter.
Read more:
"There is a misconception that recruiters and hiring managers can tell really quickly you used AI and discount you," says Spencer. "But if you're using AI in the right way I've described, people aren't going to be able to tell."
Spencer is confident that if job seekers grow more comfortable with AI, they will have an easier time applying for jobs. It's just a matter of investing some time now into learning which tools they like and how to prompt it.
"If you can implement strategies to maximize that productivity and efficiency while maintaining or even increasing your chances of success, then I'm all for it," says Spencer. "I just encourage people to check out the tool available and make sure they use it the right way."
