Writing a cover letter can be painfully slow. You sit there staring at the screen, trying to figure out how to sound professional without overdoing it, tweaking sentences over and over until you get bored and just want to give up.12 Yeah, simply writing those lines reminds me of bad memories. Thankfully for all of us, AI has stepped in to give us a little help, and there are now many AI tools to help us get started, skipping the "I don't know what to write" phase, and speeding up the process of landing that next job.34 But like any tool, it's only as good as how you use it. So let's dig into how to make those AI work for you, including the best tools, prompts, and a few examples I've personally found helpful.56

First off, let's answer the big question: Why even use AI for cover letters? The answer is quite simple: because it helps you save time and (a lot of) frustration, letting you overcome the blank page so you don't have to start from scratch.12 Now, is it perfect? Of course not. But that's where you come in. AI can lay down the outline of your cover letter, taking what you wrote on your resume to make it shine in words, but you'll want to sprinkle in your own personality and touch to make sure it sounds like, well, you.34 The idea isn't to let AI do all the work; it's to give you a head start when your creative juices just aren't flowing.56

There are actually quite a few AI tools that can help you write a solid cover letter, but here are the ones that I've found most helpful (after a bit of trial and error):

• ChatGPT: If you're looking for something flexible, this is it. You can pretty much have a full conversation with ChatGPT, giving it details about the job and your experience, and it'll come up with a decent first draft.

• Copy.ai: Copy AI is best if you want to go fast and are looking for a user-friendly and quick tool. You can just type in the job role, and you'll get a ready-made cover letter template. I like that it doesn't take long to generate something you can actually use—perfect for when you're applying to multiple jobs.1

• Jasper: Jasper for me is like the Swiss Army knife of AI cover letter tools. While it;s originally a writing tool, it has a specific mode for writing cover letters, and you can customize the tone and style a bit more, which is nice if you're trying to match the vibe of a specific company.

• Zety: Zety is best if you're looking for more than just a cover letter AI generator since it offers templates and expert tips alongside its AI tool. If you're someone who likes structure and advice while writing, this one might be the right tool for you.

Now, here's where the magic happens: the prompts. You can't just say, "Write me a cover letter," and expect something good. The key is being specific—but like, really specific. Here's a prompt I like to use:

• "Write a cover letter for a [job title] role at [company name], focusing on my [experience/skill] in [specific field]."

• "Help me create a cover letter for a junior web developer position. Highlight my coding skills in Python and my recent project building a web app."

• "Write a cover letter that shows my five years of experience in social media marketing, with a focus on content strategy and paid media."

See what I'm doing here? The more details you give, the more relevant the result will be.

Real Examples (Yes, From AI)
Just to give you a sense of how AI-generated cover letters look in action, I've thrown together a couple of examples. Keep in mind, I still tweaked them a bit afterward—and you should probably do the same: letting the AI come up with the first draft, and fine-tuning it to match your tone of voice and experiences.

Example 1: Marketing Manager Role
Job Description: We're looking for a marketing manager with experience in digital marketing campaigns and brand strategy.

AI-Generated Cover Letter:
Dear Hiring Manager,

I'm excited to apply for the Marketing Manager position at [Company Name]. With over five years of experience managing digital campaigns, I've honed my ability to create impactful strategies that boost brand awareness and drive engagement. At my previous company, I led an SEO-driven content strategy that increased organic traffic by 20%. I've also managed paid media campaigns, where I was able to lower the cost-per-click by 15% while growing our lead generation efforts by 30%. I'm drawn to [Company Name] because of your innovative approach to marketing, and I'd love the opportunity to contribute to your team's continued success.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Example 2: Entry-Level Software Engineer
Job Description: We're looking for an entry-level software engineer with knowledge of Python and Java.

AI-Generated Cover Letter:
Dear Hiring Manager,

I'm writing to express my interest in the Software Engineer role at [Company Name]. I recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science, where I gained extensive experience in Python and Java through various projects and internships. In my most recent project, I developed a web application using Python that streamlined user interactions, which sparked my passion for building efficient and scalable systems. I'm eager to bring my enthusiasm for coding and my problem-solving skills to [Company Name]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to contributing to your team.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Not bad, right? After the AI has given you a draft, you'll want to personalize it and make it your own. A few ways to do that:

• Mention the company directly: Reference something specific about the company or role that caught your attention.

• Include a personal anecdote: If something about the company's mission speaks to you, mention why. Maybe you've followed them for years, or you've used their products—whatever makes it feel more personal.

• Tweak the tone: Depending on the company, you can adjust how formal or casual the letter sounds. If it's a startup, you might want a more relaxed tone. For a corporate gig, keep it buttoned up.

At the end of the day, AI-generated cover letters are a nice shortcut through the toughest part of the job application process, but you shouldn't solely rely on them to land your dream job.12 Sure, they can help you get past the blank page, giving you something to work with when you just don't know where to start, but they will never write exactly like you and add the right amount of personality that is needed to catch the eye of a recruiter.34 So, even if I do recommend you to start using AI tools to help with cover letter writing, you should still be sure to add that personal touch before hitting "send." After all, the best cover letter is the one that sounds like you.56