When it comes to writing a cover letter for a job application, it can be challenging to get it just right. Perhaps your writing lacks a certain spark, or the letter comes across as unfocused.
Instead of relying on AI tools to rewrite your cover letter entirely, consider using them as a writing coach instead. One effective way to do this is by feeding your draft into the AI along with a specific prompt.
Try this prompt: 'Here’s my [email / post / message / draft]. Don’t rewrite it. Read it as a thoughtful editor and tell me: what’s weak, what’s unclear, and where would a reader lose interest or get confused. Be direct — I want your honest assessment, not a polished version.'
This prompt has two key benefits. Firstly, it stops the AI from optimizing your writing sample based on statistical averages, which can result in generic and unoriginal content. Secondly, it encourages the AI to provide a blunt critique of your draft, pointing out where it's vague, meandering, or structurally unsound.
When I used this prompt with ChatGPT's GPT-5.5 “Thinking” model, I received a thorough critique of my recent article. The AI pointed out that the article took too long to get to its core point, and that the news setup overwhelmed the practical lesson.
While the critique was harsh, it was also constructive, highlighting areas for improvement and offering suggestions for how to address them. By using the AI as a writing coach in this way, you can gain valuable insights into your writing and make targeted improvements.
To take your writing to the next level, consider adding a follow-up prompt to your initial critique. Try this: 'Now tell me which issue, if fixed, would do the most for the reader.'
This additional prompt helps to zero in on a critical writing issue, while also keeping you from feeling overwhelmed by the boatload of flaws the AI has identified.
