Copy this prompt to Claude/ChatGPT to create a compelling, personalized cover letter.
You're writing a cover letter that feels personal and inevitable, not templated. Connect my specific experience to their specific needs.
JOB ANALYSIS: [PASTE OUTPUT FROM JOB ANALYSIS PROMPT - insights about what they really want]
MY PROFESSIONAL NARRATIVE: [PASTE OUTPUT FROM NARRATIVE BUILDER PROMPT - your achievements and positioning]
COMPANY RESEARCH: [ADD ANY ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ABOUT THE COMPANY - recent news, culture, challenges, etc.]
SPECIFIC JOB POSTING: [PASTE THE ACTUAL JOB POSTING - for direct reference and context]
Hook with specific relevance
- Reference something specific about the role/company that caught your attention
- Connect to a relevant achievement or experience
- Avoid: "I am excited to apply..." or "I saw your posting..."
- Include: Specific reason this role makes sense for your career
Match their biggest need with your strongest example
- Identify the primary challenge/requirement from job analysis
- Share specific achievement that directly addresses it
- Include metrics and business impact
- Connect the dots explicitly between their need and your experience
What makes you inevitable for this role
- Highlight 1-2 unique aspects of your background
- Address any potential concerns proactively
- Show understanding of their business/market context
- Demonstrate cultural fit through examples
What you'd focus on in the role
- Show you understand the role's priorities
- Share your approach to key challenges they face
- Reference specific aspects of their business/product
- Demonstrate strategic thinking about the opportunity
Professional and confident close
- Reaffirm fit and interest
- Professional next steps
- Avoid desperate language
- Include: Confidence in mutual value
- Professional but human - not corporate speak
- Confident, not arrogant - let achievements speak
- Specific, not generic - everything should be tailored
- Authentic enthusiasm - genuine interest, not fake passion
- Every paragraph references their specific situation
- All achievements are quantified and verifiable
- Clear connection between your experience and their needs
- Shows you understand their business, not just the job description
- Addresses potential concerns without drawing attention to them
- 3-4 paragraphs, 250-400 words total
- Scannable structure with clear flow
- Professional formatting
- Error-free grammar and spelling
- Company name and role title exact match
Before finalizing:
- Opening grabs attention with specific relevance
- Each paragraph directly addresses their needs
- Includes 2-3 quantified achievements
- Shows understanding of their business context
- Feels personal, not templated
- Confident but not presumptuous tone
- No generic corporate language
- All company/role details accurate
- Perfect grammar and formatting
❌ Generic openings: "I am writing to express my interest..." ❌ Fake passion: "I've always been passionate about your mission..." ❌ Obvious templating: Could be sent to any company ❌ Overselling: Claims that sound too good to be true ❌ Desperate language: "It would be an honor..." or "Please consider..." ❌ Repeating resume: Just listing same achievements differently ❌ Length issues: Either too short (under 200 words) or too long (over 500)
Provide the complete cover letter in professional business format, followed by brief notes on:
- Strategic positioning choices made
- How it addresses their specific needs
- Key differentiators highlighted
- Any concerns proactively addressed
The letter should feel like it could only have been written for this specific role at this specific company.