How to use AI to write the perfect CV and cover letter
Do you have a valuable skill set? Great! But can you sell it effectively?
Having valuable skills is one thing and to be able to sell it is another. If you cannot sell your skills, you will not be able to land good jobs.
CV writing has emerged as a valuable skill in the modern job market. It is the very first impression you make on your potential employers. And as we know, “First impression is the last impression,” so your CV should represent you at its best.
But crafting a winning CV can be daunting. What if there was a way to make this process easier, faster, and more effective?
I have been using modern artificial intelligence tools to create tailored CVs and cover letters for quite a long time now. They effectively highlight my skills, experience, and personality through words.
So let’s explore how you can use AI to write the perfect CV and cover letter.
Why Use AI for CVs and Cover Letters?
AI is making its mark in every aspect of our daily life now. Creating winning resumes, CVs and cover letters is not an exception.
Using these tools can provide many benefits, some of them are:
They save a lot of time by automating tedious aspects.
AI tools analyze job descriptions to customize your CV and cover letter.
AI optimizes the structure, format, and language to improve the readability.
They eliminate grammar and spelling errors to make your resume look professional.
AI includes relevant keywords to increase your chances of getting noticed.
Choosing the right AI tool
You can find a lot of different options when you go looking for an AI to write your CV and cover letter. Different tools provide different services. You have to find what aspect you are most weak at. Then hand over that aspect to AI.
Some tools that I use for my job-hunting process are:
Grammarly: It is an excellent tool for grammar and style checks. I use it to ensure my CV maintains a professional tone and to check readability level, so it's clear and easy for readers to understand.
ChatGPT: Then I used this tool to write about my experiences and create job descriptions, but the format and style felt too robotic. It was clear the content was AI-generated, so i used another tool for this
Paragraph Generator: Another popular AI tool that can mimic any format and style of writing. While this paragraph generator isn’t for writing cv content, still it can be helpful. For instance, I use it to write paragraphs about my experiences, skills and expertise. The tools provide me with valuable content based on my requirements. I then make it short and include all the key points that I need to make my CV look more professional.
My CV Creator and Resume.io: My CV Creator and Resume.io are invaluable tools for me. They provide templates and AI suggestions that make it easy to create a well-organized CV.
Jobscan: This tool specializes in optimizing CVs for applicant testing systems by scanning job descriptions and suggesting keywords to include in your CV and cover letters.
The process of creating the perfect CV with AI
AI works wonders if used properly. You have to use proper commands to get the best of these AI tools. Let me break down the whole process for you, so you can do it eventually.
Choose the right template
If your template is not right, you might not make it to the next recruitment process. Almost 73% of hiring managers say that they are more likely to interview a candidate whose resume is visually appealing.
So choose a template that suits your industry. Online platforms like My CV Creator and Resume.io provide a wide range of templates for every industry.
Input your information
Fill in the template you have chosen for your CV accordingly. The most important things to include in a CV are personal details, education, work experience, skills, and certifications.
You can add more sections like interests, languages, digital skills, and volunteer work according to your industry trends.
The order of these sections can vary depending on your application and industry standards. But try to highlight the skills section of your CV as 41% of recruiters focus on that section — Mckinsey.
Optimize your CV with keywords
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan CVs for specific keywords. AI-powered tools like Jobscan analyze job descriptions and highlight keywords you should incorporate into your CV.
Each company and job opening has specific keywords, including them in your application will help you target them. Your CV will align with the ATS algorithms, which will increase your likelihood of passing the initial screening process.
Tailor your CV for each application
Not only keywords but also experiences and skills should match the job description. For that, you have to modify your CV each time you apply for a new job.
Almost 63% of recruiters like CVs that are personalized to the job position. For that AI tools suggest the most relevant skills to emphasize and experiences for each role, ensuring your CV is never generic.
Review and Revise
Having typos and grammatical mistakes on a CV weakens your cause. To avoid them, let AI tools analyze your words and suggest improvements.
Hiring managers say that 60% of CVs they receive have typos. — CareerBuilder.
Using AI will place you in the other 40% of applicants who do not have any mistakes in their applications.
Crafting a perfect cover letter with AI
A cover letter is your chance to tell your story and explain why you’re the right fit for the job. Here’s how AI can help you write an impressive cover letter:
Start with a strong opening
Employers rarely read the whole document, most of the time they just give it a bird’s eye view. Even 25% of employers spend only 30 seconds or less on the application documents. —CV help
So, you need an eye-catching opening line to draw them in. Other AI tools, like the AI answer generator, can quickly create these lines for you. This tool excels at generating engaging lines, short content, answers, and anything else you need.
Highlight relevant skills and experiences
Using AI’s analyzing power, you will be able to identify what skills and experiences are most relevant to the job description. Then highlight them using templates and fonts.
They can also suggest ways to frame your experiences to align with what the employer is looking for. For example, if the job requires project management skills, the AI might suggest highlighting your experience in managing projects, even if that wasn’t your primary role.
Use the right tone and language
Different industries and companies have different expectations for cover letters. AI tools can help you adjust the tone and language of your letter to match the company’s culture, whether that’s formal, casual, or somewhere in between.
Personalize each letter
It seems very easy to use the same cover letter for multiple applications, but personalization is key. AI helps tailor each cover letter by incorporating specific details from the job description, making each letter unique.
Imagine doing that manually for each job—it's time-consuming and tedious.
Conclude with confidence
Employers might not read every cover letter, but it’s still important. Use it to express your interest in the position, highlight relevant experience, and encourage the recruiter to take action, like scheduling an interview.
Common mistakes to avoid while using AI
AI is powerful and sometimes may outsmart you, but it is not foolproof. You have to review each line generated by it. Keep the following things under check while using any AI tool for a CV or cover letter writing.
AI is known to use jargon in the content it generates, which is said to be the biggest mistake candidates make by 60% of recruiters (McKinsey). So keep an eye on them and ensure the readability of your documents.
Do not make your CV or cover letter longer than expected. The average length of a CV is considered to be 2 or 3 pages.
AI can suggest things to add to the CV that you may not have experienced or skilled at. Do not include anything like that in your application documents.
Some recruiters avoid hiring candidates who use AI tools. If you write your job descriptions with ChatGPT, they might use AI detectors to identify AI in your CV. To stand out, make sure your writing sounds natural and human, not robotic.
Final thoughts
Job markets are getting more competitive day by day. To keep up with this much competition, you have to make your learning process faster.
Job seeking is also a skill in this modern economy and you have to master it along with other skills you are working on. Without this very skill, you will not be able to market yourself.
AI tools are helping job seekers create, personalize, and improve their job application documents like CVs and cover letters. Embrace these AI tools to get hired faster.
Take help from this article in order to choose the right AI tool and its usage in your job-seeking journey. Share it with your friends as well so they can get some help too.