Most cover letters are generic, forgettable, and ignored. AI can help you write one that’s specific, compelling, and actually gets read — if you give it the right inputs.
Why Generic AI Cover Letters Fail
If you ask Claude “write me a cover letter for a marketing job,” you’ll get a generic cover letter that sounds exactly like every other AI-generated letter. Hiring managers spot them immediately. The trick is giving AI specific inputs.
The Right Prompt (Copy This)
Paste this prompt into Claude, filling in the specifics:
“Write a cover letter for this job posting: [paste the full job description]. My background: [list 3-4 specific achievements with numbers, e.g., ‘grew email list from 2k to 18k subscribers in 8 months’]. The company is [company name] and I know they value [1-2 things from their website/mission]. Tone: confident but not arrogant. No clichés like ‘passionate’ or ‘team player.’ Under 300 words. End with a specific call to action.”
Making It Sound Like You
After Claude writes the draft: 1) Replace any generic phrases with your actual voice. 2) Add one sentence that shows you researched the company specifically. 3) Lead with your strongest achievement, not “I’m excited to apply for…”
The Follow-Up Email
Haven’t heard back in 7 days? Prompt: “Write a brief, non-desperate follow-up email for a [job title] application at [company] I submitted [date]. Express continued interest, add one new reason I’d be valuable, and ask about timeline. Under 100 words.”
LinkedIn Connection Request
After applying, find the hiring manager on LinkedIn. Prompt: “Write a LinkedIn connection request (under 300 characters) to the hiring manager at [company]. I just applied for [role]. Personal, not salesy.”