What each part of the prompt does
- A reason, not a formula
- Banning the standard opening line forces the letter to start with [WHY THEM]. A specific reason to want this company is something a recruiter rarely sees in the first sentence, and it shows you did more than click apply.
- The proof story
- Situation, action and change is the shape interviewers use when they ask about past work. Putting it in the letter gives the reader a concrete picture of you doing the job before they ever meet you.
- Growth as a fit
- Junior and mid-level candidates often hide what they want to learn. Framing [GROWTH GOAL] as part of why the role fits turns ambition into a reason to hire you instead of a hint that you might leave.
- Weakest sentences
- The closing request makes ChatGPT reread its own draft and point at the two lines doing the least work. Fixing those is usually faster than rewriting the whole letter from scratch.
Variations to try
Same idea, one thing changed.
Career changer Write a cover letter for the [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY]. What you have to work with: - The job posting: [JOB POSTING] - Why I want this company in particular: [WHY THEM] - One piece of work I am proud of that matches the role: [PROOF STORY] - Skills and tools I use day to day: [SKILLS] - Where I want to grow next: [GROWTH GOAL] - Years of experience and current role: [EXPERIENCE] How to build it: 1. Opening: one or two sentences that name the role and give my reason for wanting this company, using [WHY THEM]. Do not open with "I am writing to apply". 2. Middle: I am moving into this field from a different one. Tell [PROOF STORY] as a short story and spell out which part of it transfers to this role. 3. Second paragraph: show two skills from [SKILLS] that the posting asks for, each tied to something I actually did, and name the field I learned them in. 4. Close: say in one sentence how [GROWTH GOAL] fits the role, then ask for a conversation. Rules: - Under 300 words, four short paragraphs, plain text. - Use only facts I gave you. If the story needs a detail I did not provide, write [DETAIL?] in its place. - Match the tone of the posting: formal if it is formal, relaxed if it is relaxed. After the letter, list the two weakest sentences and suggest a sharper version of each.
Short email version Write a short application email for the [JOB TITLE] role at [COMPANY], to send with my resume attached. What you have to work with: - The job posting: [JOB POSTING] - Why I want this company in particular: [WHY THEM] - One piece of work I am proud of that matches the role: [PROOF STORY] - Skills and tools I use day to day: [SKILLS] - Where I want to grow next: [GROWTH GOAL] - Years of experience and current role: [EXPERIENCE] How to build it: 1. A subject line with the role title and my name. 2. One sentence with my reason for wanting this company. 3. Two sentences on [PROOF STORY] and the requirement it proves. 4. One sentence on [GROWTH GOAL] and a request for a call. Rules: - Under 120 words, plain text. - Use only facts I gave you. If something is missing, write [DETAIL?]. After the email, list the weakest sentence and suggest a sharper version.
If the result isn't right
- Pick a [PROOF STORY] where you can name what was different afterwards, even something small like a page that loaded faster or a report a manager started using every week.
- If [WHY THEM] is hard to write, spend ten minutes on the company blog, changelog or recent interviews before running the prompt; a vague reason reads worse than none.
- Read the finished letter aloud. Any sentence you would not say to the hiring manager in person should go.
- Keep each version with the date and company in one document, so you can reuse a strong paragraph without mixing up company names.