Tips for Humanizing AI Writing to Craft Standout Cover Letters

It’s no secret how difficult job hunting is in this day and age. The search is practically a job in itself. Updating and tailoring a resume can be exhausting on its own, but who has time to write a new cover letter for every new job opportunity? 

From automated templates to advanced writing assistants, technology has changed how job seekers craft their applications. While these tools can save time and produce well-structured content, they often lack the personal touch that employers value.

Your cover letter is the impression your future boss gets of you, not just what you’ve done. There’s a slim difference between cover letters that get you ghosted versus called in for an interview. You need to strike a balance between efficiency and personality, and AI tools can help you.

Being Smart With AI

Step 1: Pick Your Tool

ChatGPT and Claude are the most popular go-tos for those wanting to use AI to streamline tedious processes in their lives. However, if you’re searching for AI assistants as well as a new job, AMA Interview covered the Top 5 AI Tools for cover letter generation. Pick one you’re comfortable with, then let it optimize your process.

Step 2: Provide Relevant Information About Yourself

• Resume 

• Relevant experience

• Any case studies or anecdotes

Step 3: Provide Relevant Information About the Company

• Job description

• Company Values

• Any notable projects or industry impact

Step 4: Smart Prompting

Using tools like ChatGPT allows you to generate a first draft almost instantaneously, but how you prompt it makes all the difference. 

First, you may want to consider “priming” your generative AI with a prompt such as:

You are a cover letter generator. Your task is to create enthusiastic and concise cover letters. I am going to input a resume and job description for you to take details from. (300-400 words)

Rather than simply saying "Write me a cover letter,” ChatGPT itself suggests more detailed prompts such as:

Using the experience and skills in my resume, write a compelling cover letter for [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Emphasize my [specific skills or achievements you want highlighted], and align my experience with the job’s main responsibilities. Make it sound [formal/friendly/enthusiastic]. Address it to [Hiring Manager's Name if known].

Or, as another example:

Compose a compelling cover letter where you scrutinize the job description for key qualifications. Begin with a succinct introduction about the candidate's identity and career goals. Highlight skills aligned with the job, underpinned by tangible examples. Incorporate details about the company, emphasizing its mission or unique aspects that align with the candidate's values. Conclude by reaffirming the candidate's suitability, inviting further discussion. Use job-specific terminology for a tailored and impactful letter, maintaining a professional style suitable for the following role: [paste role description]

The University of Washington provides an excellent guide for the key elements of a great cover letter. It’s a good idea to read this or a similar how-to to achieve a clearer direction in approaching your cover letter. 

Remember, generative AI loves structure. The more you can provide, the better the first draft you’ll receive. 

But what if your first draft, while perfectly structured and representative of your experience, just sounds too robotic? Well, that’s where AI humanizers can help.

Using AI to Humanize

The biggest risks of relying solely on generative AI include:

• Tone mismatch (too robotic or too casual)

• Vagueness (a generic language with no specific examples)

• Lack of personal voice (no hint of your unique personality)

Learn how to recognize when text sounds robotic, either by reading it out loud or cutting extra fluff. 

This is where an AI humanizer and detector tool like WriteHuman can be especially useful. This can transform your AI-generated content into a product that is both effective and undetectable!

Recruiters are getting better at spotting generic AI writing, and being caught using it can hurt your credibility. The goal is to make the writing sound like you without having to spend as much of your own valuable time and effort on it. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Add personal anecdotes or specifics. You cannot expect AI to know the details about a mentor’s influence, specific projects you’ve worked on, or why the exact reasons a role excites you.

• Check and adjust the tone. Watch for the overuse of clichés and filler phrases. Rephrase passive voice or generic lines. Smooth over robotic language with tools like WriteHuman.

• Inject personality and voice. Add phrases or expressions you use. Read the letter out loud and rephrase pieces to better convey your authenticity. Search for the balance of professionalism with warmth.

• Tailor for the role: Manually add keywords from the job description. Reference the company’s mission and show how you and your recent work align with it.

Check out how different people are using AI to craft their cover letters in this Career Village article.

Final Checklist

Before you send your letter off to your professional prospects, ask yourself:

• Have you proofread carefully?

• Have you added value beyond what AI could generate? 

• Is the tone appropriate for the role and company?

• Is the letter clear and cohesive?

• Does the letter sound like something you’d say? As in, does it represent you as a person and an employee?

• If you were able to find a good cover letter sample that was effective with this company or others, how does yours compare?

• Send your draft back into an AI model to get any final feedback.

Once satisfied, send off your optimized letter with confidence!

Final Thoughts

AI is a great writing partner, but not a replacement for your voice. Use the above techniques to save time, but don’t treat the first draft spit out by an LLM as your best and final product.

Let humanizing tools polish your work, and allow your unique personality to shine through until your AI use is undetectable. 

A standout cover letter feels tailored, straightforward, and above all, human.