Yes, you can use ChatGPT—but please, don’t sound like it.
Let’s be honest: writing a cover letter sucks. It’s awkward, formal, and usually ends up sounding like a cringe-filled cocktail of business jargon and vague flattery. Worse still, in the age of AI, half the job seekers out there are submitting letters that read like a robot learning English for the first time.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “Wait… I used AI to write mine,” — don’t panic. It’s not the use of AI that’s the problem. It’s when the finished letter sounds like it was printed off the same template used by 5,000 other hopefuls who all swear they’re “excited to bring their passion for innovation” to a company they just heard about yesterday.
So, how do you write a cover letter that sounds like a living, breathing, slightly stressed but totally qualified human wrote it?
Let’s walk through it, step by step:
Step 1: Kill the Boring Greeting. Seriously, Kill It.
If your letter starts with:
“Dear Sir or Madam,”
Or worse,
“To Whom It May Concern,”
Congratulations — you’ve already lost them.
It’s 2025. Unless you’re applying to become a medieval knight, there’s no excuse for that kind of stiff, outdated intro.
Instead, try something like:
- “Dear [Team Name] at [Company],”
- “Dear Creative Minds at [Company],”
- Or if you really can’t find a name: “Dear [Company] Hiring Team,”
Don’t overthink it, but at least sound like you tried.
Step 2: Don’t Start With “I’m Writing to Express…” Just Don’t.
Every hiring manager on earth has seen this sentence 8,000 times. It goes like this:
“I’m writing to express my interest in the Marketing Coordinator position at your esteemed company.”
No. Just—no.
Start with a hook, something that tells a story, shows personality, or immediately makes them pay attention. Example:
“In 2022, I convinced my boss to let me run a TikTok campaign that had no budget and no rules. We went viral. I want to do that kind of work for you.”
Or:
“When I saw your job posting, I paused Netflix, shut my laptop, and opened my resume. That’s how serious I am.”
Is it a little cheeky? Sure. But guess what? They’ll keep reading.
Step 3: Don’t Just List Your Resume. Show Some Personality.
AI-generated letters tend to sound like this:
“I have five years of experience managing digital content, with a strong focus on SEO, engagement, and metrics-driven growth.”
Yawn.
That’s just a dry rehash of your resume. It tells them nothing about what kind of coworker you’d be, or how you think.
Instead, tell a quick story or add some flavor:
“At my last job, I turned a blog no one read into one of the top traffic sources in just six months—mostly through caffeine, memes, and some very strategic content planning.”
That tells them what you did and how you do it. It’s memorable, relatable, and human.
Step 4: Actually Talk About the Company (Like You Read More Than the Job Title)
Don’t just say:
“I admire your company’s values and culture.”
You could say that to anyone. You want to sound like you chose this company for a reason.
Try this:
“Your recent sustainability campaign, especially the coffee-cup composting initiative, blew my mind. It’s rare to see a company that creative—and that’s the kind of environment I want to be in.”
Now you’re speaking to them, not at them.
Step 5: Close With Confidence, Not Desperation
We’ve all seen this ending:
“Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to your esteemed organization.”
Look, it’s not bad, but it’s… limp. You want to close strong.
Try:
“Let’s talk. I’d love to bring my ideas—and maybe some snacks—to your next team meeting.”
Or:
“If you’re looking for someone who can write, edit, pitch, and laugh through tight deadlines, I’m your person. Let’s chat.”
You’re not groveling. You’re showing up.
BONUS: How to AI-Proof Your Letter (Even if You Used AI to Write It)
So maybe you did use ChatGPT to help you draft your cover letter. That’s okay. Just don’t hit copy-paste and send. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t read like every other AI-generated block of meh:
✅ Use contractions
AI often avoids them. You should sound casual and human: “I’m” instead of “I am,” “you’ll” instead of “you will.”
✅ Add specific details
Mention a campaign, a blog post, or a product they launched that caught your attention.
✅ Break the rules (a little)
Use sentence fragments for effect. Ask a rhetorical question. Throw in a joke (if appropriate). Real humans do that. Bots don’t.
✅ Read it out loud
If you can’t imagine saying it in real life, cut it.
Final Sample: Human-Sounding Cover Letter Excerpt
Dear Creative Team at Blueberry Media,
When I read your job posting for a Content Strategist, I grinned. Not because I fit the description (though I do), but because I’ve been quoting your “Millennial vs. Gen Z” ad campaign to my friends for weeks.
I’ve spent the last three years crafting content that people actually want to engage with. From blogs and newsletters to chaotic-but-effective TikTok clips, I know how to balance strategy with personality.
I’d love to bring that same energy to your team. Let’s talk.
Now compare that to:
I am writing to express my interest in the position of Content Strategist at your esteemed company. My skills and experience make me a perfect fit for your organization…
No contest.
Final Thought: Don’t Sound Perfect. Sound Real.
The irony? Some AI-generated letters are technically flawless. But that’s the problem—they feel too clean, too distant, too boring.
Your cover letter shouldn’t sound like it came from a sterile HR database. It should sound like you—a capable, interesting, unique person with ideas, passion, and maybe just the right amount of sarcasm.
If you want to impress a hiring manager, don’t just tell them you’re excited. Show it. Don’t say you’re a “team player.” Be one. And for the love of job security, don’t let your cover letter read like it was assembled by a toaster with a Wi-Fi connection.