With the October budget setting out plans to increase employer tax by £25bn from April 2025, including a 1.2% hike in employer national insurance to 15%,1 many companies will be cutting back on hiring. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to make your CV stand out in a challenging job market. Shockingly, more than half (56.5%) of cover letters are now likely generated by artificial intelligence, which often lacks the personal touch employers seek when reviewing thousands of applications.
In light of this, Digital PR Agency Reboot Online, analysed applications submitted to them using app.originality.ai to identify trends between AI and non-AI cover letters. They also collaborated with Christoph C.Cemper, founder of AIPRM, who shares his top advice for using AI in job applications to showcase skill and professionalism rather than reliance. Here he outlines how to incorporate AI into your cover letters effectively:
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Tailor your prompt to the job that you’re applying for
Detailing relevant information from the job description in your prompt will allow the AI model to discern which skills are relevant to the role and highlight them appropriately. Having ChatGPT first analyse the job description for required skills that are both explicit and implicit in the language used in the description, allows you to craft a cover letter that ticks all of the recruiter’s boxes. Use this as a guide for your cover letter, rather than a carbon-copy template, as if you don’t have the experience to quantify a skill, you will come up short somewhere in the process.
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Draft, draft, and draft again
Using an AI-produced cover letter as part of your job application without first proofreading and editing is a recipe for disaster. Always copy the response to your prompt into an editable document so that you can iterate upon it. Make sure to fact-check any claims produced by the model, such as key company details for the job you’re applying for, to ensure accuracy. Check the language used sounds human and natural, and that your own tone of voice comes through. The cover letter allows applicants to be slightly more personable with the hiring manager, not allowing your authenticity to shine through is a missed opportunity.
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Where buzzwords from the job description are used, back up with your own experience
Buzzwords combined with substance and experience show expertise, buzzwords without those are exactly that – buzzwords. The AI model will likely have lifted these from the job description, so ensure you’re detailing examples that are grounded in real-life experience, as well as data-led statistics. This “show, don’t tell” method is the best way of proving your fit for the role, as well as reducing the likelihood of AI detection.
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Use AI tools to supplement your application
Generative AI has developed exponentially over the past months and years, and neglecting to utilise it where it could further your application is a rookie mistake when businesses are looking for applicants with AI skills. Could you use an AI image generator like DALL-E or Midjourney to mock up a campaign idea that you have according to their brand guidelines? Could you demonstrate a prompt that you use regularly to streamline administrative tasks in your workload? Demonstrating your AI capabilities is more important than ever before.
Shai Aharony, CEO and founder of Reboot Online, stated “The job market recently has been tough, and it’s natural that applicants may resort to taking shortcuts to increase the volume of applications they’re sending out. Being in a creative industry though, I did find it concerning that more applicants didn’t use the cover letter to their advantage by telling their own unique story. The cover letter is an opportunity to demonstrate genuine interest and helps the hiring manager understand a little bit more of the authentic ‘you’, it gives you the chance to stand out, so don’t miss it.”
Shai elaborated, “That being said, the use of AI to help structure a job application wouldn’t automatically rule out a candidate for me. In some cases, it could even show initiative, as long as the use of AI is creative, supplements the application and shows skill relevant to the field and job role.”
Top 5 most commonly used AI sentences in cover letters
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Common AI Sentences |
Percentage probability of AI |
Percentage of cover letters using AI sentence |
|
With a natural flair for crafting captivating content, a keen eye for detail, and an insatiable curiosity, I am eager to contribute my creative energy to your expanding digital PR agency. |
100% |
16% |
|
My experience in SEO, combined with my analytical mindset, allows me to drive meaningful improvements in search visibility and website performance. |
100% |
13% |
|
I have gained valuable expertise in improving website content and optimising search engine rankings through my extensive experience in the field. |
100% |
13% |
|
I am writing to express my keen interest in the SEO Executive position at Reboot Online. |
100% |
12% |
|
With a proven track record in developing and executing successful marketing strategies, combined with my passion for innovative campaigns, I am excited to contribute to your dynamic marketing team. |
100% |
12% |
The most commonly recognised AI-generated sentence in cover letters is, “With a natural flair for crafting captivating content, a keen eye for detail, and an insatiable curiosity, I am eager to contribute my creative energy to your expanding digital PR agency.” Appearing in 16% of cover letters, this sentence is rated 100% likely to be AI-generated, likely due to polished phrasing such as “natural flair” and “insatiable curiosity” that AI models tend to produce.
The second most commonly used phrase in cover letters associated with the use of AI is, “My experience in SEO, combined with my analytical mindset, allows me to drive meaningful improvements in search visibility and website performance” which appears in 13% of cover letters with the same 100% AI likelihood. While professional, its combination of skills with results-focused claims makes it recognisable as a frequently used phrasing choice.