Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Spot the difference: AI cover letters

14 July 2025

Are you using AI to help write your job applications?
You're not alone — but if you're not careful, you could be blending into the crowd instead of standing out.

Take a look at these two cover letters. Can you tell them apart?

Probably not — and neither can the hiring manager, because they were both written using the same prompt:
“Can you write me a cover letter for this job: [insert link]”

AI tools like ChatGPT can save you time and help structure your ideas – but if you copy and paste a generic output, you risk submitting something bland, vague, and nearly identical to everyone else doing the same thing

And guess what recruiters do with those AI-drenched, personality-free applications?
Straight to the bin.

So, how do you use AI smartly in your job hunt without tanking your chances? Here's your cheat sheet:

Do:

  • Use AI to research the company and understand the job better.
  • Ask it to structure or polish a cover letter you’ve drafted.
  • Feed in your résumé and the job ad to get tailored suggestions.
  • Be clear on the tone you want – professional? friendly? a little quirky?
  • Give loads of context when prompting.
  • Use the latest version of the tool.
  • Chat with it! Give feedback, tweak outputs, and add your real experiences.
  • Check the details carefully – spelling (watch out for that USA spelling), job titles, company info, all of it.
  • Get it to suggest follow-up or interview questions to prep.
  • Remember: it’s a tool, not a magic wand.

Don’t:

  • Submit that first generic draft without editing – it’ll sound cookie-cutter.
  • Trust it to get everything right – AI can make things up (“hallucinations”, anyone?).
  • Let it invent skills or experiences you don’t actually have.
  • Leave in cringey buzzwords like “synergistically align your dynamic skillset.” Ew.
  • Feed it sensitive personal info – keep your data safe.

The bottom line? AI can give you a head start – but it won’t land the job for you.
Make sure your applications still sound like a human... preferably one as great as you.

For more useful information on writing job applications, including crafting resumes and cover letters, check out our Employability and career preparation guide.
Last updated:
14 July 2025