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Resume and cover letter: how to do it with AI

Last checked 2026-10-16

Beginner ✍️ Writing & editing

AI is good at turning a messy job history into clear, tailored bullet points, and at matching your wording to a job ad. It can't know what you actually did, so you supply the facts and it does the shaping.

Step by step

1. Collect your raw material: your current resume, the job ad, and a list of 5 to 10 things you're proud of, with numbers if you have them.
2. Ask the AI to pull the must-have skills and keywords out of the job ad first.
3. Ask it to rewrite your bullets to match those skills, using only facts from your list.
4. Write the cover letter last, around one or two achievements that match the role's biggest need.
5. Read every line and delete anything you can't defend in an interview.
6. Save a separate copy for each application so you don't send the wrong version.

Copy-paste prompts

Replace the [brackets] with your details.

Here is a job ad: [paste]. Here is my experience: [paste resume or notes]. First list the 6 most important skills the ad asks for. Then rewrite my bullet points to show those skills, starting each with a strong verb and keeping to facts I've given. If a skill isn't supported by my experience, say so instead of inventing it.

Write a cover letter for [role] at [company] using only these facts about me: [paste]. Open with why this role specifically, give one short story with a result, and close with availability. At most 250 words, no clichés like "I am writing to apply".

Review my resume as a recruiter for [role] would. Tell me what you'd notice in 10 seconds, three bullets that are vague or weak and why, and any gaps or formatting problems. Don't rewrite it yet.

Which tool to pick, and why

• ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex): Free plan verified for chat and limited uploads, so you can attach your current resume. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
• Claude (incl. Claude Code): Free plan verified for chat and files. Artifacts can show the resume as a formatted document you can copy. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
• Microsoft Copilot: Works inside Word, where most resumes live, on Microsoft 365 plans. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗
• Google Gemini: Free plan verified for chat and files. Its Google Workspace integration suits resumes kept in Google Docs. Free plan can do this Visit official website ↗

Reasons come from the capabilities, free-plan details and prices we've checked on official pages, not from hands-on testing. Sources: chatgpt.com/pricing · claude.com/pricing · www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals · gemini.google/subscriptions/

Common mistakes

• Letting the AI invent a metric ("increased sales 40%") that you can't prove.
• Using the same generic cover letter for every job.
• Keyword-stuffing until the resume reads like the job ad copied back.
• Pasting your full address, phone number and ID details into the chat.
• Skipping a final read for tense, dates and job titles.

Privacy tip

Resumes are full of personal data. Leave out your street address, phone number, date of birth and references before you paste, and add them back in your own file. If you use ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, check the training setting on our data-safety guide first.

ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex) setting · Claude (incl. Claude Code) setting · Google Gemini setting

Related tasks

• Rewrite for tone
• Write a job description
• Language practice by voice
• Personalized outreach email

Open in the interactive app