The Healthcare Recruitment Specialists

Should you use ChatGPT to write your next cover letter?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months, you will have heard of the celebrity of AI that is ChatGPT. From providing in-depth holiday itineraries to devising screenplays fit for Hollywood, we’re starting to question if there’s anything this language processing tool can’t do…

However, like all technology, it is important to consider just how reliable this tool is – especially when it comes down to crafting something as important as a cover letter. In this blog, we discuss the pros and cons of using ChatGPT to write cover letters when applying for roles in the healthcare sector. 

What are the benefits of using ChatGPT? 

  • Time-saving – Have you ever sat down to write a cover letter, only to find yourself staring at an empty Word doc for hours on end? With ChatGPT you can have at least a rough draft in your lap within seconds of opening your browser. However, let’s remind ourselves of the emphasis on ‘rough draft’ here as you will likely need to make edits in order to make your cover letter shine. 
  • It’s your biggest fan – One of the trickier aspects of completing a job application is the cover letter. Not only do you have to sell yourself, but you also have to ensure your skills and experience relate directly back to the role requirements. With the right prompts, you can use ChatGPT to craft a cover letter that showcases your talent and ticks all the boxes listed in the job description. 
  • Edits are easy – Do some keyword research and ask the AI software to include these in your cover letter to increase your chances of getting an interview. The best part? You can ask ChatGPT to edit your cover letter as many times as you like so you don’t have to go back and manually plug them in. This also goes for any changes in tone/wording you want to make, or any qualifications/key work experience you may have forgotten to mention in your prompts. You can also change the formatting of the cover letter should you be sending it as an email (e.g. you can ask ChatGPT to change to an email layout and provide a suitable subject line).

Things to be mindful of: 

  • Americanisms – ChatGPT tends to default to American English so make sure to re-read your cover letter and edit out any pesky z’s!
  • Lack of human emotion – While AI is unnervingly skilled at mimicking human emotion, it’s still got some work to do before it masters our linguistic flare. With this in mind, it is crucial to proofread your AI-crafted cover letter ahead of sending it to your prospective employer because sometimes it is glaringly obvious a robot has written “I am passionate about this role”. 
  • Vague language – Watch out for the use of generic claims such as “proficient in Microsoft word” without going into detail about your specific skills and qualifications related to the role. This is why it’s important to provide accurate prompts. 
  • Repetition – While very eloquent in its language choices, sometimes ChatGPT has a habit of saying the same thing over and over. This is due to its programming which is designed to look for patterns in language. 
  • Lexis choice – On most occasions, cover letters should follow a formal tenor – nonetheless, ChatGPT can sometimes be a little overzealous when it comes to using prestigious language. So if it sounds like Shakespeare himself penned your cover letter, you may wish to change the wording slightly! 

What’s the verdict? 

While an extremely useful tool for creating cover letters, it is clear that ChatGPT is still prone to error and hasn’t quite grasped how to write with convincing human emotion. Therefore, if you do decide to use the AI chatbot to devise your next cover letter, we would recommend only using it to craft the foundations – but definitely not the final copy! 

Looking for a new opportunity in healthcare? Get in touch with the team at Amaré on 0203 929 4017 today and discover what we have to offer.