Best AI Prompts for Resumes and Cover Letters

"I am applying for a [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. Below is the job description, followed by my current resume. Please rewrite my resume to highlight the most relevant skills and experiences that directly match the core requirements of this specific job description. Ensure the tone is professional, results-oriented, and incorporates key phrases from the posting without sounding robotic."

"Rewrite the following list of resume bullet points to make them more impactful. Use the XYZ formula (Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]). Start each point with a strong action verb, remove filler words, and quantify the results wherever possible. If I omitted numbers, suggest placeholders where I should add them. Here are my current bullets: [Insert bullets]"

"Write a compelling, 3-sentence professional summary for my resume. I am a [Current Job Title] with [X] years of experience specializing in [Skill 1] and [Skill 2]. I am transitioning into a [New Target Role] in the [Target Industry] sector. The summary must hook the recruiter by highlighting my biggest career achievement (which is [Achievement]) and clearly stating the unique value I bring to the target role. No clichés like "hardworking" or "team player"."

"Draft a 3-paragraph cover letter for the [Job Title] position at [Company]. Address it to the Hiring Manager. Paragraph 1: State the role I'm applying for and a powerful hook about why I admire the company's recent work on [Specific Company Project/News]. Paragraph 2: Connect my background in [Your Field] to their core requirement of [Core Job Need], using one specific measurable example. Paragraph 3: A confident closing. My background details: [Insert resume summary]."

"I have a 18-month gap on my resume because I took time off to [Reason e.g., care for a sick family member / travel / attempt a startup]. Write a brief, positive, and professional 1-2 sentence explanation that I can include in my resume or cover letter. Frame this time as a period of personal growth where I also maintained my professional skills by [Action e.g., taking an online course / staying up to date on industry news]."

"Analyze the following job description and extract the top 15 most critical keywords and phrases that an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will be scanning for. Group them logically into 'Hard Skills', 'Soft Skills', and 'Tools/Software'. Below the list, provide 3 specific tips on how to naturally weave these terms into my resume summary and experience sections without keyword stuffing. [Insert Job Description]"

"I am pivoting from a career as a [Current Role, e.g., Teacher] to a [Target Role, e.g., Corporate Trainer]. Review my past responsibilities below and "translate" the terminology into corporate/business language that a recruiter in my target industry will understand and value. Focus on transferable skills like stakeholder management, complex problem solving, and process creation. Past responsibilities: [Insert text]."

"I worked as a [Job Title] doing [Main Responsibility]. I struggle to put quantifiable metrics on my resume. Ask me 5 probing questions designed to help me uncover measurable achievements, cost savings, efficiency improvements, or revenue impacts that I might have overlooked during my time in this role."

"Using my resume below, write an engaging "About" section for my LinkedIn profile. Unlike a formal resume, write this in the first person ("I"). Keep it conversational but highly professional. Structure it with: 1) A hook about my professional passion, 2) A high-level overview of my expertise, 3) The types of problems I love solving, and 4) A clear call-to-action regarding what kind of opportunities or networking I am open to."

"Review my attached resume. Acting as a rigorous hiring manager for a [Target Role] position, generate a list of 7 difficult behavioral interview questions you would ask me based *specifically* on the experiences and claims I listed. Focus on areas where you would want more detail, potential weaknesses you might perceive, or achievements you'd want me to substantiate."

"Review the text of my resume below. Point out any structural or readability issues. Are the sections clearly defined? Is there too much jargon? Are the bullet lists too long? Provide actionable advice on how to improve the visual hierarchy and scanning experience for a busy recruiter holding this resume for only 6 seconds."

"Draft a concise thank-you email to send to a hiring manager after an interview for the [Role]. Thank them for their time, briefly reiterate my excitement for the role, and reference a specific interesting topic we discussed during the interview ([Topic]). End with a confident sign-off indicating I look forward to the next steps. Keep it under 100 words."