AI cover letters: Why the risks simply aren't worth taking

Why AI cover letters are frowned upon by recruiters

Have you ever used AI when applying for a new job? If so you’re not alone. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of AI in recruitment by both employers and prospective candidates.

Employers report that candidates are increasingly producing cover letters that have been written using AI.

With so many others doing it, it’s tempting to let AI write your cover letter.

But given your cover letter provides the first impression on an employer, is it really a good idea to get AI to write it for you?

Why you shouldn’t write your cover letter using AI

Experts say there are several risks to using AI in your cover letter. These include:

AI-generated cover letters often sound the same

Recruiters say the increase in AI cover letters has been reflected in an increase in cover letters that sound very similar to each other.

They say cover letters written using AI will often sound very generic and similar to what others have written.

When reading your cover letter, employers are looking for your unique skills and attributes.

An AI generated cover letter gives you limited opportunity to highlight the unique value you bring to a role.

Employers also want to see that you’re genuinely interested in the role and their company. They want to know what motivated you to apply and whether you have any personal connection to the job or organisation. Writing a cover letter using AI gives you limited opportunity to tailor it to the specific company and role.

Employers may doubt your abilities

If you have written your cover letter using AI, this can lead employers to question whether you have the skills required to perform the role.
This is particularly the case for roles that require strong written communication skills.

Employers want to see that you can think critically and make informed decisions independently.

After all, it’s not uncommon for AI to embellish or misrepresent information. So how can an employer trust that everything in an AI-generated cover letter is accurate?

Indeed, writing a cover letter fully using AI can lead you to come across as lazy or unwilling to put in the effort.

Your cover letter can seem too perfect

Contrary to popular opinion, in many cases employers aren’t looking for the perfect candidate that ticks every box on the job description.
After all, they want someone who has the ability to grow in the role and will therefore hang around long term.

Employers say you should instead aim to match 60-70% of the criteria of the job description.

Therefore, an AI cover letter that perfectly matches the language of the job description may actually be off-putting for many employers.
A cover letter that appears ‘perfect’ may cause the employer to doubt the authenticity of the experience the candidate says they have.

With all these concerns — from sounding too generic to raising doubts about your abilities — is it worth the risk of using AI to write something as important as your cover letter?

Don’t leave anything to chance

Writing a compelling cover letter that captures the attention of recruiters isn’t easy. But relying on AI to do the work for you could cost you your dream role. Why take the risk?

At Public Service Resumes, we offer professional, tailored cover letter writing that showcases your unique strengths and genuine interest in the role.