Cover Letter Generation Guide
A comprehensive guide to using SwiftCareer's automatic cover letter generation feature to create compelling cover letters that attract employers' attention and increase your chances of getting an interview.
How SwiftCareer Generates Cover Letters
SwiftCareer automatically creates personalized cover letters for each job you apply to. Here's how it works:
- You analyze a job in Chat Workspace (paste job description or link)
- The system understands the job requirements and your profile
- The system creates a tailored cover letter
- The system uses:
- Your profile information (experience, skills, achievements)
- The job description and requirements
- Best practices for cover letter writing
- You review and refine the generated letter
Result: A professional, personalized cover letter that highlights why you're a great fit for the specific job.
How to Generate a Cover Letter
Step 1: Analyze the Job First
Before generating a cover letter, you need to analyze the job:
- Open Chat Workspace in SwiftCareer
- Paste the job description or job link
- Wait for analysis - The system will analyze:
- Job requirements
- Required skills
- Your match with the job
- Missing skills (if any)
Why this matters: The cover letter generation uses the job analysis to create a relevant, targeted letter.
Step 2: Generate the Cover Letter
- After job analysis, look for the "Generate Cover Letter" button
- Tap the button - The system will start generating your cover letter
- Wait for processing - This usually takes a few seconds
- Review the generated letter - You'll see a complete, personalized cover letter
Step 3: Review the Cover Letter
The generated cover letter will include:
- Opening paragraph: Expresses interest in the position and mentions how you found the job
- Body paragraphs: Highlights your relevant experience, skills, and achievements that match the job
- Closing paragraph: Thanks the reader and includes a call to action
Important: Always review the generated letter to ensure it accurately represents you and your experience.
Step 4: Edit and Refine
- Review the content carefully
- Check for accuracy - Make sure all information is correct
- Add personal touches if needed (e.g., specific company research, personal connections)
- Edit using the editor - You can modify any part of the letter
- Save your changes
Improving Cover Letter Quality
Complete Your Profile
The better your profile, the better your cover letter:
- Detailed work experience: Include specific achievements with numbers
- Comprehensive skills list: Add all relevant technical and soft skills
- Complete professional summary: Describe your experience and goals
- Projects and certifications: Add relevant projects and certifications
Why it matters: The system uses your profile data to write the cover letter. More complete profile = more compelling cover letter.
Be Specific in Your Profile
Add detailed information that the system can use:
In your work experience:
- Specific technologies and tools you've used
- Quantifiable achievements (e.g., "increased sales by 30%")
- Team sizes and project scopes
- Business impact of your work
In your skills:
- All relevant technical skills
- Soft skills (communication, leadership, etc.)
- Proficiency levels where applicable
Why it matters: Specific details in your profile become specific, impressive points in your cover letter.
Example: Good Profile Data Leads to Better Cover Letter
If your profile has:
Work Experience:
- Led a team of 5 developers to build a Flutter e-commerce app
- Increased app performance by 50% through optimization
- Reduced crash rate by 30% in 6 months
The cover letter will include:
During my role as Senior Developer, I led a team of 5 developers
to build a Flutter e-commerce application. Through strategic
optimization, I increased app performance by 50% and reduced
the crash rate by 30% within 6 months, demonstrating my ability
to deliver measurable results.
If your profile is vague:
Work Experience:
- Worked on app development
- Improved app performance
The cover letter will be generic:
I have experience in app development and have worked on
improving app performance.
Reviewing and Editing Your Cover Letter
What to Check
When reviewing your generated cover letter:
-
Accuracy:
- Are all facts correct?
- Do the achievements mentioned match your actual experience?
- Are company names and job titles accurate?
-
Relevance:
- Does it address the specific job requirements?
- Are your most relevant experiences highlighted?
- Does it explain why you're a good fit?
-
Tone and Style:
- Is the tone professional but friendly?
- Does it sound natural and authentic?
- Is it free of errors?
-
Completeness:
- Does it cover all important points?
- Is the structure clear (opening, body, closing)?
- Does it include a call to action?
Making Improvements
You can edit the cover letter to:
-
Add personal touches:
- Mention specific company research you did
- Reference a mutual connection (if any)
- Add a personal anecdote that's relevant
-
Adjust tone:
- Make it more formal or casual based on company culture
- Add enthusiasm where appropriate
- Ensure it matches your personality
-
Enhance specific points:
- Expand on achievements that are particularly relevant
- Add more detail about relevant projects
- Emphasize skills that match the job
-
Fix any issues:
- Correct any inaccuracies
- Improve awkward phrasing
- Fix grammar or spelling errors
Remember: The system provides a great foundation, but you can always improve it with your personal touch.
Cover Letter Structure
Understanding the Generated Structure
The system creates cover letters with this structure:
1. Opening Paragraph:
- Mentions the specific job title
- Expresses interest and enthusiasm
- May mention how you found the job
2. Body Paragraphs (1-2 paragraphs):
- Highlights your most relevant experience
- Mentions specific achievements that match the job
- Explains why you're a good fit
- References skills from the job description
3. Closing Paragraph:
- Thanks the reader
- Includes a call to action (e.g., "I would like to discuss...")
- Provides contact information
- Expresses enthusiasm for next steps
Best Practices
1. Always Review Before Sending
Never send a cover letter without reviewing:
- Check for accuracy
- Ensure it represents you well
- Look for any errors
- Make sure it's personalized
Why it matters: Even though the system generates good letters, your review ensures quality and accuracy.
2. Add Personal Touches
Enhance the generated letter with:
- Specific company research
- Personal connections (if any)
- Why you're particularly interested in this company
- Relevant personal anecdotes
Why it matters: Personal touches make your cover letter stand out and show genuine interest.
3. Keep It Concise
Aim for:
- One page maximum
- 3-4 paragraphs total
- Clear, focused points
- No repetition
Why it matters: Employers receive many applications. A concise, focused letter is more likely to be read completely.
4. Match the Job Description
The system does this automatically, but you can enhance it:
- Use keywords from the job description (naturally)
- Address specific requirements mentioned
- Highlight experiences that directly match
Why it matters: Matching the job description shows you understand the role and are a good fit.
5. Be Authentic
While the system generates the letter, make sure it:
- Sounds like you
- Reflects your actual experience
- Doesn't make claims you can't support
- Maintains your authentic voice
Why it matters: Authenticity builds trust. Employers can tell when something doesn't sound genuine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sending Without Review
Problem: Sending the generated letter without reviewing it Solution: Always review and edit before sending. Add personal touches and ensure accuracy.
Being Too Generic
Problem: Not personalizing the letter enough Solution: Add specific details about the company, role, or your relevant experience. Use the editor to enhance the generated content.
Including False Information
Problem: Not correcting inaccuracies in the generated letter Solution: Always verify that all information in the letter matches your actual experience. Edit any incorrect details.
Ignoring Job Requirements
Problem: The letter doesn't address specific job requirements Solution: Review the job description and ensure the letter addresses key requirements. Edit the generated letter if needed.
Using Cover Letters with Tailored CVs
The Complete Package
For best results, use both features together:
- Analyze the job in Chat Workspace
- Generate a tailored CV - Optimize your CV for the job
- Generate a cover letter - Create a matching cover letter
- Review both - Ensure they work together and complement each other
- Export and submit - Send both documents together
Why it matters: A tailored CV and matching cover letter create a cohesive, professional application package.
Common Questions
Can I Generate Multiple Cover Letters?
Yes. You can generate cover letters for as many jobs as you want. Each letter is tailored to the specific job.
Can I Reuse a Cover Letter?
You can, but it's better to generate a new one for each job. Each job is different, and a tailored letter is more effective than a generic one.
Exception: If two jobs are very similar, you might be able to reuse a letter with minor edits.
How Long Should the Cover Letter Be?
Aim for one page or 3-4 paragraphs. The system generates appropriately sized letters, but you can edit to adjust length if needed.
Can I Edit the Generated Letter?
Yes, absolutely. You can edit any part of the generated letter using the editor. The system provides a great starting point, but you should always review and refine.
Does the System Save My Cover Letters?
Yes. Generated cover letters are saved in your account. You can access them later, edit them, or export them as needed.
Next Steps
After generating your cover letter:
- Review Your Tailored CV - Make sure your CV and cover letter work together
- Job Search Workflow - Complete guide to managing your job applications
- Export Documents - Export your cover letter and CV as PDFs
Getting Help
- Review Cover Letter Message - Detailed guide to the cover letter feature
- Review FAQ - Common questions about cover letters
- Contact support via swiftcareer.io