How to write a cover letter with AI

Whether you’re applying for a new job, internship, or changing industries, Copilot takes the stress out of writing a cover letter. Effortlessly generate good-quality copy using automated formatting and grammar suggestions and stay application tracker –compliant. 

Read on to learn how to create a cover letter from scratch or with an ATS-friendly template in Microsoft Word. Explore top tips and examples for using Copilot accurately. 

How to use AI to write your cover letter in Word

No matter the industry or job title, easily rewrite existing copy, turn a resume into a cover letter, or personalize a cover letter template for free using Copilot prompts. All you must do is enter a Copilot prompt in Word; for example, “create a cover letter for a marketing role with internship experience,” and the AI technology will automatically start generating a response for you. 

Copilot is accessible through Microsoft Word with a Microsoft 365 subscription, so make sure you are on the right plan. Find Copilot in the home tab in the top header. If you’ve never explored Copilot before, the feature might not be enabled. Go to the help or tools menu, then select Copilot to activate. If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can still leverage the power of Copilot at copilot.microsoft.com.

7 ways AI can help write and refresh your cover letter

1. Write a cover letter from scratch

If you’ve never created a cover letter before, automate the writing process with the free AI cover letter generator in Word. No matter the job title or industry you’re applying for, Copilot can create a personalized cover letter for you from just your prompts. Create a new blank Word document, then enter a Copilot prompt into the box or navigate to copilot.microsoft.com. 

Cover letter prompt example

“Write a cover letter for a teaching position at [enter school name] with 5 years of experience in education and early childhood. Mention my strengths in classroom organization, patience, communication, and leadership. Please include related ATS-friendly teaching role keywords.”  

You can also attach a document with the job description you are creating the letter for by clicking on the attachment icon in the Copilot dialog box. 

2. Create a cover letter from your resume

Take the time out of writing a cover letter from scratch with AI in Word. Efficiently convert your resume or CV written in Word into a professional cover letter using Copilot prompts.

To do this, follow these steps: 

1. Open a blank document 

2. Click on the Copilot dialog box at the top, which reads “what do you want Copilot to draft?” 

3. Type the following prompt: “Create a cover letter based on this attached resume” then click on attachment icon > locate resume in cloud storage > attach & generate draft. 

4. Let Copilot generate a draft from the resume you attached. Click ‘’Keep it’’ if you want to keep the draft, or let Copilot know what to change with follow up prompts. 

3. Refresh your cover letter with ATS-friendly keywords

Improve an outdated cover letter for your job application without creating a new document with Copilot suggestions. Quickly refresh your existing cover letter copy by adding unique industry specific ATS-friendly keywords using Copilot prompts. 

Copilot industry specific ATS keyword prompt examples:  

“What are some ATS-friendly keywords to include in a senior nursing role cover letter?” 

Copilot example answers:

• Clinical experience  

• Patient care  

• Leadership 

• Team collaboration 

• Care coordination  

• Documentation  

• Mentoring  

• Emergency response  

• Conflict resolution 

• Prioritization  

4. Rewrite existing cover letter copy with role specific skills

Make a strong first impression by enhancing the readability and accuracy of your cover letter with Copilot . Optimize existing cover letter copy to showcase your new skills, improve formality, and polish language with Copilot prompts. Just open your original cover letter in Word, then give Copilot a prompt to analyze and suggest.  

Copilot cover letter rewrite prompt examples:

• Prompt: "Rewrite my cover letter body paragraph to highlight my higher senior experience and related achievements. Use a formal writing style and polish existing tone and language. "

• Result: "Throughout my career, I've gained over 11 years of experience in all aspects of restaurant management, including staff supervision, cost analysis, inventory control, and menu development. I am a skilled communicator and proven to work successfully and efficiently in fast-paced environments. "

5. Personalize a cover letter template

Write your cover letter in the best format and a professional theme using an industry specific cover letter template by Word. Stand out from other applicants by personalizing a cover letter example with the help of intuitive suggestions made by Copilot. Just select a cover letter template in popular styles, color palettes, and layouts, highlight the example template text, then use a Copilot prompt to generate new copy.

Copilot cover letter template prompt example:

“Rewrite the cover letter template body paragraph for a business analyst with mid-level experience including relevant industry examples.” 

To personalize a cover letter template, follow these steps: 

1. Highlight the template’s placeholder text and click on the copilot icon.

2. In the Copilot dialog box, enter a prompt describing what you want Copilot to draft.

3. Copilot will generate a draft that will append at the end of the template. You will then have the option to keep it or refine your draft using follow up prompt.

6. Suggest job title and industry specific verbs and keywords

Adding the right industry specific terminology, verbs, and phrases is an important element to all cover letters, no matter your experience level. Copilot can suggest relevant and impactful verbs and phrases to make your cover letter read more professionally through a simple prompt.

Copilot verbs and phrases prompt example:

“Suggest industry specific verbs and phrases for a digital marketing role that can make my cover letter body paragraph read more engaging and informative.”  

Copilot example answers:

• Digital marketing strategist: strategize, analyze, optimize, and engage.  

• Content marketing specialist: promote, create, collaborate, measure, and repurpose.  

• SEO expert: analyze, audit, improve, track, monitor, and implement.  

7. Provide insightful cover letter feedback

From grammar and punctuation to readability Copilot can quickly share valuable feedback and general tips on where your cover letter lacks clarity. Copilot uses powerful AI technology to review your cover letter in minutes to make sure it’s error-free and ready for submission.

Copilot cover letter feedback prompt example:

“Please share overall feedback on my cover letter.”

Tips for using Copilot to write your cover letter accurately

Ensure you’re making the most out of Copilot in Word by exploring these helpful tips.   

• Use specific Copilot prompts: tailor your Copilot prompts to share exactly what you’re looking for. Specify if you’re wanting paragraphs or bullet point format, what you’re writing, and the formality. Try to give as much information as possible in your Copilot prompts.  

• Define your target audience: share with Copilot who your cover letter is aimed towards to generate the best response. For example, “write a cover letter for the hiring manager of [company name].”

• Use the right tone: prompting Copilot is like having a real-life conversation. Remember to use the right language to help set the tone for your AI-generated response. Copilot can mirror the level of professionalism, clarity, and detail your command provides.

• Adjust your Copilot prompts: if you don’t receive the answer you’re looking for, don’t get discouraged. Use your first prompt as a starting point, then chat with Copilot to find the right answer or response. Ask questions, use more information, and have a natural conversation with Copilot.

Ready to beat other applicants and create a successful cover letter? Showcase your strengths and put your best effort forward by creating a polished cover letter with Copilot in Word.  

Explore more cover letter best practices in how to write a cover letter with a template and learn more about the best cover letter format.