Tailor a CV and cover letter to a specific job description. Use when asked to write a cover letter, tailor a CV or resume, optimise for ATS, match a job description, or prepare a job application. Produces an ATS-optimised tailored CV summary and a personalised cover letter.
This skill tailors a CV and cover letter to a specific job description — optimising for ATS keyword matching while keeping the writing human and compelling. It also flags gaps between the candidate's profile and the role requirements.
Ask the user for these if not provided:
Before writing anything, analyse the job description and output:
[List explicit requirements from the JD — qualifications, years of experience, specific skills]
[3–5 themes that repeat or are emphasised — these are the keywords and priorities the hiring manager cares about most]
[List 10–15 specific keywords and phrases from the JD that should appear in the CV and cover letter. Include: tools, methodologies, job titles, skills]
[Honest comparison between the candidate's profile and the JD requirements. Flag: "Strong match" / "Partial match — can be positioned as X" / "Gap — address in cover letter or don't apply"]
Rewrite or create the candidate's CV summary/profile section (the 3–5 lines at the top of a CV) specifically for this role:
Rules:
Tailored CV Summary: [Write the summary]
For the 2–3 most relevant roles on the CV, suggest how to reframe existing bullet points to better match this JD:
[Role Title] at [Company]
| Original Bullet | Tailored Version | Why |
|---|---|---|
| [Candidate's original text] | [Improved version with JD keywords and stronger impact framing] | [Brief note on what changed] |
Rules for bullet point rewrites:
Format: 3 paragraphs + closing. Target: 250–350 words. Anything longer won't be read.
[Hiring Manager's name if known, otherwise "Hiring Team"]
Paragraph 1 — The Hook (Why this role, specifically) [2–4 sentences. Reference something specific about the company or role — not generic enthusiasm. The candidate's genuine reason for applying goes here. This is what makes it human. Generic openers like "I am writing to apply for..." are filtered out mentally within 3 seconds.]
Paragraph 2 — The Evidence (Why them) [3–5 sentences. 2–3 specific examples from their background that directly address the JD's key themes. Use the language of the JD. Include at least one quantified achievement. Don't list everything — pick the 2–3 strongest matches and go deep, not broad.]
Paragraph 3 — The Forward Bridge (Why now) [2–3 sentences. Connect their trajectory to this role. Why is this the logical next step? What do they want to learn or build that this role enables? This should feel like the natural continuation of their career, not just "I want a new challenge."]
I'd welcome the chance to discuss how my background could contribute to [Company/Team]. Thank you for your time.
[Name] [Email] | [LinkedIn URL] | [Location if relevant]
Before submitting: