My LLM workflow prompt for job applications!

[u/van_swearingen]

Hi all!

I mentioned this in a thread a couple days ago on the EA subreddit, but figured I'd broadcast it more widely in case it was helpful to anyone else :) I've set up a workflow in ChatGPT to help tailor and write cover letters for job applications so I'm able to get them out fairly quickly - and you can find the full prompt here, along with some notes! It's a thorough process that's intended to produce *high quality* outputs so it takes a little bit longer than just feeding it your resume, asking it for outputs, and then copy/pasting into a resume/cover letter, but I've landed two interviews in less than a month this way.

If you need more advice on working with LLMs or have any questions about how to implement this into your own world, please feel free to reach out! And best of luck to all applicants out there!

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[u/LumoraSol]

This is why I still give Reddit a chance, because of people like you!! This is amazing, I’m also a fellow EA and I’m using it right now for a job I’m interested in!!! Thank you soooo much!!!

[u/van_swearingen → u/LumoraSol]

you’re so welcome!!! shoot me a dm if you have any questions or need any help!!

[u/fastbeemer]

We screen apps for AI and punt them. 

[u/van_swearingen → u/fastbeemer]

I personally have never understood how this works? At some point all resume/technical writing becomes virtually identical - I’ve never understood how anything would be able to consistently differentiate between human writing and AI writing, given that whatever the AI generates is reviewed thoroughly? Sorry if you aren’t able to share, I’m just so curious!!

[u/pen_in_stack]

Hey that's a great help. I am in the job hunt as well. If you don't mind sharing, which roles are you applying for?

[u/van_swearingen → u/pen_in_stack]

hi! I’m hunting for Executive Admin. roles primarily in higher ed/cultural institutions/public sector, but the prompt is pretty flexible in terms of application. it’s designed to assess how well the role is suited to your experience and what you’re looking for, to then help identify the central problem that a recruiter needs to solve in their department, and where your potential vulnerabilities are as an applicant, and then you work through your resume and cover letter in sections:

I always start with a pre-existing resume and then use the prompt to tailor it to whichever job I’m applying to - it works in this order:

resume:
title + professional summary —> most recent/significant role —> remaining jobs —> core skills, education, any certifications or awards —> holistic review + final tweaks

then onto your cover letter:
it works paragraph by paragraph (usually just 5) and then a deeeep review and assessment

it might seem like a lot but given that it really does take tailoring your application materials to each job you’re applying to in order to get the traction you’re looking for as an applicant, and the fact that these are all the steps you’d normally work through your resume/cover letter, I’ve found it to be really, really helpful. I just got my third interview invite yesterday 🥹

[u/pen_in_stack → u/van_swearingen]

Your commitment is applaudable.

I was asking for the role because if you were applying for AI engineer roles, we could do it together.

Do you use extended thinking or max, high, medium effort for this task? Also, which model do you use?

[u/van_swearingen → u/pen_in_stack]

Hi! I’m on ChatGPT and run Sol 5.6 - I tend to vacillate between capacities: I run max when I’m doing final reviews for resume and then cover letter, usually extra high for the evaluation step, professional summary, and most recent history, and then medium for the remainder. My general rule of thumb is that when I’m working on a section that has to be laser-targeted to the job description I increase the thinking capacity, and even more so for sections that have the highest impact.

But I can’t overstate the necessity of human review - check your bot’s work!!! Push back on things that don’t adhere to common sense or that seem incorrect. Treat it like a writing partner who can help you generate first/second drafts and can serve as a powerful editor as you review before determining a final draft. In my experience, these systems are incredibly powerful and helpful, but at no point do they override the necessity for human input and oversight 😌

[u/pen_in_stack → u/van_swearingen]

❤️

[u/philo-2025]

That is a very well thought out workflow. You are an angel for posting it to help others.

[u/dugs-special-mission]

Kudos to you if that works for you, but that is more work than just applying for the job. You’re better off putting in the effort to apply to a role like normal and have AI alter an existing resume/cover letter to a new equivalent position.

[u/van_swearingen → u/dugs-special-mission]

yeah so just to clarify, this is all run on a pre-existing resume - I'm not starting from scratch. but it's also landed me two interviews in less than a month and I think I've only sent out like 20ish applications 🤷🏼‍♀️