Using AI to create a CV or cover letter, Te whakamahi i te AI ki te tuhituhi i te tāhuhu kōrero, i te reta whakamārama rānei
Updated 02 Dec 2025
You can use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to easily create your CV or cover letter. They work best when you check, personalise and edit results.
Using AI tools can be helpful, but it needs to be a partnership between you and the AI tool, for example, ChatGPT and Copilot.
AI doesn’t know you as a person. It needs your help to create a CV and cover letter that’s tailored to a specific job.
Recruiters and employers value personalised applicationsE uaratia ana e te hunga kimi kaimahi me te whakawhiwhi mahi i ngā tono mahi kua whakawhaiarotia,
Recruiters and employers can often spot the difference between an AI generated CV or cover letter and one that’s prepared just by you.
They need to feel confident that your CV and cover letter are truthful and show who you are. Employers value genuine, well thought out applications that are personalised.
You can use our CV and cover letter templates if you’d rather create your own without using AI.
How AI can help youKa pēhea te AI koe e āwhina ai,
AI is good at:
- generating CVs and cover letters quickly
- making suggestions about how you can tailor your CV and cover letter to a specific job description
- pulling out key details from the job description that you can use to tailor your CV and cover letter
- helping with grammar and spelling.
Where AI needs helpNgā wāhi e hiahia āwhina ai te AI,
AI tools need help:
- creating unique and accurate content – content may be too general, exaggerated or inaccurate
- personalising content to truly reflect you and your experience
- using the right language and tone – it might not know New Zealand terms, phrases or spelling, or use the wrong tone for the job you’re applying for.
How to get good resultsMe pēhea te whiwhi otinga pai,
Create clear and detailed promptsWaihangaia ngā kupu whāngai mārama me te āmiki,
Give the AI tool clear instructions (known as prompts). Tell it exactly what you want it to do. You may need to experiment with the prompts you give it before it creates useful content.
You can try using our example prompts to get started.
Personalise your resultsWhakawhaiarotia ō otinga,
Always add your own personalised information, such as your experience, interests and achievements, so your CV or cover letter is true to you.
Adding specific examples and personal touches helps your CV or cover letter feel genuine and stand out to hiring managers.
The quality of the CV or cover letter AI tools create will depend on the information you give it. For example, it won’t be able to create your achievements for you. You need to list what these are.
Match to the jobWhakatauritea ki te mahi,
AI results can be generic. Edit your results to match the job description and your career story.
Carefully read the job description for keywords that also match your experience and include these in your CV or cover letter. Customise to each role to show why you are a good fit.
Check accuracy and toneĀta arotakea te tōtika me te wairua,
Carefully check everything AI suggests and make changes to fix any errors and exaggerated claims, for example, American spelling.
Check the CV or cover letter reflects who you are as a person and your writing style. Are the words or phrases it suggests how you would describe yourself and your career story, and are commonly used in New Zealand?
Get someone else to reviewĀta arotakea te tōtika me te wairua,
Ask a friend, mentor or career adviser to review your CV and cover letter before you send it. Someone else may notice:
- typos and grammar issues
- gaps in flow or clarity
- areas that need stronger language or better structure
- whether it’s accurate, professional and truly represents you.
AI prompts to get startedNgā kupu whāngai AI hei tīmatanga,
You can copy and paste these prompts, or instructions, into an AI tool, like ChatGPT or Copilot, to create a draft CV or cover letter. These prompts can get you started but the results will only be as good as the information you put in.
Make sure to:
- add extra information wherever you see square brackets, for example [add job title]
- read and edit your results, for example, copy the results into a Word document and change words or add extra information to make sure it sounds like you.
- consider not adding your personal information, like your name and email, until afterwards when you’re editing the results. Don’t share sensitive information like financial details or passwords. It’s usually best not to add a photo or your age and date of birth.
Copy this prompt into an AI tool and add the information missing in the square brackets.
Prompt
Create a professional CV in clear, plain New Zealand English for the New Zealand job market. Align it with New Zealand employer expectations.
Use clear headings, bullet points (where needed) and simple formatting so it stays ATS-friendly.
Tailor it for a [add job title] role in [add industry].
Keep it concise, ideally 2-3 pages.
Only use the information I provide. Don’t invent any details. If anything is missing, ask me questions before completing the draft.
My details:
Personal details: Leave a space for me to enter my personal information. I'll add these details later.
Name:
Email:
Phone number:
LinkedIn profile:
Professional summary: [add a short overview of your experience, strengths and career goals]
Job description: [copy and paste the job advertisement or key skills needed for the job you're applying for]
Key skills: Create 5-10 key skills based on my work experience that match the job description.
Work experience: [list each job (paid and unpaid) and volunteer work. For each role, include:
- job title
- company name
- location
- dates (month/year) I have worked in this role
- key responsibilities
- achievements.]
Education: [add qualifications, providers and years you attended]
Certifications and training: [add any relevant certifications or courses]
Referees: Available on request.
Additional information: [add languages, professional memberships, etc]
Copy this prompt into an AI tool and add the information missing in square brackets.
Prompt
Write a unique one-page cover letter in New Zealand English using clear, plain language. Use bullet points (where needed) and simple formatting so it stays ATS-friendly.
Write it in a formal style while also showing I’m enthusiastic and interested in working for this company. Highlight how my experience and skills match the job description.
Only use the information I provide. Don’t invent any details. If anything is missing, ask me questions before completing the draft.
My details:
I’m applying for a job as a [add job title]
Here is the job description/key skills needed: [copy and paste the job advertisement or key skills needed for the job you're applying for]
The job is working for [add company/employer’s name]
My experience includes [add or copy and paste your relevant work or volunteer experience from your CV]
I also have these skills and am good at [enter your skills relevant to the job]
End with a confident closing statement inviting the employer to get in touch.