Guides
How to spot AI cover letters: 9 signs – and how to avoid them
Recruiters are rarely bothered that AI was involved. They are bothered by texts that would fit any company. These nine signs make a cover letter arbitrary. Each with a remedy.
By Yannik Galetto · Updated · 5 min read
The nine signs
No single sign gives a text away. It is the accumulation that stands out. This is true for AI texts just as for texts from a template kit.
1. The stock opening
“I read your job posting with great interest.” Remedy: start with something concrete about the company or the task.
2. Uniform sentences
All sentences similarly long, similar rhythm. Remedy: mix short and longer sentences. Read the text aloud.
3. Lists of three
“Innovative, committed and goal-oriented.” Remedy: one trait, one proof.
4. Big words without evidence
“Significantly”, “sustainable”, “holistic”. Remedy: name the number, the result, the project.
5. “Not only … but also”
Constructions that sound serious and say little. Remedy: say directly what it is about.
6. Generic company praise
“As a leading company in the industry …” Remedy: name a concrete product, project or decision you noticed.
7. No names, no numbers
No projects, tools or figures. Remedy: one piece of evidence with context per paragraph.
8. Too smooth
No personal moment, no edge. Remedy: one honest sentence about why this job.
9. The standard ending
“I look forward to an invitation for an interview.” Remedy: offer a concrete topic for the conversation.
What recruiters really care about
What matters is not whether an AI was involved, but whether the text shows that you understood the job and bring something fitting. That is possible with and without AI, and it fails with and without AI.
Do not rely on programs that “detect” AI text. They are often wrong. A human look at reference, evidence and voice is more reliable.
How to use AI and still sound like you
- Provide real evidence: roles, results, numbers. The more you give, the less the model invents.
- Provide a style sample: two or three sentences from an earlier text of yours.
- After the draft, delete everything you would never say.
- Replace every claim without evidence with an example or delete it.
- Read the text aloud. Where you stumble, rephrase.
- Add one personal sentence only you could write.
How Pathly helps
Pathly does not start with an empty chat but with the job, the company reference and your evidence. The cover letter generator learns sentence length and connecting words from your earlier texts and checks the draft with a recruiter simulation. How to get good results from a general AI chat is covered in Cover letter with ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
Do recruiters recognize whether a cover letter comes from AI?
Some notice, especially with general texts without reference. It is not reliable. A text with concrete evidence and your own voice stands out less.
Do I have to say that I used AI?
There is no general obligation. If a company excludes AI texts or asks, be honest and follow the rule. More: Using AI in applications: what is allowed?.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page is enough, roughly 200 to 350 words. Shorter and more concrete usually works better than long and general.
Related
- Cover letter generatorCover letters with company research and your own writing style. You review every sentence.Learn more →
- Cover letter with ChatGPTPrompt template to copy, checklist and an honest comparison with Pathly.Learn more →
- AI in applications: allowed?What is allowed, where honesty sets limits and what to watch out for regarding privacy.Learn more →
- Automate job applicationsWhat is worth automating, and where you should decide.Learn more →
Put it to work in your next application.
Start for free. You decide at every step, the AI assists.