Prompt Engineer cover letter example

Apparently, English is the new language of programming. As artificial intelligence expands its capacity for self-improvement, demand for human-led coding is waning. What will not decrease in importance, however, is the need for a translation of human needs for the AI to compute. For the foreseeable future, part of that role will be filled by a prompt engineer who can find the perfect words to wrangle the AI to the ideal output.

It may seem somewhat backward that human involvement is still required at the initial stages of a piece of work, but how would AI learn otherwise? Therefore, when a prompt engineer is applying for a new job with a cover letter, their language will be front and center.

At Resume.io, we can help you to create a cover letter that will impress both human and AI minds, In this prompt engineer writing guide and cover letter example, we will consider:

• The best format for a prompt engineer cover letter
• Which parts of your prompt engineer story to include
• Which stories to include from your fledgling career
• Writing a prompt engineer cover letter with no experience

Prompt engineer is a new job role, so highlighting transferable skills and AI experience in your cover letter will ensure success.

Best format for a prompt engineer cover letter

Concise communication is central to any prompt engineer’s role, so you should understand the need for a tight structure to the cover letter. Employers expect to read about certain things in different parts of the cover letter, so don’t break with convention. Radical format changes risk detracting from your career story. This is the typical structure:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting/salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter

While your resume will contain the factual achievements of your career, the prompt engineer cover letter should allow an employer to understand how you go about your work. What obstacles have you come across and how did you solve them? How have you approached your career development and what are your motivations at work? What are you looking for in your next role and what do you bring to the team?

The cover letter should be no longer than one page, but you can use that limitation as an opportunity to show off your writing ability. Every sentence matters in a cover letter, just as every word matters in an AI prompt. You know how you want to make the hiring manager feel about your application, so go about pressing those emotional buttons.

We share some further advice in our comprehensive cover letter guide. Our prompt engineer cover letter example may also offer some ideas:

Cover letter header

Some prompts need an introductory section to set the scene and tick the boxes before you get into the clever stuff. In the same way, the cover letter header needs to contain the basics of your full name, email, and mobile number. Hiring managers may wish to contact you after they read, so don’t just include this on your resume.

You do not need to include your full home address at this stage. There are potential data protection issues here. When you come to the job offer stage you will share your personal details. The inside address of the employer is also not required—you will need the space for your prompt engineer career story.

Make sure that the cover letter design is plain and functional—your creativity is with words, not visual elements. Keep the look of the cover letter professional.

Cover letter greeting

The greeting of the cover letter shouldn’t pose too many problems for someone with advanced natural language processing skills. Opt for the formal “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Surname” and you won’t go wrong.

If the name of the hiring manager is not on the job description, consider phoning the company to find out the HR representative or head of the department. This will show the crucial initiative that will be so important in your role. “Dear Company Team” is a warm alternative if you do not know to whom to address the letter.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction of a prompt writer cover letter should grab the attention. If a human does not think that your writing is compelling, then an AI is likely to be less than impressed. Show that you are a process-driven professional who is creative and results-driven. 

Being able to find the right words is a skill developed from pratice, so it is vital to show that you have specific experience in the industry that you work in. Employers cannot afford to hire someone who will be finding their feet for the first few months.

Look at the tasks in the job description and make links with your previous projects. Your future potential can only be deciphered through the prism of your past. While you may not have done the prompt engineer role, you need to show that you have the right mix of ingredients to ensure success.

Cover letter middle part (body)

In order for your cover letter to complement your resume, the middle part needs to explore your career motivations and how you go about your work—as well as the factual aspects of your accomplishments. You will be doing different projects with your future employer, so this behavioral evidence is important to show that you can perform.

Include the financial impact of your work where possible. Has your prompt writing saved time or money? Have there been operational efficiencies because of your work? How do you measure your success and impact on the business? Prompt writing is such a new occupation, so show that you have an idea about what efficiency looks like.

How to close a prompt engineer cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

Close the prompt engineer cover letter with a sense of certainty that you can make a difference to your employer. Are you truly going to make a difference to their AI process or are you still a little uncertain of it? End with one last note about a positive contribution.

Every prompt engineer applicant will undoubtedly be curious about how the role will fit into their future organization, so stating that you are looking forward to finding out more during an interview is perfectly natural. This call to action will hopefully prompt the employer to invite you to an interview. If you are good at your role you won’t be on the job market for long.

Prompt engineer cover letter with no experience

Prompt engineering is a very new role, so while you may not have had that specific job title it is likely that you will have plenty of transferable skills. Most prompt engineers currently have a significant amount of experience in the AI industry, maybe working in functions such as marketing, but there will be an influx of writers and journalists as the position becomes more widespread. If you are someone who takes an interest in the impact of your words, it could be a fascinating role. Here are two tips if you do not have experience:

• Make sure that you highlight the business impact of your writing. How has your writing increased profits and driven awareness? How did you measure it?
• Indicate that you understand the process of prompt writing and share any AI experience that you have. If your cover letter is devoid of any mention of AI, you shouldn’t expect a callback. Everyone has used ChatGPT and similar software.

Key takeaways

1. Make the cover letter a mix of professional and personal qualities.
2. Keep it professional and share the details of your qualifications.
3. Think about the culture of the company that you will be joining.
4. Decide on an attractive layout with our cover letter templates.