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@Dookmarriot
If you’re requiring a cover letter, then you deserve to get an AI-generated one.
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Community Sentiment Analysis
Real-time analysis of public opinion and engagement
Sentiment Distribution
74% Engaged
52% Positive
22% Negative
Positive
52%
Negative
22%
Neutral
26%
Key Takeaways
What the community is saying — both sides
Supporting
1
AI screens AI
A dominant thread is that applicant-tracking systems and AI screen resumes and cover letters, so candidates use AI to stuff keywords and beat the filters. People describe a machine-to-machine loop where neither side actually reads the other’s work.
2
Applying is a numbers game
Job seekers say they must send hundreds of applications to get a single interview, so speed and volume trump bespoke effort. That grind drives reliance on tools that automate cover-letter production.
3
Cover letters seen as pointless ritual
Many call cover letters a humiliation or relic — busy applicants and jaded reviewers view them as wasteful unless a real person will read them. Several voices urge employers to stop asking for them.
4
Sterile, buzzword-heavy output provokes backlash
Commenters dislike identical, jargon-laden AI text and say it signals low effort; the letters that stand out are those with personal anecdotes or genuine specificity.
5
Use-AI-wisely advocates
some recommend treating generative models as a drafting tool — write yourself, run AI for feedback, then edit — so there’s a human-in-the-loop signal rather than an off-the-shelf blob.
6
Employers get called out too
posters blame HR-written, AI-generated job ads and opaque processes for creating this arms race, and they urge hiring teams to be transparent about how applications are reviewed or to redesign the flow.
7
Harder solutions and experiments
a few replies propose live writing tests, AI-blocking proctoring, or new hiring portals to surface genuine candidates and deter mass-produced submissions.
8
Systemic worry
many see this as a dehumanising feedback loop — “AI marking its own homework” — that erodes trust and squeezes authentic signals out of recruitment, suggesting the problem is structural, not just individual laziness.
Opposing
1
AI as a pragmatic tool for applicants — A large portion of replies treat generative tools as a sensible shortcut
people are applying to dozens or hundreds of jobs, so using AI to draft or match language is framed as efficient, time-saving, and practical.
2
System-driven behavior — Many argue candidates are forced into this by hiring systems (ATS/AI sifts, boilerplate job ads, low response rates), so AI use is a rational response to a broken process rather than an ethical lapse
System-driven behavior — Many argue candidates are forced into this by hiring systems (ATS/AI sifts, boilerplate job ads, low response rates), so AI use is a rational response to a broken process rather than an ethical lapse.
3
Turnabout and fairness — Frequent comments point out a double standard
employers already use automation to screen applicants, so applicants using the same tools is “fair play” and reflects real-world tool literacy.
4
Skill with AI as a signal — Several replies suggest evaluating how well candidates use AI could be a legitimate criterion
effective AI use is portrayed as a modern workplace skill, not mere cheating.
5
Cover letters seen as outdated or wasteful — Many responders call cover letters tedious, low-value, or relics of past hiring norms; for most roles they say CVs and interviews are the real tests
Cover letters seen as outdated or wasteful — Many responders call cover letters tedious, low-value, or relics of past hiring norms; for most roles they say CVs and interviews are the real tests.
6
Calls for compassion and process reform — A strong thread urges recruiters to stop penalizing desperate applicants, simplify application requirements, and invest in fairer, human-centered hiring practices
Calls for compassion and process reform — A strong thread urges recruiters to stop penalizing desperate applicants, simplify application requirements, and invest in fairer, human-centered hiring practices.
7
Pushback about authenticity and standards — A minority worry about laziness, dishonesty, or loss of genuine voice; some insist truly tailored, human-written materials still matter for top roles
Pushback about authenticity and standards — A minority worry about laziness, dishonesty, or loss of genuine voice; some insist truly tailored, human-written materials still matter for top roles.
8
Notice of abusive and hostile replies — Several responses include profanity, insults, xenophobic or demeaning language; these reactions amplify tension and illustrate how fraught the topic is
Notice of abusive and hostile replies — Several responses include profanity, insults, xenophobic or demeaning language; these reactions amplify tension and illustrate how fraught the topic is.
9
Practical takeaway for employers — Read CVs, consider reducing hoops, and use AI-awareness as part of assessment rather than blanket rejection; many suggest interviewing to reveal true fit rather than over-relying on polished cover letter prose
Practical takeaway for employers — Read CVs, consider reducing hoops, and use AI-awareness as part of assessment rather than blanket rejection; many suggest interviewing to reveal true fit rather than over-relying on polished cover letter prose.
Top Reactions
Most popular replies, ranked by engagement
B
@bobdylansbarber
mply want to express their deep passion for the opportunity to leverage their dynamic skillset within your fast-paced, results-driven organisation. As proactive self-starters with proven track records of thinking outside the box, they pride themselves on adding value, driving
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@boswelltoday
It’s time to drop cover letters. They’ve always been a waste of time. IMHO.
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@thorton_throck
Because I'm not spending an hour writing a letter you're going to scan for 30 seconds. The return on investment is too low for the hundred of these you have to write while looking for a job.
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@nahnoneofthat
Because when people did it from the heart, no one glanced at it. Don’t big corporations use a software that counts how many “key” words are found on the resume? Seems a little silly that applicants shouldn’t use a software to help them try to stand out, doesn’t it?
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@BbbrooksKelly
Because you’re asking for a cover letter when they are getting rejected from 100 jobs per week. Just look at CVs mate and then interview. Stop putting people through hoops
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