cover-letter-creating

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---
name: cover-letter-creating
description: >
  Use this skill to produce a tailored, ATS-optimized cover letter as a styled PDF that matches the professional reference design. Trigger whenever the user wants to: write or rewrite a cover letter, generate a job application letter, tailor a cover letter to a specific job description, or produce a cover letter PDF from a CV + job description. Also trigger on phrases like "write me a cover letter", "draft a cover letter for this job", "make a cover letter matching my CV", "cover letter PDF", or when the user provides a CV and job description and wants application materials. Always use this skill when a cover letter PDF is the expected output.
---

# Cover Letter Skill

Produces a tailored, ATS-optimized cover letter as a **PDF** that matches the reference design in `assets/design-reference.pdf`.

## Reference Asset

`assets/design-reference.pdf` is the visual and structural template. Study it before every run.

### Design Spec (from the reference)

| Element | Spec |
|---|---|
| **Page** | A4 (596 × 842 pts), ~25mm left/right margins, ~30mm top margin |
| **Header — Name** | Centered, ~24pt, bold, Times New Roman or STIXTwoText-Bold, black |
| **Header — Contact line** | Centered, ~10pt, regular, location · phone · email separated by `·` |
| **Header — LinkedIn/URL** | Centered, ~10pt, hyperlink blue underlined |
| **Divider** | Full-width horizontal rule (~0.8pt, black), immediately below the URL line |
| **Company block** | Left-aligned, ~11pt regular — Company name, Address, Date (each on its own line, ~6pt spacing between) |
| **Subject line** | Left-aligned, **bold**, ~11pt — "Application for [Role] - Start Date: [Date]" |
| **Salutation** | Left-aligned, ~11pt regular — "Dear [Name]," with one blank line above and below |
| **Body paragraphs** | Justified, ~11pt, ~16pt line spacing, ~10pt spacing between paragraphs |
| **Closing** | Left-aligned — "Warm regards," then full name on next line |
| **Body font** | STIXTwoText-Regular (fallback: Times New Roman) |
| **Bold font** | STIXTwoText-Bold (fallback: Times New Roman Bold) |
| **No color anywhere** — pure black and white except the LinkedIn hyperlink blue |

---

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Gather Inputs

You need all three:
1. **Candidate CV** — for skills, experience, and personal details to draw from
2. **Job description** — for keyword extraction and role-specific tailoring
3. **Basic letter details** — company name, hiring manager name (if known), role title, desired start date, company address

If anything is missing, ask before writing.

### Step 2 — Keyword Extraction & CV Matching

**From the job description, extract:**
- Core technical skills and tools explicitly mentioned
- Domain / industry keywords (e.g. "digital transformation", "financial sector", "agile")
- Soft skills called out (e.g. "analytical thinking", "client-facing", "problem-solving")
- Any specific methodologies, frameworks, or certifications

**From the CV, identify:**
- Experiences that directly map to the JD keywords
- Quantified achievements that can anchor the letter's narrative
- Skills that match — these become the backbone of the letter's evidence

**Matching logic:**
- Every keyword used in the letter must map to something real in the CV
- Never mention a skill or tool the candidate doesn't have on their CV
- If the JD asks for something absent from the CV, skip it silently — do not fabricate

### Step 3 — Write the Letter

**Structure (follow the reference exactly):**

```
[Name — centered bold]
[Location · Phone · Email — centered]
[LinkedIn URL — centered, underlined]
────────────────────────────────────────

[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[Date]

Application for [Role Title] - Start Date: [Date]

Dear [Hiring Manager Name] and [Team],

OPENING PARAGRAPH
Hook — connect the candidate's background directly to the role.
Name-drop the company and role explicitly. State the core value proposition.

EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH (1–2 paragraphs)
Tell