Three years ago, Richard McMunn of CareerVidz published a YouTube video that broke down how to create a CV and cover letter tailored to specific job descriptions. While I didn’t purchase the premium templates he offered, the video provided enough foundational insights for me to create two GPT-powered tools in ChatGPT that assist with this process. Although my system isn’t perfect, it’s a step toward making job applications more efficient.

The Video: A Launchpad for Creativity

In the video, McMunn outlines key principles for tailoring a CV and writing a compelling cover letter. His advice focused on dissecting job descriptions, aligning skills with employer requirements, and presenting a clean, professional format. He also shared a free CV template and offered more detailed paid resources in the description.

If you’re curious about Richard McMunn’s work, check out his LinkedIn profile for more career advice and professional insights.

While I didn't invest in the premium templates, I adapted what I learned from the video to build two separate GPTs. Here’s how they work:

1. The CV Tailoring GPT

This tool helps users customize their CVs by matching their experience with the requirements outlined in job descriptions. Inspired by McMunn’s advice to focus on specific keywords and achievements, the GPT analyzes the job description and suggests edits to highlight relevant skills and experiences. It’s not as refined as it could be - owing to the lack of premium templates - but it manages to deliver reasonably tailored CV drafts.

2. The Cover Letter GPT

The second tool is a cover letter generator, designed around the template McMunn provided in his video. It walks users through structuring a cover letter with a professional introduction, relevant accomplishments, and a strong closing statement. Since it doesn’t have access to the additional examples and insights from the paid content, the GPT relies heavily on general principles and user-provided details.

Acknowledging the Limitations

While these tools are helpful, they are far from perfect. The CVs and cover letters they generate could be more polished, and the lack of access to the premium templates means I’m missing the advanced formatting and specific examples that McMunn included in his paid resources. If I were to invest in those templates, I believe the GPTs could be significantly improved, especially in terms of professionalism and consistency.

Try the GPTs

If you’re looking to streamline your job application process, check out these two GPT-powered tools:

• CV Tailoring GPT – Customize your CV based on specific job descriptions to highlight relevant skills and experiences.
• Cover Letter GPT – Create tailored, professional cover letters using a structured template inspired by CareerVidz.

These tools are free to use and aim to make crafting job applications easier.

Final Thoughts

Richard McMunn’s video was an excellent starting point for understanding how to tailor job application materials, and it inspired me to create tools that make the process more accessible. While they’re not as sophisticated as they could be, these GPTs serve as a practical aid for those looking to streamline their applications. If you’re serious about job applications, though, I’d recommend considering the premium resources McMunn offers - your career may thank you for it!