ai-job-search/.claude/skills/job-application-assistant/03-writing-style.md

Writing Style Guide

Critical Rules

1. NO em-dashes (--). Use commas, periods, or restructure the sentence instead.
2. NO cliches or filler phrases. Cut: "I am passionate about", "I believe I would be a great fit", "leverage my skills", "hit the ground running", "drive results", "synergies".
3. NO generic buzzwords without concrete backing. Every claim must be supported by a specific example or fact.
4. NO apologetic or overly humble language. Not "I think I could contribute" but "I bring X, demonstrated by Y."
5. NO unverified company claims. Every company-specific statement in a cover letter (partnerships, product names, technology descriptions, expansions) must be independently verified via WebFetch or WebSearch before inclusion. Do not trust reviewer agent research at face value. If a claim cannot be verified, rephrase it in general terms or omit it.
6. Reframe emphasis, not substance. Some framing of experience toward the target role is expected. But apply the interview backtrack test: could the candidate comfortably explain this bullet in an interview without backtracking? If they'd have to say "well, what I actually meant was..." then it's too far. Specifically:
   • OK: Reordering experience to lead with what's most relevant; using natural synonyms for the target domain; emphasizing one aspect of a broad role.
   • Flag it: Combining academic + industry experience into a single claim that implies it was all industry; describing work using the posting's specific terminology when the actual work was adjacent but not the same.
   • Never: Claiming experience the candidate doesn't have; implying they worked in a domain they haven't. When a bullet falls in the "flag it" zone, present it to the user after drafting with: "This bullet is a stretch because X. Keep, soften, or drop?" If the evaluation experience match score is below 50, warn before proceeding to drafting that extensive reframing would be needed.

Tone

• Warm but direct. Friendly and approachable, but confident without arrogance.
• Conversational professional. Not stiff corporate-speak, not casual chat. Think: how a confident person talks in a good job interview.
• First person, active voice. "I built" not "a system was developed by the candidate."
• Demonstrate, don't state. Instead of "I am a team player", write a specific example of teamwork and its outcome.

Application Headline (Best Practice)

The subject line / headline of the application should be engaging and specific, not generic.

Bad: "Application for Sales Engineer Position" / "Ansogning til stilling som ingeniør" Good: "[Your specialty] specializing in [relevant keyword from posting]"

Formula: [Title/education] + [relevant keyword from the job posting]

Scannable Structure (Best Practice)

Employers scan applications quickly. Structure for easy reading:

• Use descriptive subheadings that reflect content (not just "Introduction" / "Body")
• Include industry-specific keywords in headings where natural
• Write concisely - eliminate filler language
• One page maximum (hard rule)

Forward-Looking Framing (Best Practice)

The cover letter is not a CV repetition. It should be forward-looking:

• Focus on tasks you can solve for the employer, not just what you've done before
• Describe your approach: methods, tools, knowledge you'll bring
• Explain what positive outcomes the employer can expect from hiring you
• Use 1-2 brief past examples only to back up forward-looking claims

Cover Letter Structure

Opening Paragraph

• State the role and why you're writing (1 sentence)
• Immediately connect your background to the role (1-2 sentences)
• Make it specific to this company/role, not a template opener

Body Paragraphs - Task-Solving Focus

• Lead with the most relevant experience for this specific role
• Frame content around which of their tasks you can solve and how
• Describe your approach: methods, tools, and knowledge you'll bring
• Use bullet lists for concrete skills/achievements when appropriate (3-5 bullets)
• Each bullet should be specific and outcome-oriented
• Include at least one example that shows initiative
• Include 1-2 brief examples of past success, but keep the focus forward-looking

Motivation / Why This Company (place early)

• The first section after the opening should explain why you're applying to this specific company
• Use language and themes from the job posting and company website
• Focus on how you'll contribute to their goals, not what you gain from employment
• If you spoke with someone at the company, reference the conversation naturally

Company-Specific Paragraph

• Show you've researched the company (mention specific projects, values, or market position)
• Explain why this company specifically, not just "a company like yours"
• Connect domain knowledge to their business context

Closing

• Brief, confident, forward-looking
• "I look forward to hearing from you" or "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss..."
• No begging or over-enthusiasm

Bullet Point Style

• Start with action verb or bold category label
• Be specific: numbers, tools, outcomes
• Vary the structure (not every bullet starts the same way)

Language for Different Role Types

Technical/ML roles

• Lead with programming languages, ML frameworks, specific model architectures
• Mention datasets, data volumes, pipeline complexity
• Include independent projects

Domain-specific roles

• Lead with domain expertise and specific methods
• Frame technical skills as tools that enhance domain analysis

Consulting/Advisory roles

• Lead with stakeholder communication, project coordination, client interaction
• Emphasize ability to bridge technical and business perspectives

Leadership/Senior roles

• Lead with project management, mentoring, course development
• Frame advanced degrees as evidence of independent project delivery

Multi-language Applications

• Default to the language of the job posting
• Cover letters in the posting's language should feel natural, not translated
• Slightly warmer, more personal tone may be acceptable in some languages