WE NEED TO TALK.
AI is brilliant. There, I said it. It’s fast, it’s helpful, and it’s like having a well-read assistant who never sleeps and doesn’t require coffee breaks (although, I feel like it probably would if it could). But when it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, there’s a big difference between getting help and handing over the wheel entirely. Is an AI cover letter the way to go?
Let me give you a real example.
While working in the BVIs recently, a guy applied for a position onboard. His CV was decent enough at first glance, but his cover letter… oof. He’d copied and pasted the entire thing from ChatGPT or something similar, word-for-word. I mean, it read like the instruction manual for a toaster. There was no personality, no insight into who he was, and definitely no sign that he understood the role, the yacht, or even the region we were in.
Yes, we still looked at his CV. But he’d already unintentionally crossed himself off the list. The obviously-written AI cover letter was a big red flag, not because he used AI (I’m all for it!), but because he didn’t personalise a single word. It made us feel like we were just yacht number 17 on a long list of generic copy-pastes.
The takeaway? If your application reads like it’s come from the same bot that helps you write grocery lists, chances are it’s not going to land you a luxury job at sea.
So Should You Avoid AI Altogether? Absolutely Not.
AI is a brilliant tool. Emphasis on tool. Like a mop or a steamer or that one crew member who can fold a fitted sheet like a pro… it’s best used as part of your process, not the whole thing.
Here’s how to make AI your sidekick, not your spokesperson:
DO: Use AI for Structure and Inspiration
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Stuck on how to start your cover letter? Ask AI to give you some outline options.
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Not sure what skills are worth highlighting for a housekeeping role vs. a service-heavy role? Ask for suggestions.
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Want to tidy up your phrasing or grammar? AI can help polish your draft.
Think of it like a rough sketch. You still need to colour it in with your experience, your story, and your personality.
DON’T: Copy and Paste an Entire Generated AI Cover Letter
It might sound fancy. It might even impress your nan. But to an experienced recruiter or chief stew who’s read 1,000 cover letters… it screams “generic.” And guess what we’re not hiring? Generic.
Your cover letter should sound like you. You can be polished and professional without sounding like ChatGPT wrote your love letter to the industry.
DO: Inject Your Personality (Just… Tastefully)
You don’t need to go overboard and include your star sign or that you’re “spiritually aligned with microfiber cloths.” But showing who you are, whether that’s a quick mention of your love for order, a passion for guest service, or how you once helped plan a surprise proposal onboard, makes a difference.
You want your letter to feel like a conversation, not a lecture.
DON’T: Pretend to Be Someone You’re Not (Especially Not a Corporate Sales Bro)
AI is trained on a lot of sales-y American-style copy. So when I see lines like:
“I am deeply passionate about leveraging luxury service excellence to elevate bespoke guest experiences…”
I start wondering if you’re applying to a Forbes boardroom instead of a 75m charter yacht.
You don’t need to use jargon or try to sound overly sophisticated. Be clear. Be confident. Be real. That’s far more impressive.
DO: Remember That This Might Be Brought Up in Your Interview
Here’s the thing: if your generated AI cover letter is dripping in poetic language and clever phrasing, but you show up to the Zoom interview and sound nothing like it; it’s going to be awkward.
The same way guests notice when you say “of course, sir” in service but mutter “no worries, mate” in the crew mess… the interviewer will clock it.
If your written application raises expectations you can’t match in real life, it could cost you the role.
Final Word
AI can be your backstage assistant, your brainstorm buddy, even your typo-fixer. But it shouldn’t be the one stepping on stage on your behalf.
Use it smartly. Use it ethically. Use it to get unstuck or refine what you’ve already written.
But the voice? The heart? The spark?
That’s all you.
And if you’re still unsure what to say or how to say it, come find me. I’ve got resources to help you craft a CV and cover letter that sounds like you (not ChatGPT’s corporate cousin). One that lands interviews and actually gets remembered.
Because in an industry built on people skills, character, and trust, you don’t want to be remembered as the robot. BUT for a little sprinkle of AI check out my AI CV Bio Generator to give you a helping hand when writing your yachting CV.
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