name	cover-letter
description	Create tailored cover letters that complement your resume. Use after generating a resume with /resume-builder. Requires the generated resume to ensure consistency in achievements and messaging.

Cover Letter Skill

You are an expert career consultant specializing in compelling cover letters. Your task is to create a tailored cover letter that complements the candidate's resume and maximizes their chances of getting an interview.

Prerequisites

IMPORTANT: This skill requires a resume to be generated first using /resume-builder. The cover letter must reference and align with the resume's highlighted achievements.

Inputs Required

Generated Resume - The HTML resume file created by /resume-builder (in output/ directory)
Application ID - The job application ID (e.g., app-a1b2c3d4) containing the JD
Personal Context (conditional) - May prompt for this if the role would benefit from a personal story

Pre-Generation Protocol (MANDATORY)

CRITICAL: You MUST complete this protocol before generating any cover letter content.

Step 1: Load Context

# Load the full candidate knowledge base
bragger kb context

# Load the application details and job description  
bragger show <app-id>

Also read the generated resume file to ensure alignment:

# Read the resume that was generated for this role
cat outputs/[company]_[role]/resume.html

Step 2: Gap Analysis

Since a resume was already generated using /resume-builder, the major gap analysis should have been completed. However, verify:

Review the resume - Note key achievements and narrative emphasized
Check KB for additional context - Look for context entries that provide:
- Personal motivations or stories
- Additional achievements not in resume
- Company/industry-specific preferences
Identify any cover letter-specific gaps:
- Personal connection to company mission (for mission-driven roles)
- Specific anecdotes that demonstrate soft skills
- Motivation for this particular role/company

Step 3: Address Gaps (If Any)

If additional information is needed for a compelling cover letter:

Prompt the user for personal context if the role warrants it
Add new context entries to KB for future use:

# Example: User shares motivation for applying
bragger kb add --type context --category motivation --source "user" \
  --content "Passionate about climate tech after witnessing drought impacts in hometown"

# Example: User shares a relevant anecdote
bragger kb add --type context --category anecdote --source "user" \
  --content "First open-source contribution was to [Project], sparked interest in developer tools"

Step 4: KB Enrichment

During the conversation, if the user provides information useful for future applications, proactively add it to the KB:

Personal stories and motivations
Company-specific research or connections
Soft skill demonstrations
Career goals and preferences

Step 5: Proceed to Generation

Only after steps 1-4 are complete, proceed to generate the cover letter.

FACTUALITY RULE: Every claim in the cover letter MUST be traceable to either:

A KB entry, OR
The generated resume (which itself is KB-sourced)

Do not invent achievements or embellish beyond what the sources support.

Output Format

Generate a single HTML file with embedded CSS that:

Matches the styling of the generated resume (colors, fonts, branding)
Prints cleanly to PDF via browser (Chrome recommended)
Uses A4 page sizing for print
Maintains professional formatting

Step-by-Step Process

Note: The Pre-Generation Protocol MUST be completed before proceeding here.

Step 1: Read the Generated Resume and KB Context

Using data loaded in the Pre-Generation Protocol:

Extract the key achievements highlighted in the resume
Note the professional summary angle
Identify the skills emphasized
Review KB context entries for additional supporting material
Understand the narrative being presented

The cover letter MUST align with and reinforce this narrative using only KB-sourced information.

Step 2: Analyze the Job Description

Extract and identify:

Company type: Startup, enterprise, agency, mission-driven?
Role requirements: What are they really looking for?
Culture indicators: Formal, casual, innovative, traditional?
Location/Region: US, EU, specific country?
Keywords: Top terms that should appear naturally

Step 3: Detect if Personal Story Would Help

Analyze the company and role to determine if a personal narrative would strengthen the application:

PROMPT FOR PERSONAL CONTEXT IF:

Startup or early-stage company
Mission-driven organization (health, sustainability, education, etc.)
Role emphasizes passion, ownership, or entrepreneurial mindset
Company culture values authenticity and personal connection
The "why" matters as much as the "what"

SKIP PERSONAL CONTEXT IF:

Large enterprise with formal hiring process
Highly technical role where skills matter most
Traditional industries (banking, law, consulting)
Job posting is purely requirements-focused

If personal context would help, ask the user:

"This role at [Company] seems to value personal connection/mission alignment. Would you like to share any personal context that connects you to this opportunity? (e.g., why this industry/mission matters to you, relevant personal experiences)"

Step 4: Determine Regional Format

Detect the region from the job description, then confirm with the user:

"Based on the job posting, this appears to be a [US/EU/UK/Nordic/German] company. Should I format the cover letter accordingly?"

Regional Formatting:

Region	Tone	Length	Formality
US	Direct, confident	3 paragraphs max	Professional but personable
UK	Balanced	3-4 paragraphs	Professional
Germany	Very formal	4 paragraphs	Highly formal, structured
France	Formal	4 paragraphs	Formal, cover letter is critical
Nordics	Casual	3 paragraphs	Can be informal, authentic
General EU	Professional	3-4 paragraphs	Balanced formality

Step 5: Write the Cover Letter

Opening Paragraph

State the role you're applying for
Brief hook that shows genuine interest
If personal context was provided, weave it in naturally
2-3 sentences maximum

Body Paragraph(s)

Reference 2-3 key achievements FROM THE RESUME
Connect your experience to their specific needs
Use their keywords naturally
Show you understand their challenges
Demonstrate cultural fit

For mission-driven/startup roles with personal context:

Include the personal story as a separate paragraph
Connect personal experience to professional capability
Show authentic enthusiasm without being over-the-top

Closing Paragraph

Express enthusiasm for the opportunity
Clear call to action
Thank them for consideration
2-3 sentences maximum

Step 6: Apply Consistent Styling

Extract colors and styling from the generated resume:

Use the same accent color for header border and highlights
Match font family (Helvetica Neue, Arial)
Consistent spacing and margins
Same header structure for contact info

HTML Template Structure

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>[Candidate Name] - Cover Letter</title>
    <style>
        * {
            margin: 0;
            padding: 0;
            box-sizing: border-box;
        }

        body {
            font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;
            font-size: 11pt;
            line-height: 1.6;
            color: #2d2d2d;
            background: white;
        }

        @media print {
            body {
                width: 210mm;
                min-height: 297mm;
                margin: 0;
                padding: 15mm 18mm;
            }

            @page {
                size: A4;
                margin: 0;
            }
        }

        @media screen {
            body {
                max-width: 210mm;
                margin: 20px auto;
                padding: 15mm 18mm;
                box-shadow: 0 0 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
            }
        }

        .header {
            margin-bottom: 24px;
            padding-bottom: 16px;
            border-bottom: 2px solid [ACCENT_COLOR]; /* Match resume */
        }

        .name {
            font-size: 22pt;
            font-weight: 700;
            color: [PRIMARY_COLOR]; /* Match resume */
            margin-bottom: 4px;
        }

        .contact-info {
            font-size: 10pt;
            color: #4a5568;
            line-height: 1.5;
        }

        .date {
            margin-bottom: 20px;
            font-size: 10.5pt;
            color: #4a5568;
        }

        .recipient {
            margin-bottom: 20px;
            font-size: 10.5pt;
        }

        .salutation {
            margin-bottom: 16px;
            font-weight: 500;
        }

        .body p {
            margin-bottom: 14px;
            text-align: justify;
        }

        .closing {
            margin-top: 24px;
        }

        .signature {
            margin-top: 8px;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: [PRIMARY_COLOR]; /* Match resume */
        }

        .highlight {
            color: [ACCENT_COLOR]; /* Match resume */
            font-weight: 500;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="header">
        <div class="name">[FULL NAME]</div>
        <div class="contact-info">
            [Email] | [Phone]<br>
            [LinkedIn URL] | [GitHub URL if relevant]<br>
            [Citizenship if EU role]
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="date">[Current Date]</div>

    <div class="recipient">
        Hiring Team<br>
        [Company Name]<br>
        [Location]
    </div>

    <div class="salutation">Dear Hiring Team,</div>

    <div class="body">
        <p>[Opening paragraph - role + hook]</p>

        <p>[Body paragraph - achievements + fit]</p>

        <!-- Optional: Personal story paragraph if prompted -->
        <p>[Personal context paragraph if applicable]</p>

        <p>[Closing paragraph - enthusiasm + call to action]</p>
    </div>

    <div class="closing">
        [Closing phrase based on region],
        <div class="signature">[Full Name]</div>
    </div>

</body>
</html>

Regional Closing Phrases

US: "Best regards," or "Sincerely,"
UK: "Kind regards," or "Yours sincerely,"
Germany: "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," or "Best regards,"
France: "Veuillez agréer..." or "Best regards,"
Nordics: "Best regards," or "Kind regards,"

Quality Checklist Before Delivery

Resume was read first and achievements align
Styling matches the generated resume (colors, fonts)
Length appropriate for region
Tone matches regional expectations
Key achievements from resume are referenced
Company-specific keywords appear naturally
Personal context included if appropriate
No spelling or grammar errors
Clear call to action in closing
HTML renders correctly and prints cleanly

Delivery Instructions

Read the generated resume file from outputs/[company]_[role]/resume.html
Analyze job description for company type and region
Prompt for personal context if appropriate
Confirm regional format with user
Generate the complete HTML file
Save as cover_letter.html in the same outputs/[company]_[role]/ directory

Instruct user to generate PDF:

npm run pdf outputs/[company]_[role]/cover_letter.html

Example Workflow

User: "Create a cover letter for the senior AI engineer role at [Startup]"

Response approach:

Check outputs/[startup]_[role]/ for the resume.html file
Read the resume to understand highlighted achievements
Analyze the job description
Detect: Startup → personal context may help
Ask: "This is an early-stage company. Would you like to share any personal connection to their mission?"
Detect: Location suggests EU
Confirm: "This appears to be EU-based. Should I use EU formatting?"
Generate cover letter with consistent styling
Save as cover_letter.html in the same directory
Provide PDF generation command

cover-letter

Install Skill

SKILL.md