Inki Tools
Free Cover Letter Checker
Paste your cover letter for a free review of what a hiring manager notices first: a generic opening, claims with no results, and no link to the role.
We never store your text or use it to train AI.
0/2500
What it checks
Five things it checks, starting with what a hiring manager notices first
- 1
A specific reason for this role
Checks whether your opening says why you want this job at this company. An opening that could go to any employer, such as "I am writing to express my interest in...", is flagged first.
- 2
Results, not duties
Checks whether your claims are backed by what changed because of your work: a number, a result, or an example. "I was responsible for..." lines and lists of adjectives are flagged.
- 3
A link to what the employer needs
Checks whether each part of your experience is tied to something the job needs. Without the job post, it reads the role as your letter describes it.
- 4
Sounds like you, not a template
Points out stock phrases, stiff wording, a generic greeting, and a closing that only waits for a reply. These findings come after the first three.
- 5
A fix you can adapt
The suggested fix changes one sentence. Where it needs a fact your letter does not include, it leaves a placeholder such as [company name] or [number] for you to fill in.
Before / After
Examples
Generic opening
Before
I am writing to apply for the Marketing Coordinator position at your company.
After
I am applying for the Marketing Coordinator role at [company name] because [specific reason, such as a campaign or product of theirs you know].
Duties instead of results
Before
I was responsible for the store's social media accounts.
After
I ran the store's social media accounts and grew followers by [number] in [time period].
Skills with no example
Before
I have excellent communication skills, which I used to lead weekly staff meetings.
After
I led weekly meetings for [number] staff members.
No link to the job
Before
I have five years of experience in customer service.
After
Your posting asks for [skill from the job post], and in five years of customer service I [how you used that skill].
About what you want
Before
This role would be a great opportunity for me to grow my career.
After
In this role, I can bring [skill] to [team or goal from the job post].
Repeating your resume
Before
As you can see on my resume, I have worked in retail, hospitality, and sales.
After
Across retail, hospitality, and sales, I have spent [number] years [the skill this role needs most].
Apologizing for a gap
Before
I know I don't have direct marketing experience, but I am a fast learner.
After
My [related experience] gave me practice in [skill the role needs].
Stiff, old-fashioned wording
Before
Please find enclosed herewith my resume for your kind perusal.
After
I have attached my resume.
Generic greeting
Before
To Whom It May Concern,
After
Dear [hiring manager's name],
Passive closing
Before
I look forward to hearing from you.
After
I would welcome the chance to talk about how I could help with [team or goal from the job post].
FAQ
How long a cover letter can I check?
Up to 2,500 characters per check, including spaces, which is about 400 words. If your letter is longer, paste your opening first, then the paragraph you are least sure about. Findings about the order of the letter cover only the part you pasted. You get up to 3 findings and one suggested fix on this page.
Should I paste the job description too?
You do not need to. The check reads the role as your letter describes it. If you want it to judge the link to the job, add one line above the letter with the job title and one or two requirements from the post. That line counts toward the 2,500 characters.
Will it tell me whether my cover letter will pass an ATS?
No. It does not check keyword matches or predict whether an applicant tracking system or a recruiter will move you forward. It reads your letter the way a hiring manager would on a first pass and names the changes that would most improve it.
Can it write my cover letter for me?
No. It points out the lines to change and shows one rewritten sentence for the top finding. It does not add experience or results you did not write. Missing facts are left as placeholders such as [specific result].
What does the score mean?
The score from 0 to 100 shows how the letter reads right now. A generic opening and claims with no results lower it more than wording issues. It does not predict whether you will get an interview.
Does it check grammar and spelling?
No. It checks what a hiring manager reads for: a reason for this role, results, and a link to the job. Proofread separately before you send.
Can I use it for an application email or a message to a recruiter?
Yes, if it is part of a job application, such as a cover letter sent in the body of an email or a short note to a recruiter. Text that has nothing to do with applying for a job returns no result.
How is this different from a review by a career center?
You get the result right away, so it works as a first pass before you ask someone. It does not know the employer, the norms of your field, or the rest of your application, so for an important application, ask a career center advisor or someone in the field to read the final version.
Is my text stored or used to train AI?
We never store your text or use it to train AI. Your text is sent to an AI model to run the check and then discarded. We keep only an anonymous one-way hash to catch abuse, never the text itself.
How many times can I use it for free?
You can run a set number of free checks each day. The count is shared with Inki's other free tools and resets at midnight Japan time (3:00 p.m. UTC).
Inki Learn
Keep reading
Alternatives to "Dear Sir or Madam"
Greetings for a cover letter when you know the name, and when you do not.
How to self-edit your own writing
Focused editing passes that catch what a single read-through misses.
How to make AI writing sound natural
The stock wording, flat rhythm, and hedging that give AI drafts away.
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