write-application

name	write-application
description	This skill should be used when the user asks to "write a cover letter", "draft outreach", "LinkedIn message", "referral ask", "write my essay", "answer this application question", or "help me apply to [company]". Produces all written application materials in one flow.
argument-hint	<JD text or company name; for essays, include prompts and word limits>
user-invocable	true
allowed-tools	["Read","Grep","Glob"]

/write-application

Usage

/write-application <paste JD or company name>
/write-application <essay prompt with word limit>

Inputs

• Job description (provided by user)
• knowledge/profile.md — candidate context
• knowledge/frameworks/writing-framework.md — apply to every paragraph
• knowledge/voice/samples.md — match this tone
• If available: output/[company]/fit-analysis.md — what to emphasize
• For essays: the question(s) and word limits

Produce

1. Cover Letter (~250-300 words, 3 paragraphs max)

• Para 1: Hook — specific to THIS company. Reference something real. No generic openers.
• Para 2: Evidence — specific achievements that map to the role's biggest needs. Use numbers.
• Para 3: Forward — what you'll bring, confident close.

2. LinkedIn DM

• Connection note (max 300 characters)
• Follow-up message (concise, ~150 words)
• Hook with something specific about their work. Clear ask, easy to respond to.

3. Referral Ask Message (if mutual connection exists)

Warm, specific, not transactional. Give them everything they need to refer in 2 sentences.

4. Email Subject Lines

3 options, ranked by open-rate likelihood.

5. Application Essays (if essay questions provided)

For each essay question:

• Draft — within word limit, ready to submit
• Word count — confirm it's within limits (aim for 90-100% of limit)
• Key choices — why you emphasized what you did
• Alternative angle — a different approach if user wants options

Output Format

## Cover Letter

[Full cover letter text — ready to copy/paste]

---

## LinkedIn

**Connection note (≤300 chars):**
[text]

**Follow-up message:**
[text]

---

## Referral Ask
[text — or "No mutual connection identified"]

---

## Email Subject Lines
1. [option — why it works]
2. [option]
3. [option]

---

## Essay: "[Question]" (word limit: X)
**Word count:** X/Y

[Full essay text]

**Why this angle:** [brief explanation]
**Alternative angle:** [one-sentence alternative if they want a different approach]

If Something Goes Wrong

• No JD provided: Ask for it — "Paste the JD or tell me the company and role."
• No writing framework set up: Use defaults (direct, confident, evidence-based) and note: "Run /personalize framework to set up your voice for better results."
• No knowledge base at all: Stop and say: "Run /personalize first — I need your profile and stories to write compelling materials."
• Essay exceeds word limit: Cut ruthlessly. Every sentence must earn its place.

After Output

• "Want to adjust the tone? Tell me what to change"
• "Have essay prompts? Paste them and I'll draft responses"
• "Ready to track this? /pipeline-status add [company] [role]"
• "Need interview prep? /interview-prep"

Rules

• Apply writing framework to every paragraph — no exceptions
• Match candidate's voice from samples
• Never use: "I am writing to express my interest"
• Never use: "I am passionate about"
• Tone: confident, specific, human — not corporate, not desperate
• Never fabricate stories or metrics — reference specific stories from knowledge/stories/
• "Why company" must reference something only TRUE of that company