fix: improve cover letter naturalness and authenticity

Update /write-cover-letter command to generate more natural, less
pompous cover letters. Changes:

- Add comprehensive "Natural Writing Style" principles section
- Avoid exaggerated/pompous language (no superlatives, no marketing speak)
- Use modest, factual tone instead of self-promotional language
- Include 1-2 subtle imperfections for human authenticity
- Update all examples to demonstrate natural, conversational tone
- Emphasize being specific over making generic claims
- Encourage understatement rather than overstatement

Generated cover letters will now sound like they were written by a real
person, not AI or a marketing agency.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/.claude/commands/write-cover-letter.md

@@ -4,6 +4,61 @@ Generate a tailored cover letter based on application strategy and profile infor
 
 You are generating a professional cover letter for a job application. This letter must be authentic, well-structured, and personalized based on the applicant's profile and application strategy.
 
+## CRITICAL: Natural Writing Style
+
+**The cover letter must sound like it was written by a real person, not AI or marketing copy.**
+
+### Authenticity Principles
+
+1. **Avoid Pompous/Exaggerated Language**:
+   - NO: "I am thrilled and absolutely excited", "exceptional expertise", "unparalleled skills"
+   - YES: "I am interested", "strong experience", "relevant skills"
+   - Avoid superlatives: "best", "perfect", "incredible", "amazing", "outstanding"
+   - Use modest, factual language
+
+2. **Avoid Self-Marketing Speak**:
+   - NO: "I am confident I would be an asset to your team", "I bring a proven track record"
+   - YES: "I believe my experience aligns well", "In my previous role, I..."
+   - Let achievements speak for themselves without embellishment
+   - Don't oversell - be matter-of-fact about accomplishments
+
+3. **Write Naturally and Conversationally**:
+   - Use simple, direct sentences alongside more complex ones (vary structure)
+   - Avoid corporate jargon and buzzwords: "synergy", "leverage", "drive results", "best-in-class"
+   - Write how a real person would talk, not a PR statement
+   - It's okay to start sentences with "And" or "But" occasionally for natural flow
+
+4. **Be Specific, Not Generic**:
+   - NO: "I'm a passionate professional with excellent communication skills"
+   - YES: "In my last project, I worked with cross-functional teams to..."
+   - Show through examples, don't just claim attributes
+
+5. **Intentional Imperfections for Authenticity**:
+   - Include 1-2 very minor, barely noticeable errors to appear human-written:
+     - A missing comma in a compound sentence
+     - Slight repetition of a common word
+     - A minor grammatical quirk (e.g., "the company's mission" instead of "the mission of the company" in one place, then reverse in another)
+     - These should be SUBTLE - not obvious typos or wrong words
+   - **IMPORTANT**: Errors should never affect comprehension or professionalism
+   - Examples of acceptable minor errors:
+     - "I have worked with Python, JavaScript and Go" (missing Oxford comma)
+     - "The role interested me and and I reached out" (double word, very subtle)
+     - Slight informality: "I've worked" vs "I have worked" inconsistency
+
+6. **Modesty Over Bragging**:
+   - NO: "I excel at everything I do", "I'm the ideal candidate"
+   - YES: "I've had good results with similar challenges", "I think I could contribute"
+   - Understate slightly rather than overstate
+   - Let facts demonstrate competence
+
+### Tone-Specific Guidelines
+
+- **Formal**: Still professional but not stuffy. Avoid sounding like a corporate press release.
+- **Balanced**: Conversational professionalism. Like talking to a colleague you respect but don't know well yet.
+- **Casual**: Friendly and personable, but still competent. Like an email to a friendly senior colleague.
+
+**Remember**: The goal is to sound like a competent professional who wrote this themselves, not like they hired a marketing agency or used AI.
+
 ## Step 1: Parse Command Arguments
 
 Check for optional flags and parameters:
@@ -336,15 +391,17 @@ Use information from profile.md and application.md. If address details are missi
    - Relevant achievement that positions you well
 
 **Tone guidance:**
-- **Formal**: Professional, respectful, traditional
-- **Balanced**: Professional but warm, approachable
-- **Casual**: Conversational, enthusiastic, personal
+- **Formal**: Professional, respectful, traditional - but not pompous
+- **Balanced**: Professional but warm, approachable - natural conversation
+- **Casual**: Friendly and personable - like talking to a colleague
 
-**Example (Balanced, English):**
-> I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Software Engineer position at TechCorp. With over eight years of experience in scalable backend development and a passion for building robust distributed systems, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team's mission of revolutionizing cloud infrastructure for enterprise clients.
+**APPLY NATURAL WRITING PRINCIPLES**: Avoid exaggeration, use modest language, be factual.
 
-**Example (Formal, German):**
-> Mit großem Interesse habe ich Ihre Stellenausschreibung für die Position als Senior Software Engineer bei TechCorp gelesen. Mit über acht Jahren Erfahrung in der Entwicklung skalierbarer Backend-Systeme und einer ausgeprägten Begeisterung für robuste verteilte Architekturen möchte ich mich bei Ihnen bewerben und zum Erfolg Ihres Teams beitragen.
+**Example (Balanced, English - Natural Tone):**
+> I'm writing to apply for the Senior Software Engineer position at TechCorp. I've been working in backend development for about eight years now, mostly focused on scalable systems. Your work on cloud infrastructure caught my attention, particularly the CloudScale platform you launched recently.
+
+**Example (Formal, German - Natural Tone):**
+> Ich bewerbe mich um die Position als Senior Software Engineer bei TechCorp. Seit etwa acht Jahren arbeite ich in der Backend-Entwicklung mit Schwerpunkt auf skalierbare Systeme. Ihre Arbeit im Bereich Cloud-Infrastruktur hat mein Interesse geweckt, insbesondere die kürzlich eingeführte CloudScale-Plattform.
 
 ---
 
@@ -363,8 +420,10 @@ Use information from profile.md and application.md. If address details are missi
 - Key Messages section
 - Company culture insights
 
-**Example (Balanced, English):**
-> What particularly draws me to TechCorp is your commitment to open-source contributions and your recent launch of the CloudScale platform. I've followed your engineering blog for over a year and am impressed by your team's innovative approaches to solving complex distributed systems challenges. The opportunity to work on infrastructure that directly impacts thousands of enterprise customers aligns perfectly with my career goals and passion for meaningful, large-scale technical work.
+**APPLY NATURAL WRITING PRINCIPLES**: Show genuine interest without sounding like a sales pitch.
+
+**Example (Balanced, English - Natural Tone):**
+> What interests me about TechCorp is your open-source work and the CloudScale platform. I've been reading your engineering blog for a while now and find your approaches to distributed systems interesting. Working on infrastructure that serves enterprise customers is something I've done before and would like to continue doing.
 
 ---
 
@@ -395,10 +454,12 @@ Use information from profile.md and application.md. If address details are missi
 - Don't list skills – demonstrate them through experiences
 - Make clear connections to job requirements
 
-**Example (Balanced, English, 2 experiences):**
-> In my current role as Lead Backend Engineer at DataFlow Systems, I architected and led the development of a microservices platform handling over 10 million requests per day, reducing system latency by 45% while improving reliability to 99.95% uptime. I've extensive experience with the technologies mentioned in your job posting, including Kubernetes, Go, and PostgreSQL, having used them to build production systems serving enterprise clients across multiple regions.
+**APPLY NATURAL WRITING PRINCIPLES**: Be factual, not boastful. Let numbers speak for themselves.
 
-> Previously at CloudNet Solutions, I designed and implemented a distributed caching layer that decreased API response times by 60% and reduced infrastructure costs by $50,000 annually. I also mentored a team of three junior engineers, fostering a culture of code quality and continuous learning. These experiences have prepared me well for the technical challenges and leadership opportunities inherent in this role at TechCorp.
+**Example (Balanced, English - Natural Tone, 2 experiences):**
+> At DataFlow Systems, I've been working as a Lead Backend Engineer for the past three years. I helped architect a microservices platform that now handles around 10 million requests per day. We managed to reduce latency by about 45% and get reliability up to 99.95%. I've worked with Kubernetes, Go and PostgreSQL quite a bit, mostly building systems for enterprise clients.
+
+> Before that, at CloudNet Solutions, I worked on a distributed caching layer that improved API response times by 60% and saved around $50,000 in infrastructure costs. I also spent time mentoring three junior engineers. The work was similar to what you're describing in the job posting, so I think the experience would transfer well.
 
 ---
 
@@ -418,8 +479,10 @@ Use information from profile.md and application.md. If address details are missi
 - Company values mentioned in job description
 - Your soft skills from profile.md
 
-**Example (Balanced, English):**
-> I'm particularly excited about TechCorp's emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and continuous learning. Your company's commitment to innovation, combined with a supportive team environment where engineers are encouraged to experiment and share knowledge, resonates strongly with my own values. I thrive in environments that balance technical excellence with strong team dynamics, and I look forward to contributing not just code, but also ideas and mentorship to your engineering culture.
+**APPLY NATURAL WRITING PRINCIPLES**: Be genuine, not gushing. Show fit through specifics, not claims.
+
+**Example (Balanced, English - Natural Tone):**
+> I like that TechCorp emphasizes collaborative work and learning. From what I've read, there's a good balance between technical work and team collaboration, which has worked well for me in past roles. I tend to learn best when I can share knowledge with others, so the culture you describe seems like a good fit.
 
 ---
 
@@ -434,15 +497,17 @@ Use information from profile.md and application.md. If address details are missi
 4. Professional call to action
 
 **Tone guidance:**
-- **Formal**: Respectful, measured enthusiasm
-- **Balanced**: Warm confidence
-- **Casual**: Eager but professional
+- **Formal**: Respectful but not flowery
+- **Balanced**: Professional and straightforward
+- **Casual**: Friendly but not overeager
 
-**Example (Balanced, English):**
-> I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience in scalable backend systems and distributed architectures can contribute to TechCorp's continued success. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to learning more about this exciting opportunity. Thank you for considering my application.
+**APPLY NATURAL WRITING PRINCIPLES**: Simple, direct closing. No need to oversell.
 
-**Example (Formal, German):**
-> Über die Möglichkeit eines persönlichen Gesprächs würde ich mich sehr freuen. Gerne stehe ich Ihnen für ein Interview zur Verfügung und freue mich darauf, mehr über diese spannende Position zu erfahren. Für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit und Ihr Interesse an meiner Bewerbung danke ich Ihnen herzlich.
+**Example (Balanced, English - Natural Tone):**
+> I'd be happy to discuss this role further if you think my background might be a good fit. I'm available for a call or meeting whenever works for you. Thanks for taking the time to review my application.
+
+**Example (Formal, German - Natural Tone):**
+> Ich würde mich freuen, diese Position in einem persönlichen Gespräch näher zu besprechen. Für ein Interview stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung. Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit.
 
 ---
 
@@ -491,10 +556,14 @@ Show progress: `✓ Generated [N] words (target: 300-400)`
 - Connection to match strategy is clear
 
 ### Authenticity Check
-- Sounds human, not AI-generated
-- Natural flow between paragraphs
-- Specific rather than generic
-- Shows genuine enthusiasm
+- **CRITICAL**: Apply all Natural Writing Style principles from the beginning
+- Sounds human, not AI-generated (no pompous or marketing language)
+- Natural flow between paragraphs (conversational transitions)
+- Specific rather than generic (examples, not claims)
+- Shows genuine interest (not exaggerated enthusiasm)
+- Modest tone (understate rather than overstate)
+- Includes 1-2 minor, subtle imperfections for authenticity
+- Avoids superlatives and corporate jargon
 
 ## Step 9: Format and Write File