How do you write your job application cover-letter?

经常在网上或书籍中看到的一般求职信写法，大多是错误的写法，非常没用，绝对浪费时间和精力。

A lot of job hunters do not think that a cover-letter is necessary unless it is specifically asked for in the job advertisement.

许多求职者以为，如果招聘广告中并未提此，就没有必要附上求职信。

WRONG. 

大错特错！

Even if the job advertisement asks only for your resume, it is a given that your resume will be accompanied by a cover-letter.

即使招聘广告只要简历，你的简历也一定要附上一份求职信。

Well, of course, unless you are applying for a job that does not require a degree.

除非你申请的职位不要求学位。

A cover-letter is an excellent platform to pitch and sell your value and why you are different. It also allows you to demonstrate your written communication skills.

求职信是你展现价值和非凡之处的绝佳平台。它也让你显露笔头上的沟通能力。

(Now, if your writing and language skills need improvement, you better find professionals to help you write the cover-letter!)

（如果你的写作和语言能力有待提高，你最好寻找专业人士帮你写求职信!）

Most of all, it shows that you are really interested in the job and would spare no effort to get in the door.

最重要的是，它说明你确实对这份工作感兴趣，并且你会不遗余力地进入这个行业。

Look at it another way: 95% of job-hunters will not be writing cover-letters and so, if your application has a cover-letter, it will immediately stand out.

换个角度说：95%的求职者不会写求职信。你的申请里有一封求职信，已能使你立刻脱颖而出。

Now, auto generated cover-letters (like those generated by JobsDB.com) don’t count as cover-letters!! Don’t ever use them!!

网上自动编写的求职信（类似JobDB.com提供的）不能算数！！千万不要用！！

Now, here’s the outdated way of structuring your cover-letter content:

这里是过时、老套、没用的求职信规划：

Paragraph 1: How you heard about the job

第一段：你是谁，怎么知道这份工作的

Paragraph 2: Why you want the job

第二段：为何想要这份工作

Paragraph 3: Your qualifications for the job

第三段：你所拥有的资历

Paragraph 4: How you will follow up on the job

第四段：如何就这份工作申请跟进

Hiring managers are busy people. Very busy, in fact, as with most executives. And your cover-letter and resumes will only get 3-5 seconds of initial attention.

招聘经理很忙。事实上，就像大多数管理层那样忙的不可开交。你的求职信和简历只能得到最初3-5秒的注意力。

Get this: If you can’t capture their attention within 3-5 seconds of them reading your application (i.e. your very first sentence!), you can say, “Bye Bye” to the company and “Hello” to the trash bin!

如果你不能在那3-5秒里抓住他们的眼球来阅读你的申请（即：你写的第一句话！），你就可以和这家公司再见了。

Who cares about how and where you heard about the job? And who cares about who you are and why you want the job??!

谁会理会你是如何在哪里听到这份工作的？谁又会在意你是谁，为什么想要这份工作？

As an employer, what I want to know is how you can help me solve problems, in what ways can you contribute and add value.

作为雇主，我最想知道的是你如何能帮我解决业务上的问题，如何作出贡献并创造价值。

If you truly want the job, here’s how you must structure your cover-letter:

有效的求职信，应该这样写：

1. Gain and retain the reader’s Attention

夺得读者的注意力

You must draw the reader’s attention enough for them to continue reading your letter and resume.

你看报纸时，时每篇文章都看吗？ 选择的话，你怎么选呢？

你必须抓住他们的注意力，让他们能读你的求职信和简历。

Try making a personal connection, start with how you got interested in the field, why you like the job or company, special skills or experience that you have, or a great opportunity you had which triggered your passion.

试着在个人层次上建立一个桥梁；你为何对此领域感兴趣；为什么喜爱这份工作或这家公司；你针对公司业务的专业技能和经验。

For example, applying for a teaching job, the first sentence can be,

举个例子，申请教师工作时，第一句话可以这样写：

“Inspired and motivated students. Would this be what you want to achieve for your school?”

“启发、哺育和滋润莘莘学子们。这是贵校的宗旨吗？”

2. Generate Interest in you

促使读者对你有兴趣

Go on to talk about the problems or issues you know of in the industry, company, or job. This will show that you have done your homework in researching the relevant information and that you know what you are in for.

继续谈论对此行业，公司和职位了解的问题和情况。这说明你在相关调查上做了功课，你知道你所申请的职位是干什么的。

Only people who are truly interested in the job will put in such effort and go the extra mile.

只有那些真的对这份工作有兴趣的人才会花这样的精力做深一层的功课。

Guess what? It is never crowded on the extra mile.

走这条路，根本没有拥挤现象，竞争也极少。

Continuing from the example above,

继续上述例子，

“There are no lazy or incapable students. Only unmotivated ones. As such, the best thing that a school can do to encourage students to learn (and thus, towards better results and achievements) is to find ways to motivate them.”

“没有学生是懒惰无能的。他们只是缺乏学习上的动力。因此，学校想要鼓励学生学习（从而取得更好的结果和成就），那么最佳方式是给予他们学习动力。

3. Create Desire to meet you

激发雇主见你的欲望

This is where you show yourself as a solution to the problem. Here you present your features (qualifications, experience, attributes, passion and interest) and clearly outline how they will benefit the job and the company.

在此你可以给出问题的解决方案。表现出你的特点（资历，经验，特征，喜好和兴趣）并且清楚地列出它们对这份工作和这家公司有何贡献。

“With over 7 years of learner-centred learning experience couple with 5 years of education administration, I have an excellent grasp of the tertiary education sector and have mastered the art of motivating students.

“拥有超过7年的大学教学经验，5年的教育管理经验，我对高等教育领域了解丰富，熟知该如何激励学生。”

“These are the reasons why I have been able to consistently achieve high levels of teaching evaluation as well as produce students who are high achievers.”

 “教学评估中我总得高分，培养的学生成就显著，这些都是有原因的。”

4. Call for the reader to take Action

呼吁读者采取行动

As the reader goes on, you want him/her to do something, right?

看了你的信，你当然想要他们采取行动是吧？

So, get them to do it: Refer to specific highlights in your resume or your reference letters, read your blog, watch your video clip online, etc.

那就设法让他们这样做：在你的信中强调简历或推荐信中的一些强项；游览你的博客，看网上你的视频剪辑等等。

Remember to close strongly where you affirm your strong interest and ask for an interview. You can either ask them to call you or, more boldly, tell them you will call them to follow-up (if you have the number or email, of course!)

记住，你需要一个强有力的结尾来表明你的强烈愿望并寻求一次面试机会。你可以让他们打电话给你，但更大胆的做法是，告诉他们你会给他们电话作为跟进（当然了，你真有他们的电话号码或邮箱地址才好这么写）

“I am anxious to tell you more about my qualifications and how, together, we can truly inspire students in your school towards greater heights. I plan to follow-up in a week’s time. In the mean time, feel free to contact me at 1234-5678 or abc@gmail.com"

“我很渴望让你了解更多关于我的资历，以及我们如何共同携手来激励贵校的学生走向辉煌。我计划在下周内跟进。与此同时， 请通过电邮随时和我联系：1234-5678 or abc@gmail.com”

Remember, if you use regular, mediocre methods, you will only get average results. 

谨记：用普通的方法，只会收的普通的收获。