履历表及求职信的撰写(3)
二、求职信(Cover Letter)
在求职过程中,除了利用履历表来简介并推销自己外,依例仍须附上一封求职信,告诉求才单位,你对该工作之胜任及申请意愿。履历表是求职程序中之主体,但求职信却可补其不足,达到画龙点睛,锦上添花之妙用。因此可将一些无法在履历表中充分发挥之个人专长或才能,透过求职信详细说明,藉由履历表及求职信之相辅相成,争取到面试的机会。
1、求职信的格式(Format):
(1)如商业文书,信首右上方是发信地址及发信日期。接下来,左上方则是收信人姓名、职称、收信地址(包括公司名称),有关收信人之姓名及职称应调查清楚。如不确定,可去电该公司总机查询,并查询该人事甄选负责人之姓名,以便冠称 Mr.or Ms.(Mrs.)。
(2)敬称语:Dear Mr., Mrs.or Ms.姓,只称呼其姓,而不须全名列出(但需注意的是,前文提到收信人,则应列出全名,即 Mr. (firstname)+(last name),此敬称语千万不可因不确定收信人为何而以 "To whom it may concern" 取代,此举让人觉得草率而且缺乏诚意。
(3)正文:通常分为三至四段,并且以一页为原则,除非必要,方使用二页。
a、第一段:说明写此信之原因,从那里得知此工作,例如就业辅导处 (Career Center, Placement Office) 、报纸、朋友、师长;欲应征何种职位,并简介自己资历与职位要求相吻合,进而说明工作目标。但注意此处所提之工作目标应与履历表中所列之工作目标一致。例如:
Ms Dorothy Johes from your faculty encouraged me to write you regarding a possible teaching position in North High School when I graduated from college. This June I will receive the B.A.degree from Indiana University, and I would like to teach in my hometown, Columbus, Ohio. (Source: Your Job or Graduate School Search, P191.)
b、第二段:说明你为何对该工作感兴趣,为何你认为你的资历符合工作要求,并进一步阐述自己之专业才能、工作经验、所修课程,避免复述履历表的用语。例:
You will see from my resume that I have strong quantitative background:15 credits of advanced high school and college mathematics, including basic and advanced calculus, probability and statistics, and basic accounting, GPA:3.6.(Source: "Resume Writing," "The Cover Letter," Career Service Center, Princeton University, P19.)
c、第三段:指出随函附寄履历表供参考,同时说明履历表中乃记载个人之相关资历及背景。这段可长可短,或者与前段对照(前段可写学业表现),另再举证工作表现,说明自己的才能乃应征职位之所需。例:
Enclosed is my resume to detail my backgrounds and qualifications.
或将附寄一事独立于结论之首,此段仅进一步说明资历。总之,务必让收信人明白履历表己随函附寄。
(4)结论:希望收信人收悉后会采取一些有利之行动,如提供面试或电话访谈。或者更积极主动说明电询或拜访之意。
例一: I would be happy to meet with you and discuss career opportunities at (公司名).
例二: I would like to discuss career opportunities and my qualification with you personally.
若有地利之便或时间许可,可能于几月几日几点电询申请结果或当面会谈。最后可加上客套话如:Thank you for your consideration或 I am looking forward to our meeting.