Hoping to apply to a job in an English-speaking country? You might think that after putting together your résumé or CV your work is done, but there’s still a very important step left: the cover letter.
想要在英语国家找工作，光筹备好简历是不够的，cover letter也绝不可以忽略。
A cover letter is a short letter – no more than one page – that goes on TOP of your application. It’s the first thing that employers read, and, if it’s well-written and intriguing, should encourage the hiring manager to turn the page and look at your application, instead of throwing it in the trash and moving on.
cover letter在你申请资料的首页，内容低于一页纸。你的雇主会最早读这一部分的内容，所以cover letter必须要写得“引人入胜”，不然，你精心筹备的申请资料只能被扔进垃圾桶了。
It’s important to remember that the cover letter makes a first impression, so it’s important to pay particular attention to spelling, grammar, and readability. The letter is your opportunity to show your personality, interpret your experience, and explain to the employer why they should hire you.
cover letter会给雇主留下对你的第一印象，所以必须要注意拼写和语法的正确性与可读性。它是你展示个性和解析阅历的机会，你要给雇主一个雇用你的原因。
Because the letter should be specific to the job opening, don’t send the same letter to every company you apply to. Feel free to use similar ideas and wordings, but employers should not be able to tell that you erased another company’s name and wrote theirs in. Do a little research about the company before you write the letter. You want to come across as interested, informed, and resourceful.
每一封cover letter都是对应具体的招聘职位的，所以不要去每一个公司面试都用一样的cover letter。你大可以在不一样的letter里用一样的想法和措词，但不要让雇主感觉你只是擦去了上家企业的名字换上了他们家的。在写信前，多做些调查。你应该让雇主感觉你对该公司非常有兴趣，并且见多识广足智多谋。
Start by addressing the letter. Do what you can to find the name of the person who will be making the decisions, and address it to them. This makes the letter more personal. Otherwise, address it to a relevant job title:
Dear Mr. Jones,
Dear Ms. Smith,
Dear [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
[note: in the US, it is customary to put a period/full sTOP after the abbreviations “Mr.” and “Ms.” In British English, this punctuation is left out.]
开头称呼部分，尽可能找到可以直接决定是不是雇佣你的老板的名字，如此看上去愈加personal. 找不到的话，就写给有关的公司负责人。
In the first paragraph, explain why you’re writing. State the position you’re applying for and where you heard about the opening. If you talked to anyone in the company about the position, be sure to mention them by name, as it will distinguish you from other applicants. Also include a very brief explanation of why you’re interested and who you are.
第一段，讲解写信理由。陈述自己要面试的职位与在哪儿听说该职位空缺。假如你有公司内部职员推荐，要在信中提到他们的名字，如此雇主才能把你跟其他面试者区别开。同时，要简要介绍一下自己，并讲解一下为何有意愿进入该公司。
In the second paragraph, discuss your experience in more detail and, most importantly, how it applies to the opening. Don’t list everything that you’ve included in your résumé or CV. Instead, choose a few very relevant and/or impressive points that will intrigue the reader. Use active words that highlight your skills.
在2、三段，更具体地介绍一下你的工作历程，特别是要证明一下这类历程和技能怎么才能应用到该职位。不要把简历上的内容都列在上面，而是要挑选若干个有关的亮点来打动雇主。
These paragraphs give you an opportunity to change how the hiring manager reads your résumé or CV. For every bit of experience that you mention, say how it demonstrates a skill that would be essential for the job. This is particularly important if your experience isn’t quite in the same field as the opening: you have the opportunity to explain how your experience in other fields can be applied to this new one.
这类段落可以叫你有机会改变雇主解析你简历的方法。对于每个你提到的工作历程，必须要说明它体现出的对于该职位非常重要的能力，特别是当你之前的工作历程与面试职位不在一个范围的时候。这里你有了个非常不错的机会向雇主讲解，你在其他范围的经验和技能是怎么样可以应用到新的职位的。
Remember that employers will pick whichever candidate they think is best for them. Don’t talk about why the opening is perfect for you, but instead why you are the perfect candidate for the opening. The difference is subtle but important to keep in mind!
要牢记，雇主会聘用那位他们觉得比较合适该职位的面试者。不要一直强调这个空缺对你来讲多棒，要讲解为何你是比较适合该地方的人。
In your closing paragraph, inspire confidence and show enthusiasm. Restate your interest in the position and say that you look forward to discussing your qualifications at their earliest convenience . Providing your contact information and suggesting an in-person discussion show your enthusiasm, put the reader in the mindset that they would like to contact you, and make it easy for them to do so.
在结尾段，表现出来你的自信和热情。重申自己对该职位的兴趣，并表示期待尽快获得面试资格。提供我们的联系方法，并建议面议机会来展示我们的热情，让雇主想要联系并深入知道你。
Finish the letter by thanking the reader for their time and consideration, and then conclude with:
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
结尾，要感谢雇主花时间阅读大家的cover letter，类似大家中文里的“感谢你在百忙之中阅读这份求职信，诚挚的期望能得到面试机会。”
最后，跟一般信件的落款一样，写上Sincerely XXX.
A successful cover letter will set you on the road to employment. once you’ve written the letter, reread, reread, reread. It can’t be stressed enough that this is your first impression to the employer. Make it count!
These days, applications are often submitted electronically by email or online. If you submit your letter in this way, submit it as a .pdf file rather than a .doc or .docx. This way, it looks cleaner and more professional.
Soon, you’ll be on your way to the interview!
一封成功的cover letter会叫你成功走上就业的道路。写完了之后，要自己反复读几遍，这可是你给雇主的第一印象。
现在，申请资料都是线上投递的，假如你是通过邮件发送，尽可能提交pdf文档，而不是word文档，如此能使你的letter看着愈加整洁和专业。
语言点分析：
put something together = to make or prepare something by fitting or collecting parts together比如：
to put together a model plane/ an essay/ a meal
I think we can put together a very strong case for the defense.
résumé = CV = curriculum vitae = a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job
cover letter = covering letter = a letter containing extra information that you send with something比如：
Send a covering letter and a CV to the following address…
intriguing = very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer比如：
These discoveries raise intriguing questions.
an intriguing possibility
He found her intriguing.
feel free to do something = used to tell somebody that they are allowed to do something比如：
Feel free to ask questions if you don't understand.
‘Can I use your phone?’ ‘Feel free.’
come across = to make a particular impression比如：
She comes across well in interviews.
He came over as a sympathetic person.
informed = having or showing a lot of knowledge about a particular subject or situation比如：
an informed critic
an informed choice/ decision/ guess/ opinion
They are not fully informed about the changes.
Keep me informed of any developments.
resourceful = good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc.比如：
These women were strong, resourceful and courageous.
address = [usually passive] to write on an envelope, etc. the name and address of the person, company, etc. that you are sending it to by mail比如：
The letter was correctly addressed, but delivered to the wrong house.
Address your application to the Personnel Manager.
opening = a job that is available = vacancy比如：
There are several openings in the sales department.
at your earliest convenience = as soon as possible比如：
Please telephone at your earliest convenience.
set = to cause somebody / something to be in a particular state; to start something happening比如：
The new leader has set the party on the road to success.
Her manner immediately set everyone at their ease.
英文来源：
https://www.kaplaninternational.com/blog/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-in-english
教师介绍：
朱博，新东方口语讲师，毕业于985院校大连理工大学，硕士保送一等奖学金。在校期间曾游学美国，任出版社英语出版中心校对四年，工作严谨，活力四射，让大伙开心的学英语。
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（编辑：何莹莹）
