伦敦政治经济学院（LSE）：给大学毕业生的求职信写作建议

本文来自：LSE Careers
本文作者：LSE Careers

许多雇主都会要求你提交一封求职信，用以补充支持你申请的相关信息。这封求职信是你向HR更直接、更个性化地表达自己为什么对这个职位感兴趣，以及你具备什么技能的机会。

你可以强调和扩充你简历中的特定内容，例如工作经验、学术经验或课外活动，并提供与具体技能相关的详细证明。你可以展示你的个性和写作能力，以及更重要的是展示出你对所申请的公司和职位的热情和了解。求职信非常重要，因为它为你提供了脱颖而出的机会，并将帮助你离获得面试邀请更近一步。

※本文由InVisor团队翻译

 

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准备阶段：如何撰写求职信

1. 站在雇主的角度考虑问题

一封有效的求职信通常是以雇主的需求为出发点。不要只写下你自以为与众不同和引以为傲的成就。一封有效的求职信应该做到围绕着雇主想要看到的、想要了解的内容展开，而不是以自我为中心、告诉他们你想让他们知道的内容。

2. 仔细研究雇主的情况

在你开始写求职信之前，你要把雇主彻底研究一遍，并好好思考你为什么想为他们工作。

在这个过程中，你要询问自己“为什么我是这个公司合适人选？”，想想你可以用什么样的证据来支撑你的想法，从而有可能让HR产生共鸣。

研究雇主的方式包括：

• 探索企业的官方网站——哪怕招聘网站上展示了很多与企业相关的有用信息，也不要只依赖于它们。
• 阅读关于企业的媒体报道和行业博客——了解它们所在行业的现状。
• 与现任或前任员工取得联系。
• 请求与企业的招聘经理或人力资源部交谈，以获得更多职位相关的信息，以及他们想寻找什么样的人。
• 了解企业对员工的重视程度，深入了解当前的工作重点，这会帮助你在求职信中写出更有力、更有针对性的自荐理由。

3. 分析员工和工作规范

熟悉你所得知的任何关于人员素质与技能、工作指责描述的有关信息。思考职位所需的关键技能，以及你过去有哪些经历可以证明你曾有效地使用这些技能。雇主希望在简历和求职信中看到你符合所有核心标准的证据，但求职信本身应强调和说明3-4项核心技能，或是那些最有说服力、有相关例子和证据的技能。

当你没有详细的工作描述，或你在做一个投机性的申请时，做一些更详细的研究来确保你的申请具备竞争力是特别重要的。

撰写阶段：如何构建求职信

你可以用不同的方式来构建求职信，但无论你采取什么方式，最重要的是你的求职信要有个人特色、有针对性并且真实可信。不要套模板、套格式，因为雇主很容易就看得出来。如果你在写求职信方面是个新手，可以用我们以下的方法进行撰写：

1. 简介

首先要提到你打算申请的职位以及你是在哪里看到的招聘信息。接下来，你要学会吸引读者的注意力——读者会侧重关注一个“点”，即你是否与这个职位或者这家公司有直接联系，这个点最好能做到引起HR的共鸣——也许是你过往经历中的某个要素，而这个要素可能是在你经过调研后认为能够引起HR兴趣的。

更重要的是，不要重复说明那些他们在简历上就可以了解到的信息，你应该利用求职信来增加一些额外的信息——不要只是陈述“你在伦敦经济学院攻读某个学位”这个事实，更应该叙述你为什么选择这个项目进行学习，或者你专注研究的专业领域是什么。

2. 为什么是他们？

这部分从阐述你的动机和热情开始。换句话说，你要提供非常具体的理由来说明你为什么想在这个部门工作？为什么想为这个雇主工作？以及为什么想从事这个岗位。同样，你之前做的研究也能使你处于有利地位。根据你所了解的情况来看看要突出哪些要点，例如：这家企业最近做了哪些工作，它们与竞争对手的区别在哪里？这些点是如何使你产生共鸣的？你提出的观点与你以前的经历有什么关系？

要注意：不要简单重复它们网站上的内容，或直接复制你在网上看到的文字。雇主想知道的是你为什么对这些事实感兴趣。不要只陈述你对他们在X国的某个特定地点开设的办公室有多大兴趣，而不去解释它为什么会让你感兴趣。你可以从以下几个方面出发去解释，比如：你会说那里的语言；在那里生活过；学过与那个地区相关的专业知识；或者说你注意到在这个地方的投资使得他们与竞争对手不同。

不要只是告诉雇主他们已经知道的事情，而是要解释它为什么与你有关。

3. 为什么是我？

接下来的1-2段主要是向雇主展示你与职位相匹配的技能、能力和经历。我们通常建议你选择那些在他们的招聘信息中列出的关键技能进行展示，3-4项即可，并提供你在过往中运用这些技能的证据。雇主希望看到能够准确、清楚地说明你曾做过什么事情的详细例子。

其次，学会将自身经历与心仪工作联系起来，并说明这些技能将对你的新职位带来怎样的帮助。例如，如果招聘说明中提到了“有效的利益相关者管理经历”，你就可以提及自己在担任市场实习生时，曾在企业的慈善机构对客户和捐赠者的时间进行管理的经历，并详细说明是如何参与的，以及你是如何确保与他们合作顺利的。然后，你可以说明你将如何利用这些经验为新职位做出贡献。

4. 结束语

用一个简短的段落来结束你的求职信，重申你对这个职位的热情，并说明如有需要，你可以参加任何面试。这一部分不用太多，几行即可，并且要避免任何“假大空”的语言。与其说 "为您工作是我的荣幸，我相信我拥有这份工作所需的技能和能力"，倒不如用一些非常具体的事情来印证你的兴趣，或者也可以总结一下你在信中提出的具体观点，用这些来创造一个独一无二并且有说服力的结论。

5. 求职信结构框架示例

 

• 你的地址
• 公司地址
• 日期
• 尊敬的先生/女士/姓名
• 简介
• 为什么是他们？(1个段落)
• 为什么是我？(1-2个段落)
• 结束语
• Yours faithfully（如果你不认识这个人）/ Yours sincerely （如果你认识这个人）。

 

撰写阶段：注意表达方式

1. 选择正确的语气

想看到你的书面沟通能力是雇主要求提供求职信的原因之一。简洁（通常不超过一页）、清晰地表达自己是很重要的。“写得清楚”意味着要避免使用复杂的从句、过于冗长的句子和缩略语。“写得专业”意味着要避免任何方言或口语化表述（举个例子，用“undergrad”来代替“undergraduate”一词是不行的）。

当然，你也需要注意尊重文化规范；除了国际组织间的差异外，我们还看到有些独立公司采用的沟通风格或多或少会有些正式；努力去匹配他们使用的沟通风格是具有意义的。

2. 使用积极表达

用积极的表达方式来对你经历进行描述。不要用消极的语言去表示你担心自己技能不足（例如：缺乏、不幸、不知道），最好用积极的语言来解释你是如何建立或发展该技能的。这种语言平衡比较微妙，所以也不要过渡使用积极的描述性语言（例如：欣喜若狂、荣幸、喜爱、崇拜），给出“你为什么喜欢在某个地方/为某个人工作”的具体原因，会比说“这是一种荣誉”更有力且更令人信服。

3. 使用主动语言

• 以简单直接的风格来撰写求职信，保持你的语言是主动的而非被动的。
• 避免使用太笼统、不精确的描述性词语，例如：各种、一些、许多、很多、几个。谨防陈词滥调和流行语。
• 尽可能用可量化的结果来表示你的成就：如果你达成了一个目标，请给出具体数值；如果你筹集了资金，具体说明到底是多少。
• 注意 "我觉得"、"我相信我可以"等修饰语。你需要让HR觉得你很自信。

 

要点总结

1. 针对性

你的求职信越有针对性，就越有可能吸引HR的注意。定制化的求职信需要时间，所以要考虑质量而不是数量——4封写得好的求职信比8封平平无奇的求职信更能让你占据上风。

试着在你的求职信中把一个雇主的名字换成另一个。如果这是行得通的（那便证明这封求职信是不具有针对性的），那你最好做更多的研究来确定更具体的要点，或者重新考虑你要如何表达想法。

2. 遵循雇主的指示

确保你仔细阅读了雇主的要求：他们是否只要求提供“一封求职信”，还是说有其他额外的具体要求？他们是否要求你描述“你是如何满足该职位的所有标准”？他们是否规定了这些材料的长度或字数？

3. 避免把求职信写成简历

你的求职信并不是简历的散文版，所以不要简单地详述你的所有经历，并期望雇主能从中筛选出重要的内容。思考你想让他们知道的3-4个方面、简历中可以涵盖的其他未提及的方面。记住，求职信还需要说明你对这个职位和公司的动机和热情。

4. 保持在一页之内

你可能会觉得你有很多话要说，但简洁的内容是雇主最想要的！除非雇主另有要求，否则篇幅尽量保持在一页纸之内；为了方便阅读不要使用太小的字体；也不要为了在页面上放更多内容而把边距弄得过窄。

5. 把握好布局和格式

总体呈现很重要。记住要使用商务信函的格式，并使用与简历相同的字体。

6. 检查你的语言

你的语言是否具备专业性、积极性、主动性和具体性？读者能否从中了解到你的成就、影响和热情？多检查几遍，看看是否有语言或语法错误。

7. 始终提供证据

记得用具体的例子来支持你的说法，以此证明你是在何时以及如何使用了这些技能。

Reference：

LSE Careers. (2021). Cover letters [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/careers/information-and-resources/application-process/cover-letters

 

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【英文原文】

Cover letters

Introduction

Many employers will ask you to submit a cover letter to provide complementary information in support of your application. This cover letter is your chance to express more directly and personally why you are interested in the role and the skills you bring.

You can highlight and expand on particular elements from your CV – work experience, academic experience or extra-curricular activities – and provide further detailed evidence of specific skills and motivation. You can show your personality and writing ability and, importantly, your enthusiasm and knowledge about the role and organisation you’re applying to. Your cover letter offers you the opportunity to ensure you stand out and will help move you one step closer to that interview invitation.

Preparing to write your cover letter

1、Put yourself in the employer's shoes

An effective cover letter will always start with the employer’s needs in mind. Don’t just write down all the key achievements and the academic successes that you think set you apart – and of which you’re particularly proud. An effective cover letter will be framed around what the employer wants (and needs) to see and learn, rather than what you want to tell them.

2、Research the employer carefully

Before you start writing, thoroughly research the employer and think carefully about why you want to work for them.

As you go through this process, ask yourself why you’d be a good match for the organisation and the kind of evidence you could use to back up your claim that would be likely to resonate with them.

• Explore their website – making sure you go beyond the career pages, even if there’s a lot of useful information there too.
• Read up about them in the press, in industry blogs – know what’s going on in their sector.
• Make contact with current or former employees.
• Ask to speak to the hiring manager or HR to get more information about the role and what they’re looking for.
• Build a picture of what they value in their employees, get extra insight into current work priorities to help you write a stronger and more focused pitch in your letter.

3、Analyse the person and job specification

Familiarise yourself with any person specification and job description you’ve been given. Think about the key skills needed and which examples you can draw on from your past experience that show you have used these skills effectively. We would expect to see evidence that you meet all the core criteria across both CV and cover letter, but the cover letter itself should highlight and develop three or four core skills – or those where you are able to provide the most convincing and relevant examples and evidence.

When you don’t have a detailed job description, or you’re making a speculative application, it’s particularly important to do some more detailed research to ensure your application is as strong as possible.

Structuring your cover letter

There are of course different ways you can structure a cover letter; whatever approach you decide to take, it’s important that your letter is personal, targeted and authentic. Steer clear of using any cover letter templates or proformas. Employers can easily spot these. A useful starting point – particularly if you are new to the business of cover letters – is to use the approach we outline below.

1、Introduction

Begin by mentioning the role you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised. Next, you want to catch the reader’s attention. We’re looking for a hook, something specific about you that immediately relates to the role or organisation and will resonate with the recruiter – perhaps an element of your experience you know will interest them because of what you uncovered during your research.

It’s important not to just repeat information that they can see on the CV – you should always be using the cover letter to add something extra – not just the fact that you are studying for a particular degree at the London School of Economics, but the reason you chose that course of study, or your particular area of specialisation or focus.

2、Why them?

Start by articulating your motivation and enthusiasm. In other words, provide very specific reasons why you want to work in this sector, for this employer, in this role. Again, your prior research will put you in a strong position. What points stood out from what you learned, what recent work have they done, what sets them apart from their competitors? Why does this resonate with you? How do the points you make relate to your earlier experiences?

Be careful of simply repeating what is written on their website or copying out lines of text you’ve read online. The employer wants to know why the facts you include interest you. Don’t just mention how interested you are that they’ve opened an office in X country in a particular location without explaining why and how that’s of interest to you. Perhaps you speak the language, have lived there, have some regional expertise or have noticed that investment in this location distinguishes them from their competitors. Don’t just tell the employer what they already know about themselves, explain why it connects to you.

3、Why me?

The next one or two paragraphs are focused on showing the employer that your skills, competencies and experiences match their role. We would generally recommend that you choose three or four key skills they have listed in the person specification and provide evidence of how you’ve demonstrated them in the past. The employer wants to see detailed examples setting out precisely and clearly what you did.

It can be helpful to link back to the job description, illustrating how these skills will help you deliver and perform in their role. For example, if the person specification mentions effective stakeholder management, you might choose to refer to your time managing clients and donors at a corporate client’s charity during your marketing internship, and detail your specific involvement, how you worked with them and secured their cooperation. You could then set out how you would be able to draw on this experience to contribute to the new position.

4、Ending

Finish up your letter with a short paragraph, reiterating your enthusiasm for the role and if requested, your availability for any interview. This section does not need to be longer than a few lines and should avoid anything generic. Rather than‘it would be a privilege to work for you and I believe I have the necessary skills and abilities for the job’, confirm your interest with reference to something very specific and perhaps summarise some concrete points you have made in the letter to create a unique and convincing conclusion.

5、Example

 

Language

1、Strike the right tone

One of the reasons employers ask for a cover letter is to see an example of your written communication. Expressing yourself succinctly (usually no more than one page) and clearly is important. Writing clearly means avoiding complicated clauses, overly lengthy sentences and abbreviations. Writing professionally means avoiding any slang or colloquialisms (eg, undergrad instead of undergraduate).

There are of course cultural norms that you need to respect; as well as international differences, we also see that individual organisations adopt a communication style that can be more or less formal; seeking to match that can make sense.

2、Positive framing

Frame your experiences positively. Don’t use negative language to talk about skills gaps you’re concerned about (eg. lacking, unfortunately, don’t); use the positive to explain how you can build or develop the skill. It’s a fine balance though, so don’t overdo the positive descriptive language (overjoyed, honoured, love, adore) - it’s much more powerful and convincing to give specifc reasons why you would love to work somewhere/for someone than to say it would be an honour to do so.

3、Use active language

• Write in a simple, direct style and keep your language active rather than passive.
• Avoid using too many general, imprecise descriptive words e.g, various, some, many, lots, several. Beware of clichés and buzzwords.
• Where you can, quantify your achievements with results: if you met a target give the numbers; if you raised money say how much.
• Look out for qualifiers such as ‘I feel that’, ‘I believe I could’. You need to sound confident.

Top Tips

1、Target, target and target some more

The more targeted and tailored your letter, the more likely it is to grab the attention of the recruiter. Tailoring authentically takes time so think about quality over quantity – four well written letters will put you in a stronger position than eight generic ones.

Try swapping out one employer’s name for another in your cover letter. If it still makes sense, then you either need to do some more research to identify more specific points, or reconsider how you are expressing your thoughts.

2、Follow the employer's instruction

Make sure you read carefully what the employer is looking for. Have they simply asked for ‘a cover letter’, or have they suggested specific points they want you to include? Have they asked you to describe how you meet all criteria for the role? Have they specified a particular length or word count?

3、Avoid writing out the CV

Your cover letter is much more than a prose version of your CV so don’t simply detail all your experience and expect the employer to sift through and establish what’s important. Think about the three or four areas you want them to know about; your CV can cover the rest. Remember, the cover letter also needs to address your motivation and enthusiasm for the role and organisation; it’s not just about you.

4、Keep it to a page

You might feel as though you have a lot to say, but brevity is greatly appreciated by employers! Try to stick to one page, unless the employer requests otherwise, and don’t use a font that’s too small to read easily, or make your margins very narrow in order to squeeze more into the page.

5、Get the layout and format right

Presentation is important. Remember to use business letter format and the same font as your CV.

6、Think about your language

Is your language professional, positive, in the active voice and specific? Does the reader get a sense of your achievements, impact and enthusiasm? Always proofread to check for any language or grammatical errors.

7、Always give evidence

Remember to back up claims with specific examples that demonstrate how and when you've used your skills and experience.