对于求职者来说，一份好的简历如同叩开外企大门的“敲门砖”，其重要性不言而喻。但是，仅凭简历就想获得面试机会也并非易事，因为简历通常只是列表式地罗列求职者的相关信息，内容常常显得单薄或缺乏生气，不够吸引人。为了弥补简历的这一不足之处，求职者可以在投递简历的同时，附上一封声情并茂的cover letter (求职信)，这样不仅能增强求职者的竞争力，还能显示出求职者应聘的诚意与认真的态度。本期笔者就具体介绍一下cover letter的撰写框架和注意事项，并提供几篇范例，供求职者参考。
撰写框架
Cover letter通常包括四个部分，求职者可在这四个部分中分别介绍如下内容。
第一部分：求职者应开门见山地说明自己要应聘的职位，同时简述自己是如何获得这一招聘信息的。
第二部分：在这一部分，首先，求职者应强调自己对应聘职位充满浓厚兴趣，渴望获得这一职位；其次，求职者应说明自己符合该应聘职位的要求；最后，求职者可简要介绍自己与应聘职位相关的学历水平、经历、成就等，说明自己能够为公司作出贡献、创造价值。
第三部分：在这一部分，求职者应着重强调自己具备应聘职位所需的专业知识、技能和工作经验。为增强说服力，求职者也可列举实例说明。例如，在表述自己具备会议组织能力时，求职者可简要介绍一下自己曾组织过何种大型会议等。
第四部分：求职者应表述自己希望获得面试机会的热切心情。同时，求职者还应说明自己何时方便参加面试，并表明自己愿意在面试时提供更多相关信息。
注意事项
对求职者来说，cover letter不同于其他普通信函，它可能直接关系到求职者能否最终获得面试机会。所以，求职者在写cover letter时一定要小心、谨慎，需特别注意以下五个方面。
1. 礼貌得体。在写cover letter时，求职者可首先通过致电招聘公司等方式，尽可能地获得将来读cover letter的人的姓名，这样在信的开头，便可用“Dear +名字”的形式称呼对方。若实在无法了解到对方姓名，也要尽可能地询问到对方的商务头衔，用“Dear +头衔”的方式称呼对方，例如“Dear Recruitment Manager”或“Dear Human Resources Manager”等，这些称呼要比“Dear Sir”或“Dear Madam”更恰当。
2. 态度诚恳。求职者应针对应聘公司的特点和职位要求有针对性地写cover letter，信的字里行间要透露出你想为应聘公司服务的意愿，多表述自己能为公司做什么，少讲述自己通过该应聘职位能获得什么好处。求职者在写信的过程中，一定要杜绝出现错字连篇的现象，否则不但会给人轻率和缺乏诚意的印象，还会使对方对求职者的能力产生怀疑。
3. 实事求是、恰如其分地介绍自己的能力和特长。适度的谦虚是美德，但过分的谦虚是缺乏自信的表现，只会让自己错失良机。因此，求职者在写cover letter时，应对自己的能力有个准确的估量，然后实事求是地予以陈述。只有自己树立了信心，才能获得别人的认同和赞赏。但同时，求职者也要注意，信中切忌出现过分吹嘘的话，例如“我能适应各种工作”“听说贵公司最近效益不太好，我完全有能力改变这种状况”以及“我做过几项课题，贵公司遇到的此类技术问题，我一定能够解决”等。刚出校门的大学生尤其要注意这一点，虽然大学生有一定的理论基础，但尚缺乏实践经验，所以在cover letter中要尽量避免使用“一定” “肯定” “第一”“绝对”“完全可以”“保证能做到”等大话。
4. 篇幅适当。如果cover letter太短的话，可能无法清晰表达出求职者的想法，也会使求职者显得诚意不足；但如果cover letter过长，又会有冗繁之嫌，可能引起读信者的反感。一般来说，cover letter以A4纸的半页至一页篇幅为宜。如果求职者确实有重要的内容需要详加阐述，也不宜超过两页。
5. 切忌一信多投。“一信多投”是cover letter的大忌。求职者要针对不同的应聘公司和职位要求写不同内容的cover letter。如果求职者抱着“以不变应万变”的态度，将一封cover letter重复地投递到不同公司，可能会让招聘公司认为你偷懒且诚心不够，极易被拒。
Cover Letter范例
下面笔者列举了四篇典型的应聘外企的cover letter，求职者可以根据自身情况进行比较学习。
Cover Letter 1 (应聘职位：系统分析员)
Dear Recruitment Manager,
I am applying for the position of systems analyst, which was advertised on the Internet. The position seems to fit very well with my education, experience, and career interests.
I am genuinely interested in the position and in working for HBB Corporation. Your firm has an excellent reputation and comes highly recommended to me. My background and career goals seem to match your job requirements very well. I am confident that I can perform the job effectively.
Your position requires experience in computer systems, financial applications software, and end-user consulting. With a major in management information systems, I have training on mainframes (大型机), minicomputers, and microcomputers as well as on a variety of software programs and applications. My practical experience in my university’s computer center as a programmer and as a student consultant for system users gave me valuable exposure to complex computer operations. My attached resume provides more details on my qualifications.
Would you please consider my request for a personal interview to further discuss my qualifications and to learn more about this position? Should you need to reach me, please feel free to call me at 703-464-2999.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to talking with you.
Your sincerely,
Zhang Jianzhong
Cover Letter 2 (应聘职位：会计师)
Dear Ms. Yang,
I was referred to you by Mr. Samuel Jackson, a partner at your Beijing office, who informed me that the Shanghai office of your company is seeking to hire quality individuals for your Accounting Program.
I have more than six years’ accounting and auditing experience. I will be receiving my MBA this May from Peking University. I am confident that the combination of my practical work experience and solid educational experience has prepared me for making an immediate contribution to your company.
I understand the level of professionalism and communication required for long-term success in the field. My background and professional approach to business will provide your office with a highly productive accountant. Please refer to the attached resume for more information.
I would like to have the opportunity to talk to you further about my application. I am available for interview at any time, and I can be contacted at 641-466-3666.
I am looking forward to meeting you soon.
Your sincerely,
Peter Zhang
Cover Letter 3 (应聘职位：销售代表)
Dear Mr. Milton,
I am applying for the position of Sales Representative advertised in the 135th issue of Business Daily, and I believe that I have the necessary credentials (资历，资格) for this role.
My resume, which is attached, speaks of my experience and expertise in sales, and most recently, in the sales of personal computers. I am confident that I will be up to this job.
I am assertive, self-motivated, and hardworking. I am a seeker of end results, and I achieve them, as the attached overview of my accomplishments proves. I am willing to meet and exceed any sales target set by the company.
I would like to have the chance to meet with you for an interview. I will make myself available at your convenience so that we may discuss the details. I can provide references upon request.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Your sincerely,
Susan Clement
Cover Letter 4 (应聘职位：制作设计人员)
Dear Human Resources Manager,
I am attaching my resume in response to your ad for a Production Designer, run in the May issue of Advertising Age.
I believe I have the skills that your company is seeking, and would like to be considered for the position. I have extensive layout (版面设计) and design experience and enjoy working on precise and detailed projects.
My background in 4-color production, camera work, and desktop publishing systems would also be an asset to your company. Working under tight deadlines is the standard of the advertising industry and is not a problem for me.
I look forward to meeting with you personally, and reviewing the requirements of this position in greater detail. I can be reached at 866-428-8899 anytime.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Your sincerely,
Ryan Milton
笔者希望上面列举的cover letter能对求职者有所启发。此外，求职者除了发送自己的简历和cover letter外，还可以附上自己已发表的论文、科研成果证明、发明专利证书、各种竞赛奖励或技能证书等的电子版，以显示自己的综合素质和能力。可能的话，求职者还可以附上导师、前任领导或专业人士为自己写的推荐信，这些都是提升自身竞争力、增加信息可信度的砝码。