寫前暖身活動 Cover Letter Prewriting Steps
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動筆寫信之前，先用腦力激盪法將許多你想納入信中的訊息條列出來。在暖身活動的過程中，你需要找出你的背景、專業技術和個性中有哪些符合這份廣告的徵才條件。
從以下實例中你可以看出這位學生如何將他所擅長的專業技術與這份徵才廣告相配合。
JOB AD（徵才廣告）：
TAIPEI TIMES NEWS REPORTER EXCELLENT COMMAND OF ORAL AND WRITTEN ENGLISH; COLLEGE GRADUATE; EXPERIENCE IN NEWS-GATHERING PREFERRED
應徵者寫信前所作的暖身運動（條列與廣告相符的條件）：
EDUCATION
received a Bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University’s Foreign Language and Literature Department, 2006 graduation.
Took many courses involving speaking and writing, including English Composition (3 years), English Oral Training (2 years), and Journalistic English.
SKILLS and EXPERIENCE
Worked as part-time reporter for the Liberty Times in 2005-06.
Wrote articles for the FLLD’s Newsletter.
Familiar with InDesign and QuarkXpress software. （排版軟體）
PERSONALITY
I get along well with a wide range of people.
I’m interested in many issues and enjoy investigating them.
I’m not shy or afraid to use English.
With all that has to go into your cover letter, you’ve got a lot of work to do. But what may come as a surprise to most job seekers is that your work should begin long before you write a single word. In fact, what is most likely to determine the success of your cover letter is the effort you put into the process that writing experts refer to as prewriting. Use these prewriting basics to guide your cover letter preparation process.
從以下實例中你可以看出這位學生如何將他所擅長的專業技術與這份徵才廣告相配合。
TAIPEI TIMES NEWS REPORTER EXCELLENT COMMAND OF ORAL AND WRITTEN ENGLISH; COLLEGE GRADUATE; EXPERIENCE IN NEWS-GATHERING PREFERRED
received a Bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University’s Foreign Language and Literature Department, 2006 graduation.
Took many courses involving speaking and writing, including English Composition (3 years), English Oral Training (2 years), and Journalistic English.
Worked as part-time reporter for the Liberty Times in 2005-06.
Wrote articles for the FLLD’s Newsletter.
Familiar with InDesign and QuarkXpress software. （排版軟體）
I get along well with a wide range of people.
I’m interested in many issues and enjoy investigating them.
I’m not shy or afraid to use English.
RESEARCH.
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The very first stage of prewriting involves reading everything you can get your hands on. Research the company on the Internet and talk to friends and colleagues who have worked there or have been frequent customers. Most importantly, print out the job posting you’re responding to and go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Based on all of your research, what are the main qualities the company is looking for in an applicant? Take notes and make some lists to refer to later on.
The very first stage of prewriting involves reading everything you can get your hands on. Research the company on the Internet and talk to friends and colleagues who have worked there or have been frequent customers. Most importantly, print out the job posting you’re responding to and go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Based on all of your research, what are the main qualities the company is looking for in an applicant? Take notes and make some lists to refer to later on.
GATHER PAPERWORK.
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The longer you’ve been in the workforce, the more documentation you’ve likely accumulated along the way. As part of your prewriting process, bring out all of the reviews, letters of recommendation, job descriptions, and past résumés and cover letters you’ve gathered over the course of your career. Spend a few hours looking over everything, making notes about your strengths and the skills you’ve developed in your past roles. Try to focus specifically on the talents and attributes you think will translate best to the new position.
The longer you’ve been in the workforce, the more documentation you’ve likely accumulated along the way. As part of your prewriting process, bring out all of the reviews, letters of recommendation, job descriptions, and past résumés and cover letters you’ve gathered over the course of your career. Spend a few hours looking over everything, making notes about your strengths and the skills you’ve developed in your past roles. Try to focus specifically on the talents and attributes you think will translate best to the new position.
BRAINSTORM.
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Time to begin writing, but at this stage, keep things very abstract. Make a series of free-form lists of the skills and experience you most want to get across in your cover letter. Imagine the ideal candidate you think the company is looking for to fill the position, and create a list of words and phrases you can use in your cover letter to tailor your skills and experience to better fit this mold. Make lists of the attributes and even the personality traits you want to get across in your letter, and brainstorm some words and phrases that best embody these traits.
Time to begin writing, but at this stage, keep things very abstract. Make a series of free-form lists of the skills and experience you most want to get across in your cover letter. Imagine the ideal candidate you think the company is looking for to fill the position, and create a list of words and phrases you can use in your cover letter to tailor your skills and experience to better fit this mold. Make lists of the attributes and even the personality traits you want to get across in your letter, and brainstorm some words and phrases that best embody these traits.
PICK A FORMAT.
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There are countless sources of sample cover letters out there, whether you’re looking online or prefer to buy or check out a book-length compilation. Browse through samples and pick one that you think is best suited to the position you’re applying for. Having a predetermined format in mind can make the writing process much less intimidating – it’s akin to the difference between a coloring book and a blank canvas.
There are countless sources of sample cover letters out there, whether you’re looking online or prefer to buy or check out a book-length compilation. Browse through samples and pick one that you think is best suited to the position you’re applying for. Having a predetermined format in mind can make the writing process much less intimidating – it’s akin to the difference between a coloring book and a blank canvas.
BEGIN TO SKETCH IN THE DETAILS.
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To get your cover letter just right, you have to expect to go through multiple drafts. Your earliest attempts can be more like outlines than polished business documents. Using the format you’ve selected as a guide, decide which details about yourself and the company you’ll include in each paragraph. Once you’ve got these core components in place, you can gradually begin the traditional writing process. Take it slow, and don’t call it finished until you’re completely happy with the final product.
To get your cover letter just right, you have to expect to go through multiple drafts. Your earliest attempts can be more like outlines than polished business documents. Using the format you’ve selected as a guide, decide which details about yourself and the company you’ll include in each paragraph. Once you’ve got these core components in place, you can gradually begin the traditional writing process. Take it slow, and don’t call it finished until you’re completely happy with the final product.
