申请信(LETTERS OF APPLICATION)
该类信件主要用于求职、求学或辞职以及其它请求，是一种十分重要的正式函件。一般来说，写申请信时要附上个人简历。申请信是一种自荐形式，申请人向某个单位或学术机构推荐自己从事某种工作或就读某个学科。在写申请信时，要注意简明扼要，突出重点，能马上引起人们注意。
申请信有两种类型：一种是对某一招聘广告所提及的职业提出申请(a response to a specific advertisement)，另一种不必以招聘广告为据，是推测某种可能性而提出的申请(application on speculation)。写申请信文字讲究规范化，提供的信息要真实、简洁，语气要肯定、自信。例如，大学生在求职时，有一个不利之处在于缺乏工作经验，在表达该意思时，一般我们不用 “I don’t have much experience in …”，而选择 “I am eager to get more experience in…”。后者比前者要积极很多。
申请信的格式分为齐头式(full flock)，混合式(block)和缩行式(semi-block)三种。从三种格式看：现时商务、政务等公务中流行的齐头式每行都自左至右顶格开始;混合式的信头、日期、结束语和签名都安排在信纸的中间偏右部位，其他部分与齐头式一样，每行都自左边顶格开始;缩行式与混合式不同的地方是信的正文每段第一行都与写普通文章的段落写法一样。应该指出的是，这三种形式都是可以接受的，没有优劣之分。但在使用时，不可混用，一旦决定采用某种格式，在同一封信中就必须保持一致，而不要中途改变。
申请信属于正式公函，一般包括公函的几个基本部分：信头、信内地址、称呼、正文、结束套语、签名。有的签名后还有外加部分，如附言(Postscript,略作P. S.)、附件(Enclosure,常略作Encl.)、副本抄送(Carbon Copy,略作cc.)。若有这些附加部分的其中一项或两项，均齐头写在左下方。
信头包括写信人自己的姓名、地址和写信的日期;信内地址包括收信人的姓名、职务和地址;称呼一般用“Dear Sir”，或者“Gentlemen”，有时偶尔也用“Dear Sir or Madam”，当然具体称呼“Dear Mr. Smith”(男性)，“Dear Miss Smith”或者“Dear Mrs. Coles”和“Dear Ms. Mckay”(女性)都是可以的。公务信件的正式结束语可以是“Yours Truly”，“Yours Very Truly”，“Yours Sincerely”或者“Sincerely”等。签名必须清楚，若是打字的信件，签名要签在打字姓名的上面。
申请信的正文一般可以由几个短的段落组成。第一段写明你申请的职位或工作，说明是什么原因使你提出申请，或者你在何时何处看到的招聘广告而做出回应。第二段着重写你的教育背景、特殊技能和主要工作经历(与所附简历吻合)，这些是你被录用的基本条件。第三段写明你为什么要到所申请公司或所申请单位工作的理由。这是你向往该公司的原因，文字夸张一点是可以的，但不要说谎。比方说“Your company is the only place I have ever wanted to work”就显得不明智，而说“Your company’s reputation for good service to its customers and fairness to its employees has prompted me to apply”就使人听起来感到很合情理，很舒畅。第四段可以写你能应聘或面试的具体时间或其他合理要求。最后是礼节式的表态，如可以用“Thank you for considering my application”。以上所述是申请信正文结构的大致安排，当然大家也可以灵活掌握，有所变通，只要把这几层意思表达出来就行了。
大家看下面的实例，体会申请信的写作特点。
实例 1 求职申请信
Model Composition
February 14th, 2005
Ms Alice Green, Store Manager
Carefour
Building 8, Red Star Street
Dongcheng Distric, Beijing
Dear Ms Green:
You want retail clerks and managers who are accurate, enthusiastic, and experienced. You want someone who cares about customer service, who understands merchandising, and who can work with others to get the job done. When you are ready to hire a manager trainee or a clerk who is willing to work toward promotion, please consider me for the job.
Working as clerk and then as assistant department manager in a large department store has taught me how challenging a career in retailing can be. Moreover, my AA degree in retailing (including work in such courses as retailing, marketing, and business information system) will provide your store with a well-rounded associate. Most important, I can offer Carefour Dongcheng Store more than my two years’ of study and field experience: You will find that I am interested in every facet of retailing, eager to take on responsibility, and willing to continue learning throughout my career. Please look over my resume to see how my skills can benefit your store.
I understand that Carefour prefers to promote its managers from within the company, and I would be pleased to start out with an entry-level position until I gain the necessary experience. Do you have any associate positions opening up soon? Could we discuss my qualifications? I will phone you early next Wednesday to see whether we can arrange a meeting at your convenience.
Sincerely yours,
Adam Smith
Enclosure
分析：在第一段中，申请人通过对所申请职位的描述与自己的条件，迅速地引起收件人的注意。第二段中申请人点明了自己的个人素质与技能，这些在简历里难以展示，使收件人对申请人有更清楚的了解。第三段申请人对公司晋升政策的了解肯定会引起读者的兴趣。虽然最后一段用的是第一人称I，但文章的中心与重点还是在读者身上。
实例 2 留学出国申请信
Directions: Imagine you want to study in a US university for a master’s degree. Your composition should include:
l an introduction of yourself,
l why you want to study in that university, and
l your thanks.
You should write no less than 120 words.
Model Composition
To whom it may concern,
My name is Li Ming and I am now studying at Peking University and going to graduate in this July. My major in the university is chemistry and I hope to study in your university for a master’s degree.
There are many reasons why I want to study in your university. Here are just some: To begin with, because your university is a world-famous one and especially good at chemistry. I know some Nobel Prize winners for Chemistry once worked in the Department of Chemistry in your university. I believe I will get an excellent education in your university. What’s more, I am qualified to study in your university. I have been studying hard at Peking University, one of the best universities of China and I have all “As” in my courses. Also I am good at sports, especially basketball and football. Last but not least, I am very much interested in chemistry and plan to devote myself to the study of it. In all I think I can study well in your university.
Thank you for your consideration and I am looking forward to your reply.
Yours Sincerely
Li Ming
下面是在写申请信时的一些常用句型：
开门见山点明写信目的时常用：
ü I am very interested in your advertisement for an Internet Engineer in China Daily March 8. I would like to apply for the position.
ü Your advertisement for an Internet Engineer in China Daily March 8 has caught my attention. I would like to apply for this position.
ü In reply to your advertisement for a Marketing Manager in Chicago Tribune January 5, I offer my service for this position.
介绍学历时，常用以下句型：
ü I will graduate in the summer of 2005 from the Department of Automatic Control, North China Electric and Power University.
ü I will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Tsinghua University in the summer of 2005.
ü I will earn my B. S. degree from Beijing University in the summer of 2005.
ü I hold / have a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering.
在介绍自己工作经验时，常用：
ü I have worked part time as a computer programmer for two years with the Carpenter Company.
ü I have had two years’ part time experience as a salesman.
ü I have been in the part time employment of the Import and Export company of Shanghai for two years.
介绍自己的工作能力时，常用以下句型：
ü I am well acquainted with office work / import and export businesses.
ü I have a good understanding of server hardware, remote administration, and networking hardware.
ü I have a working knowledge of image size, file formats, and networking hardware.
ü I am highly competent and self motivated to work in a fast moving, ever changing and demanding environment.
介绍自己的语言能力时，常用以下句型：
ü I have strong written and verbal communication skills.
ü I am fluent in both written and spoken English.
ü I have a good command of both written and spoken English.
ü I am good at both written translation and oral interpretation.
求职信结尾时常用以下句型：
ü If any further material is still required for my application, please let me know at your earliest convenience.
ü Should further information be required, please let me know.
ü I hope you could favor me with a prompt reply.
ü I am looking forward to a favorable answer.
ü I would be most happy if you could favor me with an interview.
ü I would appreciate your reply at your earliest convenience.
请假条A sick Leave
Suppose you are a student and are ill so you cannot attend the class today. Write a sick leave to your teacher.
Dear Prof. Kang,
I am very sorry to tell you that I cannot attend today’s lecture held by you owing to the fact that I caught a bad cold last night. The doctor said that I should stay in bed for a couple of days. Thus I am compelled to ask for sick leave of two days. I shall make up for the missing classes by consulting my classmates and return to class as soon as I feel better.
Enclosed with this letter is the doctor’s certificate.
Yours respectfully
Li Ming
Follow-up Exercises
Exercise 1
A Report: Views on China’s Entry into the WTO
To: Mr. Adam Smith
From: Mr. Wang Li
Subject: Views on China’s Entry into the WTO
Date: January 10, 2002
Model Composition
As required I chose 500 subjects and asked them, through telephone, about what they thought about the recent entry of China into the WTO. Here is what I get from the survey:
For the majority of people (about 60%), this entry into the WTO is a great success both nationally and internationally. They argue that, on one hand, it stands for the government’s determination to open China further to the world. On the other hand, they also believe that the WTO needs China, for it is well known that China is quickly becoming the largest market on the surface of our planet.
A smaller group of subjects (about 30%) remain suspicious, or pessimistic of the event. They express deep concern for the future of China’s state enterprises. For them, foreign competitors will destroy domestic products and make millions of workers unemployed.
This is what we can get from the survey. If you need more information, please let us know. (158 words)
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