How Do You Write A Chinese Cover Letter?
Your Guide on How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter in Chinese!
Written by Juliette Pitt
Essential Vocabulary: 求职信(qiúzhíxìn)
You might already have a job and the perfect cover letter – Great!
Nevertheless, if you are a student getting ready to apply for a job and you are studying Chinese (at whatever level), have you ever wondered how to write your cover letter in Chinese? Then you are in the right place!
Where to start?
On the whole there are no distinct differences between Chinese and Western cover letters. Cover letters simply allow you the chance to further emphasize and showcase your skills/experience and demonstrate the value you will add to the company.
As every cover letter is different for each person, we are going to use a basic format which people can easily tailor according to their needs and experiences.
#Tip: A good cover letter should be around 3-4 paragraphs and is not longer than a page!
What to include?
Salutations
In order to sound polite and respectful, many Chinese letters begin with “尊敬的… (zūn jìng de)” which is the equivalent to saying “Dear…”. Although the literal translation of “尊敬的…” is “respectable” it is most commonly used in this way.
As with English, following “尊敬的…” it is best to add the person’s surname followed by “Ms.” 女士 (nǚ shì), “Miss.小姐(xiǎo jiě)” or “Mr.” 先生 (xiān sheng).
For example, 尊敬的 (zūn jìng zhōu xiǎojiě) – which means: Dear Miss Zhou.
Alternatively, if you do not know who will be reading the letter, you can write the company’s or organization names followed by: 的相关负责人 (de xiāng guān fù zé rén). This refers to the company’s “related staff/decision makers” and is similar to “To whom it may concern”.
#Tip: Try to avoid using “To” that is 致 (zhì) or “To whom it may concern” as it is a more direct opening and it is more polite to address the person you are writing to. If of course, this information is hard to find, then it is an acceptable type of salutation.
*To find out more about how to address someone when writing formally, check out our blog here on how to write a formal letter in Chinese! *
Opening
- The title and reference number (if applicable) of the position you are applying for.
- How you came to see the job advertisement or the name of a mutual contact.
- Why you are interested in the position
Here are some key sentences you may find useful to incorporate and change accordingly depending on the job role you are applying for and where you saw the job advertisement:
I saw in the…that your…is hiring…
从xx我看到xx正在招聘xx。(cóng…shàng wǒ kàn dào… zhèng zài zhāopìn…)
I have pleasure in applying for the advertised position, as…
很高兴申请您所刊登的xx职位招聘。(hěn gāoxìng shēnqǐng nín suǒkāndēng de…zhíwèi zhāopìn)
I would like to apply for the position of…
我想申请xx一职。(Wǒ xiǎng shēnqǐng fúwùyuán yī zhí)
I am very interested in this job, because…
我对此工作十分感兴趣,因为…。(wǒ duì cǐ gōngzuò shífēn gǎn xìngqù)
I would like to apply for this job, because…
我想为您工作，因为…。 (wǒ xiǎng wèi nín gōngzuò, yīnwèi)
Feature this letter application
特写此信申请。 (tèxiě cǐ xìn shēnqǐng)
- I am very suitable for this position because…
我很适合这个职位，因为…。 (wǒ hěn shìhé zhège zhíwèi, yīnwèi…)
- My professional qualifications /skills appear to be well suited to your company’s requirements
我的专业素质/技能和贵公司的要求非常匹配。 (Wǒ de zhuānyè sùzhì/jìnéng hé guì gōngsīde yāoqiú fēicháng pǐpèi)
- During my time as …, I improved / furthered / extended / my knowledge of…
做xx工作期间，我改进/增强/扩展了xx领域的知识。 (zuò… gōngzuò qíjiān, wǒgǎijìn/zēngqiáng/kuòzhǎnle… lǐngyù de zhīshì)
- As you can see from the CurriculumVitae (CV) I attached, my experience and quality are in line with the requirements of this position.
从我附上的简历您可以看出，我的经历和素质很符合这个职位的要求。(cóng wǒ fù shàng de jiǎnlì nín kěyǐ kàn chū, wǒ de jīnglì hésùzhì hěn fúhé zhège zhíwèi de yāoqiú)
- I have a lively interest in … and would appreciate the opportunity / chance to broaden my knowledge by working with you.
我对…很有兴趣，很珍惜和您共事的机会以拓展个人视野。(wǒ duì… Hěn yǒu xìngqù, hěn zhēnxī hénín gòngshì de jīhuì yǐ tàzhǎn gèrén shìyě)
- My area of expertise is…
我的专长是…。(wǒ de zhuānchángshì…)
Good interpersonal skills
良好的人际交往技能 (liánghǎo de rénjì jiāowǎng jìnéng)
Presentation skills
观点陈述能力 (guāndiǎn chénshù nénglì)
Negotiation skills
谈判技能 (tánpàn nénglì)
- Attached is my CV. Please check.
附上我的简历。请查收。(fù shàng wǒ de jiǎnlì)
- Please find my CV / CV attached.
附件中含有我的个人简历。(fùjiàn zhōnghányǒu wǒ de gèrén jiǎnlì)
- I am highly motivated and look forward to the varied work which a position in your company would offer me.
我积极性很高，很期待贵公司该职位所能提供的丰富的工作内容。(wǒ jījíxìng hěn gāo, hěn qídài guìgōngsī gāi zhíwèi suǒ néng tígōng de fēngfù de gōngzuò nèiróng)
- I can supply references from…if required.
如有需要，我可以从…处提供推荐信。(rú yǒu xūyào, wǒ kěyǐ cóng… chù tígōngtuījiàn xìn)
- References can be requested from…
可以从…处获得推荐信。 (kěyǐcóng… chù huòdé tuījiàn)
- Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to the opportunity to personally discuss why I am particularly suited to this position, please contact me via…
感谢您的时间和考虑，我期待着有机会和您讨论为什么我很适合这个职位，您可以通过…联系我。 (gǎnxiè nín de shíjiān hé kǎolǜ, wǒqídàizhuó yǒu jīhuì hé nín tǎolùn wèishéme wǒ hěn shìhé zhège zhíwèi，nín kěyǐ tōngguò…liánxì wǒ)
Closing
To end your formal letter, one of the most common and respectful ways to end is to write: 此致敬礼(cǐ zhì jìng lǐ), which means “With best regards…”.
It should be written on two separate lines with “此致” (cǐ zhì) indented, as highlighted in the example given at the end of this article.
Finally, to sign off, many people choose to write their name, followed by “敬礼” (jìng shàng) which is similar to saying, “Respectfully yours…”.
This is then followed in the next line by the date, which is written below your name, with the format Year/Month/Day.
The salutation and body of the letter is typically indented four spaces, whereas the date and signature are often aligned to the right.
With the proper alignments, your letter should look something like the example at the end of this article.
Last tips!
Remember to research the company you are applying to before you start to write your cover letter! Also, reread the job description so that you can pull out the required qualifications and skills for the position and use its keywords to further emphasize how you fit for the role.
Although it can be a bit daunting to prepare, even if you are at beginner’s level it is worth having a go!
So, there we have it – your complete guide on how to write a cover letter in Chinese – feeling confident?
Please leave us any questions you might have in the comments.
*If you want to use the template below for writing your own cover letter in Chinese, just e-mail Info@hutongschool.com and will send it to you for free!*
