留學(xué)推薦信如何寫
每年,有多少青年才俊想出國,因?yàn)闆]有好的推薦信而拿不到好大學(xué)的offer?每年,又有多少留學(xué)生畢業(yè)出去找工作,因?yàn)闆]有好的推薦信而臨門一腳射空了?哪樣的推薦信寫得好,哪樣的推薦信沒有寫好,諸位寫推薦信的學(xué)生和老師都知道嗎?以前曾經(jīng)也有些不認(rèn)識的學(xué)生冒失地往我信箱里發(fā)來推薦信和自我陳述,拜托我看看。我看了以后發(fā)現(xiàn)大多數(shù)沒有寫好。我讀了一些關(guān)于寫推薦信的資料,總結(jié)出一些東西和體會。
學(xué)生請老師寫推薦信,首先要試探老師愿意不愿意寫,通過老師的態(tài)度來判斷他能不能寫好推薦信。比如有的老師非常熱情地答應(yīng),非常愿意幫忙;而有的老師態(tài)度冷淡,話中帶有保留,那么學(xué)生應(yīng)該不必勉強(qiáng)這種帶有保留的老師。但是有一點(diǎn)必須強(qiáng)調(diào)的是:自己的直接導(dǎo)師必須出示推薦信,否則在用人單位眼里看來就是"redflag",看到這種情況(沒有導(dǎo)師推薦信)就槍斃。
老師只要答應(yīng)了請求,一般不會寫壞話。在KathyBaker的Atthe Helm: A Laboratory Navigator一書里,作者從用人者的角度介紹到:
"Youwill seldom receive an overtly bad recommendation. Candidates will usuallyrequest recommendations only from people who think they will give a goodreport. In addition, most people who would write a bad recommendation willinform the candidate."
但是不寫壞話就夠了嗎?
Kathy Baker說:"AP.I. may write a less-than-honest recommendation to make sure that thecandidate finds a job, i.e., to be sure that the candidate leave the P.I.'slab...But usually, even the most desperate person will not be totally dishonestand will couch their problems in telltale phrases hidden among the compliments."也就是說,有的導(dǎo)師雖然看似在說好話,但其實(shí)錦里藏針,把一些話潛伏在句子里面!也就是說,話中有話!
讓我們閱讀書上舉出的例子:
Reading Comprehension: Success in 20 Minutes a Day里面舉出一個例子:
"NicoleBryan usually completes her work on time and checks it carefully. She is acompetent lab technician and is familiar with several ways to evaluate testresults. She has some knowledge of the latest medical research, which has beenhelpful".這個雖然沒有說一句壞話,但是絕對不是好的推薦信!用人單位看到這樣的推薦信保證當(dāng)場槍斃了。
那么,哪樣寫才是好的推薦信呢?
ReadingComprehension: Success in 20 Minutes a Day里面舉出另外一個例子:
"NicoleBryan always submits her work promptly and checks it judiciously. She is anexcellent lab technician and has mastered several ways to evaluate testresults. She has an extensive knowledge of the latest medical research, whichhas been invaluable."
兩段話的字面意思幾乎一樣,但是為什么差別這么明顯?讀者們,你們體會到了嗎?
再比如Atthe Helm: A Laboratory Navigator一書里,作者舉例:
"I am writing in supportof XX for his application to graduate school. XX was in my lab for 3 years andwas a
conscientious worker, always doing what was suggested. Although his workresulted in only one senior author paper, he is an author on two other papersin the lab and was always willing to help the more junior lab members."這看上去是一封好的推薦信,也許很多想出國的學(xué)生得到的推薦信也是這樣的,但是事實(shí)是這恰恰是一封壞的推薦信!
好的推薦信除了沒有“話中有話”以外,還表現(xiàn)在“吹捧”的程度上,
網(wǎng)上資料Howto Write a Good Recommendation (The Chronicle of Higher Education, Januray 31,2008)說:"Asone associate professor of English noted, 'The level of praise is so high thatany assessment short of 'brilliant' can look tepid. That means that anyconsideration of a candidate's weakness is probably a kiss of death."也就是說,美國人就是喜歡“吹”的,推薦信里面不寫高度贊揚(yáng)的話,被推薦人就很難得到職位。中國人喜歡用"good"來形容一個人,但是在美國看推薦信的人那里,good就是一般,outstanding,excellent, brilliant, extraordinary, superb才是好!
推薦人寫信的語氣語調(diào)(tone)也非常重要。壞的推薦信采用一種不瘟不火、有氣無力、帶有保留、有種不大認(rèn)識被推薦人的感覺的語調(diào),這種語調(diào)叫做cool,lukewarm, tepid。有這種語調(diào),保證被推薦人會吃大虧。而寫得好的推薦信正面、富有激情(passion),如燃燒的火焰。這正如收到推薦信后,用人單位打電話給你老板。雖然你的老板沒有說你壞話,但是有氣無力,沒有富有激情地力薦你說你是百年不遇的千里馬缺你不行,你就是拿不到工作。
寫推薦信要注意:不要只是吹捧而忘了舉出實(shí)例、給出細(xì)節(jié)!
比如說,推薦人說該生科研能力強(qiáng),那么請給出個例子并舉出具體的數(shù)字!
網(wǎng)上資料Howto Write a Good Recommendation (The Chronicle of Higher Education, Januray 31,2008)說:"Thedean of academic affairs we talked with said that details help to give 'arationale for the superlatives--not just that 'Dr. Smith is the greatestacademic of her generation' but why she is special."該資料還說:"Detailscan help those reading the letters get and idea of the quality of therelationship, and how the referee regards the applicant beyond the effusivepraise that is often standard."知道這個道理后,需要寫推薦信的人可以主動給推薦人提供自己最新的背景材料,如簡歷、情況總結(jié)、發(fā)表文章等,并和推薦人多溝通,商量你要強(qiáng)調(diào)自己什么。
最后,看推薦信的人不但看推薦人寫了什么,而且看推薦人沒有寫什么!
在KathyBaker的Atthe Helm: A Laboratory Navigator一書里,作者從用人者的角度介紹到:"Lookfor things not said. Look for the qualities you do require."比如,很多準(zhǔn)備出國的人在自己起草的推薦信里面都漏掉“積極參加系里的學(xué)術(shù)報告和國內(nèi)學(xué)術(shù)會議”這一句話,還有的人缺乏對于人相處、合作的描述。再比如,出國讀研究生主要需要科研能力,但是如果推薦信上寫該生花了大量時間在下象棋上或者唱卡拉OK上,或者助人為樂上,卻只字不提該生的科研能力、科研成果和成果的意義,這有用嗎?
英國留學(xué)推薦信范例
letter of recommendation
october xx， xxxx
to whom it may concern，
as vice dean of college of foreign languages， shanghai maritime university， i'm pleased to recommend miss xxxx as a qualified candidate for the admission to your graduate programme in law.
miss xxxx is an exceptional student with outstanding organizational capability and excellent skills in leadership. during her final year in the university， i was the tutor of her class. being the organizing officer of the class， miss xxxx provided me with great assistance in dealing with the graduating affairs. in addition， in order to leave everybody good memory of the college life， she successfully organized several parties before graduation， which impressed erveryone a lot. even today， she still plays the role of making close connection with class members.
miss xxxx has great enthusiasm in doing voluntary work， she went to the public hospital every weekend during her second and third year in the university and had been a conductor in shanghai science and technology museum for many times.
moreover， i’d like to mention that miss xxxx is truly a versatile student with great musical talents. her performance of playing the chinese traditional string instrument， zither， is moving and touching. she had learnt latin dance when she was a sophomore， and she plans to learn to play the piano in the coming months of this year.
on the whole， miss xxxx is of great expectations， i hold the idea that after studying abroad in uk， she could make even greater progress and will certainly come out to be a brilliant lady. i sincerely hope that you favorably consider her application. should i be of any further assistance， please feel free to contact me.
yours faithfully，
xxxx
vice dean， associate-professor of linguistics
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx shanghai xxxx
【留學(xué)信如何寫】相關(guān)文章：
出國留學(xué)推薦信如何寫?04-11
如何寫法國留學(xué)推薦信05-29
澳洲留學(xué)推薦信該如何寫好02-16
如何寫求職信09-05
公開信如何寫04-01
如何寫辭職信11-16
如何寫好公關(guān)道歉信07-31
如何寫mba推薦信11-14
小區(qū)如何寫表揚(yáng)信06-11