應用文主要包括書信、摘要、報告、備忘錄四種。下面以求職信為例，談應用文的寫作，希望讀者能舉一反三。同時求職信是大學生步入社會、走向工作崗位的第一步，了解求職信的寫法具有實際意義。
那么，如何用地道流利的英語寫好一份求職信呢?關鍵要處理好求職信的五個組成部分：寫信動機、自我介紹、本人能力、結尾、附件。
一、寫信動機
通常求職信是針對報紙上招聘廣告而寫的。若此，信中須提到何月何日的報紙，有時工作機會是從朋友或介紹所聽來的，有時寫信人不知某機構、公司有工作機會，毛遂自薦。不論哪一種，求職信上一定要說明寫信的緣由和目的。
因此首先應該表明你是在何家媒體看到應聘廣告以及所要應聘的職位。參考例句：
1.In reply to your advertisement in today's newspaper，I respectfully offer my services for the situation。拜讀今日XX報上貴公司的廣告，本人特此備函應征該職位。
2.Replying to your advertisement into- day's issue of the(newspaper)，I wish to apply for the position in your esteemed firm。拜讀貴公司在今日(報紙)上廣告，特此備函應征貴公司該職位。
3.With reference to your advertisement in(newspaper)of May 2for a clerk，I offer myself for the post。從五月二日XX報上廣告欄得知貴公司招聘一位職員，我愿應招。
4.I wish to apply for the position advertised in the enclosed clipping from the(newspaper)of November 12.謹隨函附上十一月十二日XX報貴公司招聘廣告，我愿應招此職位。
5.In answer to your advertisement into- day's newspaper for a secretary，I wish to tender my services。閣下在今日XX報上刊登招聘秘書廣告，本人獲悉，特此應招。
6.Learning from XX that you are looking for a sales manager，I should like to apply for the position。從XX處得悉，貴公司正在招聘一名業(yè)務經(jīng)理，我愿應招此職。
7.Your advertisement for a telephone operator in the newspaper of March 8has interested me，I feel I can fill that position。貴公司三月八日在XX報上刊登招聘電話接線員廣告，本人拜讀后極感興趣，相信能擔任此職。
二、自我介紹
寫信人應述明自己的年齡或出生年月、教育背景，尤其與應征職位有關的訓練或教育科目、工作經(jīng)驗或特殊技能。如無實際經(jīng)驗，略述在學類似經(jīng)驗亦可。參考例句：
1.For the past three years，I have been in the office of the XX Trading Co.， where I have been an accountant。本人曾經(jīng)在XX貿易公司服務三年，擔任會計工作。
2.I am twenty years of age，and have been employed for the last two years by the XX Co.，in the general clerical work of the office。我今年20歲，曾在XX公司服務兩年，擔任一般文員工作。
3.I am twenty years of age，and am anxious to settle down to office work。本人20歲，希望能找到一個公司，以便安定下來。
4.Since my graduation from the school two years ago， I have been employed in XX Hotel as a cashier。兩年前離校后，在XX酒店擔任出納員。
三、本人能力
這部分非常重要，因為這體現(xiàn)你究竟能為公司做什么，直接關系到求職的成功率。但是也要注意一定要用最少的文字表達最多的意思。參考例句：
1.I am able to take dictation in English and translate it rapidly into Chinese。我會英文的口授筆記，同時能立即將其翻譯成中文。
2.I have received an English education， and have a slight knowledge of Spanish.I took a Spanish course in college。本人接受英文教育，同時略通西班牙文。大學時，我修了西班牙文。
3.I have been at the City Commercial College，where I have acquired a knowledge of English，mathematics and elementary business practice。本人曾在城市商專學英文、數(shù)學以及初級商業(yè)實務。
4.I have just left school，but have a good knowledge of English。本人雖剛離開校門，但英文很好。
5.At school I won a scholarship and the first prize in a speech contest。求學中，我曾獲獎學金及演講比賽一等獎。
6.I am a graduate of Hong Kong University，and have in addition an M.A.degree from UCLA。本人畢業(yè)于香港大學，并在加州大學獲得文學碩士學位。
7.Since leaving school，I have attended Typewriting and Shorthand classes，and have now attained a speed of fifty and ninety words respectively。離開學校后，我參加打字與速記班，而今已達到打字50字，速記90字的速度。
四、結尾
希望并請求未來的雇主允以面談的機會，因此信中要表明可以面談的時間。成功的求職信決不是虎頭蛇尾的，結尾一定要引起重視。參考例句：
1.I should be glad to have a personal in- terview and can furnish references if desired。如獲面試，則感幸甚。如需保證人，本人也可提出。
2.I request an interview，and assure you that if appointed，I will do my best to give you satisfaction。懇請惠予面試之榮。如蒙錄用，本人必竭盡所能，為貴公司服務，以符厚望。
3.If you desire an interview，I shall be most happy to call in person，on any day and at any time you may appoint。如貴公司有意面試，本人一定遵照所指定的時日，前往拜訪。
4.Should you think favorably of my application，I would like to have an interview。如對本人之應征優(yōu)先考慮，懇請惠予面試之機會。
5.I hope that you will be kind enough to consider my application favorably。懇請惠予考慮本人之申請為盼。
6.Should this application meet with your favorable consideration，I will do my utmost to justify the confidence you may repose in me。對此申請，貴公司如惠予考慮，本人將盡最大的忠誠與努力，為貴公司效勞。
7.Should you entertain my application favorably，I would spare no trouble to acquit my- self to your satisfaction。假如應征獲得青睞而進入貴公司服務，本人必以排除萬難之決心，為貴公司工作，以符厚望。
8.I wish to assure you that，if successful，I would endeavor to give you every satisfaction。如蒙不棄，惠予錄用，本人將盡力服務，使諸事滿意。
五、附件
這部分視具體情況而定，如有詳細的簡歷或用人單位需要的材料附在求職信中時，需要注明。參考例句：
1.You will find enclosed an outline of my education and business training and copies of two letters of recommendation。有關本人的學歷、工作經(jīng)驗等項的概要，謹同函呈上兩件推薦函。
2.Enclosed please find a resume and a photo。隨函寄上簡歷表及相片各一份。
3.A copy of my transcript is enclosed。附寄成績單一份。
4.Enclosed you will find a letter of re-
commendation from my former teacher of Eng- lish。隨函附上我英文老師的推薦函。