2 . How to write a Cover Letter (求职信)

Are you tired of your job and in the market for a new one? Many people are these days, and that can be a problem for job hunters.     1     A well-designed cover letter is the answer.

The cover letter should be no more than one page in length. And it should explain why you are the best candidate for a job. The point of this letter is to help you stand out from the others.     2    .

Making a good impression in your cover letter means grabbing the reader’s attention right away. In your first paragraph, quickly introduce yourself and talk about the position you are applying for.     3     This illustrates to employers that you can do your research——a key part of cover letters.

    4     Each one should be tailored to the job you are applying for. So, before you start writing, find out some information about the job and the establishment. Then you’ll know what the company values and which skills and experiences your letter should focus on.

Following the opening paragraph, you can discuss the relevant experiences in your resume (简历).     5     Talking about your background and skills shouldn’t take more than a couple of paragraphs. From there, you can move to the closing of your letter.

It’s important to end on a strong note. In these last lines, you should repeat why you are a great fit. Then follow up with a polite request for an interview. This shows you are excited about the job and keen to it.

6 . I decided at age 10 that I was going to be a teacher because I _________ superpowers. When I was in primary school, I could clearly see that some of my _________ had superpowers because I was always the quietly observant one, _________ things.

Our English teacher could magically _________ us to different worlds every day, simply by reading stories to us from books we would otherwise never _________ . This was our secret because fifth graders were considered too _________ to have stories read out to them. Then our headmaster, a teacher as well, _________ everything about every child. You couldn't _________ his laser-like (激光般的) eyes that could see right into you—through flesh, bones and all. And our geography teacher could _________ the invisible (隐形的) . I remained rather quiet and unnoticeable. ____________ , she would spot me. The unspoken ____________ in her superpowered eyes told me: “I see you, I know you, I understand you.”

As I learned from them, the ____________ of a primary school educator is to teach children, not subjects. What seems ____________ to me is that all those teachers calmly create ____________ in their ordinary classrooms. No one ever noticed that they were so creative in ____________ young human beings.

Teaching is not just a job—it is a science and an art, and it ____________ emotional labour and input. When I ____________ after teaching for three decades, what gives me ____________ is remembering the children who felt happier in school because I was their teacher. When I meet others who ____________ to gain superpowers, like the brand-new teacher struggling to perfect her skills, or the one in a rural school traveling seventy kilometers each way just for the pupils, I feel ____________ to belong to the same group.

8 . When you are looking for a new job, you'll probably get a lot of advice from the Internet and well-meaning friends.     1     Some of it may even hurt your chances. We've clarified a few of the most common misbeliefs about job hunting so you can find your new position quickly without lowering your standards.

    2     Having a college degree shows that you put in hard work and effort, but it doesn't lock you into one specific career. If you take a completely different career path, consider getting experience in your new field of choice with an internship (实习) or vocational classes.

You don't need to be perfect to apply. If you meet some of the requirements that the job asks for, take a chance? It's pretty rare for a company to find someone who meets all the requirements. Of course, there are some things that companies won't bend on, or give in, like experience or skills.     3    

Temporary jobs don't necessarily mean dead-ends.     4     Usually, companies are cautious about hiring new people, so they use temporary jobs to test the waters first. If you come across a suitable temporary job, consider applying to get your foot in the door.

Your personality is no less important than your qualification. You may have gone to a top school and have years of experience.     5     Do your best to make a good impression by being polite and kind during your interview.

Career planning does not     1    (necessary) follow routine or logical steps. Each of us places weight on different factors and may consider certain phases of career planning at different times. Career planning includes     2    (gather) information about ourselves and about     3    (occupy), estimating the probable outcomes, and eventually, choosing alternatives that we find attractive.

Many observers have pointed out that students are not efficient career planners. There     4    (exist) convincing evidence that most students choose from among a very narrow group of choices. Young people show a striking lack of interest     5     sales and service,     6     these fields offer more opportunities. Actually, the best coping behavior is vigilance (警醒), which occurs when people believe that a choice is supposed to     7    (make), they can seek a solution. Under these conditions, students can conduct     8     effective search, carefully evaluate each alternative and work out plans. Moreover, having your own strengths     9    (study) and writing down your goals turn out to be helpful when faced with difficulties. Nobody can foresee     10     the future holds for any of us, but the most important lesson is that progress comes with planning.