今天我想聊聊關于留學申請PhD，關于套磁信的那些套路。
前方附干貨。
中國人總是傾向于保守、內斂，這也就使得套磁這樣一件需要主動去跟陌生人勾搭的事情顯得格外神秘與艱難。But，套磁遠沒那么難，它只是提前給了我們一個可以主動把握的機會：通過一封郵件就可以與想要申請的專業領域最有聲望的知名教授取得聯系，達到混臉熟的目的。
套磁信要避免的幾大坑
由于研究方向和所在的管理職位，我差不多每周都能收到10多封套磁信，主要來源于中國、大印度、馬來、印尼、中東、還有荷蘭。估計由于模板的存在，大多數套磁信還是有禮有節。主要給我印象比較深刻的問題只有如下幾個：
1）給同一個大學里的人群發套磁信
最讓人火大的莫過于，收到一份情真意切的套磁信，正準備電話詢問細節，結果1個小時之內，從好幾個同事那邊轉發過來，說：“我覺得這個申請人的背景比較適合你的研究組”。或者完全提不起興趣而刪除套磁信，到了中午，2、3個同事同時跑過來說：“我要了這個申請人！”
老兄，群發套磁信，也別給同一個系里面的人群發啊！第一種情況，傷害了老板的心啊；第二種呢，還想挑起內斗，玩個二桃殺三士么？
所以切記：套磁信，同一個大學不要同時套2個以上的老板。
2)不誠實，夸大成果
一般你說了你發表了幾篇一般文章，老板也懶得去查細節；但是有人在CV中說發表了3篇IEEE TRANSACTIONS。眼睛一亮，看看他做的什么吧，結果找啊找啊找，什么也找不到。電話給他的導師，發現是投稿過3篇IEEE TRANSACTIONS，都被拒了。
這樣的申請人啊，在學術圈估計真混不長。
3）不回復老板的回信
這個問題主要是中國申請人的。也許因為大家習慣了用QQ、微信等，沒有意識到許多國外大學EMAIL才是官方的通訊渠道。
對感興趣的申請人，許多老板都會在看到套磁信后，馬上EMAIL回復。
我對感興趣的博士后申請人，經常在看到套磁信的2分鐘內就回復說，“本組現在沒有經費雇傭你為博士后，但是你如果想過來3個月做訪問學者，我還是可以提供支持的。”結果許多申請人，如泥牛入海，完全沒有回響。即使你對我沒有興趣，哼唧一下表示禮貌，總不會累死吧！套磁信那么長都憋出來了，一句回復也能累死你？
其實，老板很少直接把不熟悉的人直接招為2、3年博士后的，一般是給2、3個月的RA或者訪問學者，試試看。
4）套磁信完全沒有針對性
如果把套磁對象換個其他名字，這封信還可以使用。
不要套用模板！
不要套用模板！
不要套用模板！
(重要發言專用格式~認真臉）
如何恰到好處的套磁？
先舉兩個博士后套磁信的栗子：
I.
Dear Dr. XXX,
My name is XXX, and Iam writing to inquire about the availability of obtaining a postdoctoralposition in your institution. I received my Ph.D. degree from XXX in June XXX.My Ph.D. dissertation title is “XXXXXXX”.
My research interests focus on xxxxxx and system engineering. My Ph.D.dissertation focuses on XXX by means of xxxx. I have published XXX papers inSCI journals, XXX papers in EI journals along with one paper under revision.
With many years of rich experience in study on operational research and xxxx, Imaster solving fuzzy XXXXXX. With deep understanding of xxxxx related basictheory of knowledge and technology, thanks to my research activities, I have astrong academic background on xxxx xxx, xxxxxxx, etc. Additionally, I haveparticipated in several xxxxx projects which endow me rich engineeringexperiences.
I believe that I am a xxxxxxx, as well as a good collaborator with excellentcommunication and writing skills. Also, I believe that exciting discoveriesoften come from multi-disciplinary researches and a training opportunity inyour lab would help me advance greatly. I would be highly grateful if you couldgive me a chance.
Attached please find my CV with the statement of my research interest and thecontact information. If needed, I can send you a hard copy of the materials. Iam more than willing to answer any of your questions concerning my applicationand research. I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely
II.
Dear Dr. XXX,
My name is XXX XXX,and I am writing to look for any opportunities for a postdoctoral position inyour team. Your advices will be greatly appreciated.
I got my doctoral degree in year XXX, and now I am working as a teacher andmaster instructor in XXX University. From year XXXX, I’m the XXXX committeemember of the XXXX, and from XXX to now, I’m the XXXX.
I have published several papers and monographs, as well as presided over anumber of research projects, such as the project named “XXXXX” funded byMinistry of XXXXX, and the "XXXXX" scientific research project ofXXXXXX.
I have strong passion for XXX XXX, with proactive stance in synergetic learningresearch and a desire to make a positive change in online technologic?applying analysis. I eagerly hope you could consider my application and offerme a chance to improve myself both on academic and research ability.
Looking forward to your news.
Yours Sincerely
整個信在內容、英文方面沒有明顯漏洞。但是呢，實際上效果不佳，因為：
a)一般老板首先會看，這個套磁信和我有什么關系呢？你介紹了一通自己，我知道你很厲害，但是你熟悉我這個實驗室么？知道我這里是做什么的么？你的技能和知識對我的實驗室有什么幫助啊？通篇沒有提到和我有關的東西，為什么我要花時間看你的附件CV啊，刪除！
b)博士生的話，可以提training opportunity，本來博士就是一個訓練過程；但是博士后呢，老板一般是期望你召之即來、來之能戰，另外，為什么老板需要花錢雇傭你來HELP YOU ADVANCE GREATLY或者IMPROVE YOURSELF呢？
c)最后一個問題是，從老板的角度來講，找博士后其實是賣方市場，優秀博士畢業生旁邊經常就有老板求著說，到我這邊來做博士后吧，能量大的老板可能直接就給了tenure track position。老板好不容易弄到的研究基金，當然希望能夠找到個高手博士后。即使你的水平就那么多，也不能做出begging狀，所以，要小心使用這個詞if you can give/offer
me a chance.有水平的話，架子還是需要擺一擺的；水平不夠擺架子的話，也別低三下四。
其實，不論是博士生或者博士后申請，套磁可以很簡單直白的，特別是能夠做到對你套磁的老板的組比較熟悉，讓老板給你回信問細節，那就達到目的了。
來看2個正面的例子：
下面這封離開模板千里，但是我直接打電話問他的情況了，其中的一個關鍵是：他看了我研究組的網站，知道我的組做什么，賣點是什么。
Dear Dr XXXX,
I am a student at XXXXX with a major in XXXX. ?I am a master honor studentand will be graduating this December.
I am planning to attend graduate school in XXXXX, with a focus on XXXXX. I havebeen exploring XXXX graduate programs when I am working on XXXX project, and Iam particularly interested in your research interest, XXXX.
I hope you don’t mind my getting in touch, but I’d like to inquire whether youare currently accepting PhD students. ?If you are, would you willing totalk to me a bit more by email. I have explored your website in detail, and itseems like an excellent fit for me because of its emphasis on XXXX.
I know you’re very busy so I appreciate any time you can reply me. ?Thanksvery much,
Sincerely
再來看個印度學生的套磁信，信件寫的很感人，但是可能印度IIT的統一模板就是這個，因為差不多到了每年某個時候，我就可以收到一大堆這種架構的信。其實內容還是很勾人的呢。
Dear Professor XXXXX,
I read your paper 'XXXXXXXXXXXXX' and the experience was quite overwhelming aswell as enriching.
（你看，我知道你的亮點文章，其實誰知道看沒看呢。）I am apre-final year undergraduate student at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)XXXX, India pursuing my B.S-M.S Dual degree in XXXX. While browsing throughyour profile, I came to know about your Research work.
I have
had quite a few research experiences in past which include research internships
with Princeton University (U.S.A), IBM research (India) and University of
Greifswald (Germany).
（牛校走過一番啊，營造出哄搶氣氛：你不要我，有的是人要我呢。）I wish to
pursue a research project under your guidance/or otherwise would be glad even
if I could assist you in any currently ongoing project during XXX . I am
interested and enthusiastic to carry out productive research so as to enhance
and exploit my skills and to contribute positively to the research going on in
these fields. I think that my efforts and new ideas could be quite helpful to
what the project/research topic demands.
（我對你干的事情會有幫助的呢：說不定有new idea哦）I triedto contact you a few months back also but there was some issues with my emailserver leading to some difficulties in receiving emails.
（前幾個月我EMAIIL過你的，但是你沒理我，算啦，我就給你個臺階，說也許我大學郵件服務器不給力：給老板造成內疚感，你不理我！其實呢，老板也記不清是不是收到過了，一般都刪除的，對吧？）Shouldyou require any more information, I would be glad to provide. My CurriculumVitae is attached along with for your kind perusal.
Thanking you for your kind consideration and looking forward to receiving yourfavorable response on the subject.
Best Regards
平心而論，這封套磁信屬于典范級別的了。不過由于IIT的學生差不多每人都這個套路，許多老板都看厭倦了，所以你還是需要小心使用。
少點模板，多點心！
以上是個人在BeBeyond微信群分享后整理的干貨,歷時2周，希望能幫到你！
