(DegreeAdvisers.com) – Do you need to enhance your resume or improve your marketability? Many skills can help you make better first impressions during your career search, but there’s a valuable one employers look for that job hunters often forget — and that’s writing. Having a solid background and understanding of the written word can make you so much more valuable, regardless of the position you’re applying for.
Why Are Writing Skills So Important?
Unless you go into a writing-intensive field or profession, you might be quick to underestimate its power in the workplace. After all, why does it matter if it’s not the main focus of the position?
Words and grammar matter to more than just novelists, language teachers and technical writers. Almost all business or office-related jobs require you, at the very least, to compose emails, documents and reports for important clients or business partners. You may need to work with document software, research critical information or do other tasks that require a command of written language.
A study in 2016 indicated that about 75% of employers are looking for job candidates with strong written communication skills. This is hardly a surprise, considering the wide range of industries that use methods such as email and text to share information. Every message, report or announcement you write reflects on the company you work for, which means your ability to convey information effectively could provide a major competitive edge.
How You Can Brush up on Your Writing Skills
You don’t necessarily need to be a writing master to get hired, but it can help if you have a strong foundation for grammar, spelling and professional language. A few ways to enhance your communication abilities include:
- Knowing the basics: Grammar, spelling and punctuation are key to clear and professional communication. If nothing else, knowing these basics can be a great asset in the workplace. Some software and apps have tools that can help you catch errors by checking your spelling and grammar, but practice (and proofreading) is the best way to improve in these areas.
- Learning about writing for specific audiences: You wouldn’t compose a message for a friend in the same way you’d write for a boss, right? We all use varied language to deliver messages to different audiences. One of the best ways to improve your abilities is to recognize and understand the many types of writing — professional emails versus sales copy, for instance. This can make you more apt to succeed, whatever type of assignment you’re working on.
- Learning to use research: Researching and writing are both valuable capabilities, but it takes another level of skill and experience to use them together. There may be times in your life when you have to take research and turn it into something readable or summarize facts in a clear, unique way. Learning how to do this, whether in a class or through your own personal efforts, can make a huge difference in your performance and marketability.
The moral of the story here is that whether you’re applying for a writing job or not, having some experience and education in the area could increase your chances of finding the job you want. Written communication influences our lives in so many ways that we often take it for granted. But if you take the time to learn and add these powerful skills to your resume, you could be the next candidate who gets called in for the interview.
~Here’s to Your Success!
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