Nancy writes: What should I do when an employer job posting or classified advertisement asks for a brief writing sample to be included with my resume and cover letter?
Are they requesting a sample of my handwriting, an original composition, or a combination of both?
Thank you for your help.
The Career Doctor responds: Writing samples are usually requested for jobs that require that job-seekers have the ability to express themselves in writing. However, research studies continue to show that employers place a high value on employees who can communicate well, regardless of the position. At the same time, employers continue to comment about the weak communications abilities of entry-level job-seekers and new college grads.
Employers who request writing samples want to judge the quality of your writing abilities, and thus seek any kind of samples that showcase your skills and abilities, such as papers, reports, articles, and the like. The employer will then use the writing samples to weed out unacceptable candidates and narrow the field.
My best advice to you is that if you have any questions about what the employer is specifically requesting, simply contact the hiring manager and ask for more details. By contacting the hiring manager, you can make a good first impression while being sure you are submitting the type of material the employer seeks.
Finally, a great way to keep all your writing samples and job-search correspondence and other materials in one convenient place is to develop a job-search portfolio. Not only is it convenient — because all your material is in one location — but it is also impressive to employers. Read more in my article, Your Job Skills Portfolio: Gaining an Edge in Job-Hunting.
