Don't Let Poor Writing Sabotage Your Job Search

Peter Vogt

MonsterTRAK Career Coach

If you're like most people, you're not that interested in working on your resume writing skills. That's OK. You don't need to become the Ernest Hemingway of resumes and cover letters; however, you do have to write clear, effective job search documents.

While it might sound like an overstatement, your writing skills -- or lack thereof -- can make or break you in your job search. Why? Because employers may draw conclusions about you based on how well you express yourself in writing.

Suppose the cover letter and resume you send to a potential employer are filled with poorly constructed statements and grammatical errors. The employer is likely to think that if hired, you might communicate just as poorly with your coworkers -- or worse, the company's customers.

Avoid writing yourself out of consideration by following these strategies:

Get Organized Before You Write the First Word.

When you're putting together a cover letter or resume, jot down a basic outline of what you want to say -- before you start the actual writing. Your outline doesn't have to be incredibly detailed or elaborate. Just give yourself a brief roadmap to follow so your letter flows sensibly and covers everything you'd like it to.

Write Like You Talk.

Whenever you're writing important documents like cover letters and resumes, it's easy to slip into an overly formal style, the style you think you're supposed to use. More often than not, if you try to use one-dollar words and phrases when 10-cent words and phrases will do, you end up muddling what you're really trying to say. While you don't want to use slang, write the way you speak. The person who reads your cover letter or resume should get a sense you're talking to him, just as you would be face-to-face.

Develop a Draft First.

There's absolutely no need for you to write your documents perfectly the first time through. So don't put that pressure on yourself; it can cause writer's block and silly mistakes. Instead, begin writing knowing that you're composing a draft to revise later.

Edit and Proofread.

Once you have a draft completed, set it aside for a few hours - or even a day or two -- if you can, and then go back to it and edit. Then, ask a friend to look at your draft and cite things that are confusing or unclear. A second set of eyes can almost always identify ways to improve what you've written.

Once you have finished editing your document, again, set it aside for a while. Then, proofread the document by reading it aloud, an approach that usually helps catch any errors you might otherwise miss. Finally, have at least one other person proofread the document. Your goal should be to produce a simple-to-read, error-free document that employers will easily understand.

The better you write, the more effectively you'll communicate to employers what you have to offer. Don't lose out on an opportunity because of carelessness.

Related Links

• "Avoid the Top Resume Mistakes"
• "Prove Your Resume Claims with a Career Performance Portfolio"
• Monster's Resume Center

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