Good Writing Skills

Good Writing Skills Enhance Career Prospects - December 2017

Keyboard Writing Pad Laptop

Most employers look for strong writing skills in job candidates, but students are falling short of those expectations, according to research published by the Association of American Colleges & Universities.

Analytical and creative thinking are also critical for presenting concepts coherently in a structured format. [1] In today’s job market, recruiters and industry representatives prioritize communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills over candidates’ undergraduate major. Employers emphasize tools such as applied learning projects (e.g., through internship, leadership, service, and other programs). [2]

Ideally, broad-based experiences challenge and motivate students to resolve real-world problems. Unfortunately, applied learning is difficult to implement. Revised college criteria accommodate changing needs, and not necessarily for the better with respect to writing skills. Lengthy term papers are required less frequently because such assignments are labor-intensive for students to produce and for professors to evaluate. [3]

The Internet is a major area for growth. Because web content is so important, copywriting is often contracted to professional writers rather than being generated in-house. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a robust eight percent increase in writing jobs from 2016 through 2026, when projected total employment in the field may reach 142,200. [4] Freelance writers often produce content for creative, digital/electronic, and social media outlets. Entry-level journalists face fierce competition in the declining print newspaper industry. Alternatively, authors can self-publish e-books.

The marketplace often changes dramatically in a short period of time. For example, data published by Learn.org suggest a two percent job growth for salaried authors and writers from 2014 through 2024. [5] The increase most likely reflects an uptick in the digital media segment as well as increased opportunities for freelance writers.

For comparison, the "super sector" of all business and professional services include Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises; and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services. Seasonally adjusted total employment in those segments is expected to rise from 20.75 million in July 2017 to 20.87 million in October 2017. The ten-year BLS outlook forecasts total employment of nearly 22.30 million in 2026. [6]

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[1] https://www.aacu.org/leap/public-opinion-research/2015-survey-results [Download PDF]
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/08/11/why-cant-college-graduates-write/
[3] Hart Research Associates. Forthcoming. Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
[4] https://learn.org/articleCreative_Writer_Salary_and_Career_FAQs.html
[5] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm#tab-6
[6] https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag60.htm