the way we communicate. While mostly Writing style: get it right
positive, the changes have confused and
Your first point of contact with an employer
sometimes blurred the distinctions between
will usually be via a job application. Your
public and private, personal and professional
résumé, cover letter and statements addressing
and formal and informal. The immediacy of
selection criteria will be your primary self-
email communication encourages a more
marketing documents, so make sure they
speech-oriented mentality – one where we
market your skills appropriately.
can fire off an email like it is a throw-away
Job applications reflect your communication
comment. The problem is that an email isn’t
skills, how you regard the employer and
the spoken word – it is recorded and leaves a
your level of care and attention to detail.
trace, so like a letter it can be referred to at a
Applications, particularly cover letters, are
later date, but without the context which may
examples of your writing skills and illustrate
have influenced its meaning and significance.
your ability to summarise and present
When communicating with potential
information clearly and succinctly. For all these
employers, contacts or mentors, maintain
reasons, it is worthwhile spending the time
some formality and professionalism – even
polishing your application so that it is error-
if they don’t. Your email writing style should
free and thoroughly professional. Composing,
be just as professional as other written
updating and proofreading cover letters and
correspondence – even though a potential
applications can be tedious, but the time you
employer may respond informally, you cannot
put in is well worth it. If possible, get someone
assume anything so it is best to keep to a
else to read your application, as another pair of
formal style.
eyes can often pick up mistakes you have not
Remember that your email address sends a
noticed and provide constructive feedback.
message to employers, so keep it professional A r t i c l e b y Le e M i l e s ( M i l e s Le e A u s t ra l i a ) , a
(ie. ditch the wildchild@yahoo.com)
p r o f e s s i o n a l m e m b e r o f t h e C a r e e r D e v e l o p m e n t
A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t ra l i a ( C D A A ) .
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