Writing is considered one of the most important transferable skills for students to possess. The quality of writing first captures a job recruiter’s attention. As distance learners, students are continually adapting and improving their writing skills because it is their main avenue for communicating with fellow students and instructors.
For some, writing is a natural process that comes with ease. The words seem to come naturally and flow with perfect grammar and clarity. For others, it is a real struggle. Many find writing similar to puzzles in which the rules of grammar are confusing. Finding the right words to represent intended meanings is a difficult task and assembling the flow of words for an idea becomes frustrating. The fact remains, some individuals find writing as challenging as others find solving math equations without a calculator to be impossible.
Safeguarding your quality of writing is vital, particularly when you’re seeking employment. When drafting a resume, cover letter, and personal statement, it is always wise to have a second pair of eyes review your work before submission. If you are friends with an English teacher, writer, or editor, approach them about your concerns and ask them to consider the material and make recommendations for improvements. If you have the means, another alternative is to hire an editing service. There is no reason to be reluctant to do so. Your ultimate goal is to make a good first impression, so the small investment for an editing service is likely to be money well spent.
Another alternative you may want to consider is using your university library or tutoring services for editing. Some universities offer editing services free of charge. Unlike professional editing services, online university tutors provide you with suggestions for writing improvements rather than editing the material. You can modify the text and submit back several times until you get it right; this may be the best option to discover areas of weakness. There are also editing websites you can subscribe to such as Grammarly.com at no cost. Either way, ensuring your writing is error-free is a great way to make a good first impression.
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