What type of writing sample should i send

Think of a writing sample as a trial run. Hiring managers will use your writing sample to evaluate your writing ability and see if you have what it takes.

First and foremost, your writing sample should have clean copy and spot-on punctuation. That means zero typos, syntax, or grammar mistakes. Simple mistakes convey a lack of attention to detail. But job ads will also tell you what they expect of your writing sample with regard to topics, style, tone, format, etc. Many writers, in the rush to end their job search, overlook some of these details. All publications have a general writing style and tone.

Hiring managers want to know if you understand it and can match it. Some publications will want you to take complex ideas and explain them in casual, easy-to-understand language for average readers. Publications with a more educated, professional audience — scientific publications, for example — may expect you to use complex terms and concepts relevant to their industry.

Good writing samples should demonstrate you understand the subject matter and can write about it clearly and accurately. If the job is for Facebook ad creation, you should know the ins and outs of creating optimized Facebook ads. The best thing about writing samples is they have the potential to overrule all other evaluation criteria. While some employers are sticklers for these requirements, many know that, at the end of the day, none of it really matters.

Smart employers really only care about one thing: can you do the job? Your writing sample is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have the strong writing skills necessary to do the job well. Creating a perfect writing sample requires a change of mindset. Almost everything you need to know about creating a job-winning writing sample can be found in the job ad itself. It should go without saying, but your writing sample should be on-topic. But look out for any other indications of the type of content the prospective employer wants.

Some ads will get even more specific and describe specific headlines or article ideas that they want. The more specific, the better. Most job ads will tell you who their target audience is.

I once wrote an article for a client that sold marketing software to B2B companies. To understand their audience, I read reports on B2B marketing to learn about their challenges and goals, then used that info to create my article. Job ads often use certain keywords to describe their writing style and tone. At the job interview. You should have a solid foundation in language, literary comprehension, and grammar. Other than that, fight back your test anxiety and start writing.

With the application. Some employers ask for a writing sample in the job posting. As a follow-up. If the job is writing product descriptions, they may give you a product and ask you to write a description. With the interview. This is not common. In fact, you may never encounter this situation. Build a professional resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. This requires research. If the job is to do social media, then your long-form white papers are a terrible idea.

You get the picture. Give them what they want. People with broad-based backgrounds need to bank on this and show all of their many writing styles and voices.

Writers who have a niche need to highlight their skills there. Are we hitting the research button again? Yes, we most definitely are. Imagine being a hiring manager and seeing a writing sample that looks like it should already be on your company website. They might not have a lot of collateral online that helps you tailor your samples or style. Take what you know and run with it.

If you know they want video scripts, emails, and social media posts — give them that. Our resume builder tool will walk you through the process of creating a stand-out Architect resume. If you have written for well-established publications or companies that are respected across the globe, then probably not.

Fresh content speaks volumes, especially in our of-the-minute world. Including a fresh writing sample that you explain was customized just for the company in question can be a good way to go, unless the company specifically asks you not to do so. You are now a Monster member—and you'll receive more content in your inbox soon. By continuing, you agree to Monster's privacy policy , terms of use and use of cookies. Search Career Advice. Writing sample tips for a job application Many job ads today require candidates to submit writing samples.

Don't stress out! Follow these tips instead. Get your writing samples in order by following these guidelines. Related Articles. Samples should be concise and succinct: one to four pages are usually sufficient. In many cases, reviewers are primarily interested in how well you convey your ideas structure and grammatical accuracy as opposed to content.

You may provide an excerpt of a longer paper, as long as the excerpt makes sense as a stand-alone document. If your sample is an excerpt of a longer work, be sure to note that on the first page. Can I submit a sample I co-authored? It is best to also include other samples where you are the sole author. Are there any precautions I need to take when submitting samples? Be sure to protect confidential information included in your documents.