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Upcoming Events |
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Career Fair Preparation: Presented by General Dynamics
October 13, 2008 |
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RoadTrip Nation: Learn How to Be Successful by Asking Someone Who Has!
October 14, 2008 |
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Fall Career Fair 2008
October 15, 2008 |
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Fall Career Fair 2008
October 16, 2008 |
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Fall Career Fair 2008
October 17, 2008 |
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How to Find an Internship or Externship Workshop
October 20, 2008 |
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Tech Talk, Recruitment & Food
October 23, 2008 |
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How to Find an Internship or Externship Workshop
November 5, 2008 |
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AGNR Green Industries Fair 2008
November 6, 2008 |
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CLFS Bioscience Internship/Career Fair 2008
November 12, 2008 |
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Writing Samples
Sometimes
employers request
writing samples
with the application
materials or
want them brought to an
interview. Writing
samples allow
employers
to evaluate your
writing skills,
communication style, and ability
to express yourself.
Any employer whose
position requires
writing skills may
want samples,
but writing samples
are more common in
publishing,
public relations,
advertising, media,
research, and law.
Content
of the Sample
The employer may
identify the desired
topic. If not, choose
a subject that you
are interested in
and that is related
to the job or field
to which you are
applying. Avoid controversial
or politically based
topics. You want
the employer to focus
on your style and
skill as a writer,
not judge what you
write.
Top
Appropriate Writing
Samples
Just
like your resume
and cover letter,
tailor your
sample to fit the
job if possible.
Follow the instructions
provided by the employer
or in the job description.
If the requirements
are not specified,
use the following
guidelines to help
you choose an appropriate
sample:
- Use
the job posting to
guide your choice and show the employer
you possess the required
skills. For example,
if the position is
research-based,
provide an example
of research work
from your
college career
or for a previous
employer.
- Newspaper
article, story for
a newsletter, press
release, policy brief,
or research report or
any other published
piece.
When submitting
a previously published
piece to an employer,
be sure to indicate
where the piece was
published. Provide
clean copy, not pieces
taken directly from
the original source.
- Reports
or presentations from
past
jobs
or internships.
Samples
from related employment
are best, but you
may still use a sample
if you do not have
relevant experience.
-
Class projects, papers, presentations,
or speeches, free of instructor comments, are acceptable. If longer than two
to five pages, select a portion of the document so it is shorter and write an introductory paragraph to put the work in
context.
- Group
papers and projects
or heavily
edited works are
NOT a good idea,
unless the section
submitted is clearly
your work only.
Creative pieces
such as short stories
or poems should not
be used unless the employer
requests them.
- Occasionally,
an employer asks the
interviewee to
write something during
the interview process.
Why? So, they know
how YOU write,
not your friend, the
English
major, who edited
and proofed the document.
So be mentally prepared.
Top
Tips for Choosing and Submitting Writing Samples
- Do
not send a writing
sample unless specifically
asked.
- When
in doubt, ask the
employer what
type of writing sample
is wanted.
- All
samples should
be completely free
of grammatical and
typographical errors.
Do not rely on
spell check or
grammar check programs. Ask
a friend, current
or previous employer,
instructor, or mentor
to read it and give
you feedback. You
may also make
a Career
Assistance appointment
for a career
counselor review.
If you have one,
bring in a copy
of the job description.
- Make sure to attribute
the sources you use
to inform your writing.
Different fields
use different formats,
such Chicago, APA,
or MLA style. Familiarize
yourself with the
relevant style and
use it correctly.
- Never plagiarize
or fail to credit
your sources.
- Make sure the
piece is clearly
written and
free of technical
jargon.
- Remove confidential
or identifying information
such as
names of individuals
or
clients.
- Work
created at a
previous job
is most likely considered
company property.
Ask your previous
employer's
permission to submit
writing created at
a job before submitting
it in an application.
If a past employer
will not allow you
to use original work,
you may create new
samples based off
previous work. Use
your own words.
- Indicate in your
cover letter the
origin of your writing
samples and label
each piece.
- Upload
your samples
to Careers4Terps so
you can easily submit
them with
other application
materials.
- Have some writing
samples on hand in
case an employer
asks for them unexpectedly.
- Consider how your
writing samples are
presented. Create
a professional page
header and include
your name on each
page. If providing
an employer with
a hard copy, use
clean, high-grade
paper. Use a manila
folder or pocket
folder as opposed
to a binder. Binders
are cumbersome if
collecting materials
from several applicants.
The writing sample
is an indication
of the quality of
work you do, so the
content, style, and
formatting professional.
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