The SAT and ACT are the two most popular college entrance exams. More than 12 million students take them every year. Many high school students and even some middle school students take these exams. The fact that they are so popular means one thing: employers are looking for candidates who can express themselves in writing. Sounds obvious, but a lot of students don’t write much because they think it’s not needed. They assume that if they can speak English, then they won’t need to write much for their college application.
Not true! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. A lot of employers don’t mind whether or not you can speak English, but they do mind whether or not you can write well. Your writing sample is your chance to prove to them that you can write well. Many students don’t prepare for this chance and don’t do very well because of it. The good news is that it’s not too late! You can still improve your writing skills in order to better format your writing sample before you send it in. This is especially beneficial if you’re applying for jobs that require a lot of writing. You can also take this opportunity to improve your vocabulary and learn some new words. Let’s take a look at how to format a writing sample for a job application.
Get The Sample Ready
The first step is to get your writing sample ready. You’ll want to find a piece of paper and a pen (if you’re applying by smartphone, then take a few minutes to write this piece down by hand). Get everything ready before you start writing so that you don’t have to stop and think about what you need. Also, try to avoid using any slang or words/phrases that might be unfamiliar to the people reviewing your application. This will make it easier for them to understand you. When you’re done, you’ll want to proofread the piece. Be sure to correct any spelling errors and try to make it as concise and to the point as possible. You don’t want to write a long story when you’re trying to prove that you can write succinctly. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to move on to the next step.
How To Style Your Writing
The next step is to style your writing. This means that you want to format it according to the guidelines that your chosen employers have provided. For example, if you’re applying for a job at a bank, then you might want to make sure that your writing is not too difficult to understand. Most likely, your writing sample will be one of the first things that your potential employers see when they review your application. So, you want to make sure that it’s easy to read. This is where a lot of candidates fail. They assume that just because they can speak English well, then their writing will automatically follow suit. This is not true! You have to learn to write in a way that makes it easy for anyone to understand you. One good way to do this is to practice. Write out story after story (it can be something as simple as a diary entry or something as elaborate as a novel). Once you’ve done that, take a few days to go over your work. Look for any errors that you might have made and correct them. After you’ve fixed all the errors, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Make Sure That Your Essay Benefits The Employer
The last step is to make sure that your essay benefits the employer. This means that you have to explain to the employer why they should consider you for the job. The most effective way to do this is to write from the unique perspective of a prospective employee. This might be something as simple as why you want to work there or why you think you’ll fit in with the team. It could be why you’ve decided to apply for a job at this specific employer rather than some others. Whatever it might be, make sure that it’s something that the employer would find unique and interesting. If you do this well, then you’ll be sure to stand out among the thousands of other applicants. When you’re done, you want to proofread your essay one last time. Look for any spelling errors or words that might not have been used correctly. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to send it in!
Now, some employers might ask you to email your resume as well as your writing sample. In this case, you’ll want to make sure that both are easy to access. It might be a good idea to keep a copy of each on your phone. This way, you’ll always have access to them when you need them. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a creative writer to be able to do well on these tests. Many students put in a lot of effort and end up doing better than they think they will. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of luck.