You might have seen various ads online or on social media soliciting applicants for various writing jobs – content management positions, blog posts, social media posts, etc. These are usually followed by a “No experience necessary, just a willingness to learn” or “Wanted, bright, talented writers with no experience necessary” and the like. Sometimes they are even promoted as “Virtual Assistant Jobs.” While exciting, all of this might mean that your writing sample was simply a fancy way to ask for your social security number.
It is always a good idea to research what is required of a job before applying. In the case of a content management job for example, you will need to have knowledge of content strategy, digital marketing, SEO, and usability. You might also be required to have a basic understanding of web technology and coding. In this blog post, we answer some of the most common questions about writing samples for job applicants.
What Is a Writing Sample?
Simply put, a writing sample is any piece of writing that you have done – whether it’s an academic paper, a magazine article, a blog post, or even a quick story. When employers are reading your application, they will usually look at your writing samples – either in the form of a Word file or a PDF – to get a sense of your writing style, knowledge of a subject, and general intelligence.
Even if you have never done any writing, there are plenty of ways for you to show what you can do. For instance, you could write a business plan, a marketing plan, or even a college research paper. All of these are acceptable ways to demonstrate your writing abilities and are frequently required for applicants for various writing and editing jobs. A good writing sample should never be more than three or four pages long. If they are longer, it usually means that you have done some bad homework or that you are trying to show off your academic vocabulary which, in the end, might not be a good thing.
Do I Need to Have Done Any Writing For My Job Application?
For some roles, not having any writing samples is perfectly acceptable. For instance, a content management job might not require you to have any kind of writing sample. However, for other roles, having some writing samples is essential.
The simple answer is: it depends on the job you are applying for. Some examples of roles that might want to see some writing samples are:
- Business Analyst
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Marketing Coordinator
- Product Manager
- Reviewer
- Social Media Manager
If you are uncertain of what a role wants, it might be a good idea to look at the job posting. Sometimes they are not as straightforward as you think and might include some hidden requirements that you have to discover yourself. For instance, your application for an editing job might require you to have advanced Excel skills or a familiarity with R programming. Luckily, we live in a world full of talented people who are happy to help each other out. If you need some help or advice, don’t be afraid to ask.
What Is The Typical Length Of A Writing Sample?
This one depends on the role you are applying for and the format that the employer uses. If you are applying for a content management job and the employer uses a Word document as a sample, your writing sample should be no more than three or four pages. If they are longer, it usually means that you have done some bad homework or that you are trying to show off your academic vocabulary which, in the end, might not be a good thing.
In terms of word count, anything under seven hundred words is considered short. Anything above that and it becomes a bit more subjective. There are plenty of tools out there to help with the objective assessment of your writing. For instance, you can use Grammarly to check your spelling, grammar, and formatting – as well as look up words that you don’t know.
Should I Base My Writing On A Specific Product Or Theme?
This is entirely subjective and depends on the job you are applying for. Some employers might like a specific genre of writing while others prefer something more specific to a product. For instance, a tech blog might want to see an in-depth analysis of a new product while a pharmaceutical company might want to see an overview of a new drug. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you write about but it’s usually a good idea to pick a topic that you are genuinely interested in.
One of the most common questions that people ask when it comes to writing samples is: should I base my writing on a specific product or theme? The answer is yes and no. It depends on the role that you are applying for. If you are trying to appeal to as many employers as possible, then you should choose a topic that is as versatile as possible. For instance, if you are applying for a blogging job and the employer doesn’t care as much about the theme of your blog, as much as they care about the quantity and quality of your posts, then go with science fiction or fantasy fiction. These subjects can be used to write about just about anything and they are usually very adaptable. If, on the other hand, you are applying for a content management job and the employer does care about the theme of your blog, then go with something more specific – like digital marketing for business or economics blogs.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what you want from your writing sample but, as a general rule, three to four pages is usually enough. Sometimes having more than that doesn’t hurt but, in most cases, you don’t need additional pages to prove yourself.
What Should My Writing Sample Include?
This one is fairly subjective but, again, it depends on the job that you are applying for. You don’t need to include everything but you should include enough to make a good impression.
If you are applying for a content management job, for example, having a business plan, a marketing plan, or a research paper is usually enough. The more you include, the more you will show the employer that you have done your homework and the better your chances of getting the job. In most cases, three or four pages should suffice. If you are writing for academic purposes, then you should look at what is required of a particular discipline. For instance, in the sciences, there is often a lot of quantitative data that you will need to analyze. In the arts, there is usually a lot of free-flowing text that you will need to organize into a cohesive piece. For a really good overview of what should be included in your writing sample, look at the guidelines for ghostwriting – which is when an independent writer takes on the role of producing content for an organization – for example, an academic or business publication. The general idea is the same: include enough information to make a good impression.
How Is My Writing Sample Going To Be Evaluated?
This one is pretty objective and, again, depends on the job that you are applying for and the format that the employer uses. In most cases, your writing sample is going to be evaluated either through a strict word count or through a strict analysis of your argument or thesis. In some instances, a combination of both might be used. In terms of how the analysis is going to be carried out, there are a number of different approaches that could be used – from simply counting the number of times that you use certain words and using an algorithm to calculate a number based on how you use language to more in-depth textual analysis and interpretation.
If you are applying for a blogging job and the employer is looking for specific content from established bloggers, then more in-depth textual analyses are usually carried out. Depending on the nature of the blog, the amount of content that you need to include can vary but, as a general rule, you are going to need to include at least 20,000 words – and, in some cases, significantly more. This is a lot of words and it means that you are going to need to put some serious thought into how you are going to organize your content and the style that you are going to use.