Business Writing For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 10

Writing for the Job Hunt

IN THIS CHAPTER

Knowing your value and communicating it

Writing résumés that make the cut

Creating effective cover letters

Using messages to network

If the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is correct, today’s average worker stays at each job for a little more than four years and most Millennials keep jobs for about two years. If you were born after 1980, that means you may hold 20 or more jobs in your lifetime. Moreover, you may switch among a number of different fields over the course of your career because whole industries appear and disappear so quickly.

These predictions don’t take account of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Its reverberations amplify the need to be a smart and well-equipped job applicant. Interesting jobs that require good thinking and communication skills are more competitive than ever. Whatever your industry, you must be able to demonstrate these abilities, a challenge that starts with your written résumé and cover letter. This chapter helps you showcase your abilities and personal strengths through these written formats.