Writing to Get a Job

In Munschauer's article--specifically the section titled "The Importance of Knowing What the job is All About"--he discusses active versus passive roles. I had never thought that learning was a passive act but when put in the workplace it definitely is. Instead of being able to conduct job duties immediately with a moderate amount of instruction, everything has to be told to the individual. And there is an attitude of wait. "Wait" till someone tells me what to do, instead of just doing it. This individual cannot contribute to the success of the company since they are using resources that could be directed elsewhere.

In the next section titled "Letters of Application" he discusses what the requirements are, one of those is "succinct." This made me question why there are length requirements in academics. If schools are preparing students for the workplace and the workplace wants succinct writing why do academics require length requirements for papers. Doesn't this teach students to fluff and create length? The editing on page 283 demonstrates the typical fluff found in academic writing. Shouldn't the emphasis be put on content and quality of argument than the word count?

Another section titled "Don't Delegate the Job of Letter Writing" is a little antiquated but still has a valid point. Tailor the letter or resume to the employer. A general resume isn't going to show the necessary skills that an employer is looking for in a specialized job. "Think about their needs" when composing correspondence for an employer. This allows for planning and it can include the specific skills that qualify the individual for the position or show the abilities of the employee.