What is a Writing Sample and How Do You Prepare One for a Job Application?

A writing sample is a critical component of a job application for roles requiring strong written communication. To be effective, it should be relevant to the target role, professionally polished, and typically between 750 words and four pages in length, focusing on quality over quantity. Employers use it to assess your tone, style, grammar, and ability to communicate ideas clearly.

What is a Writing Sample? A writing sample is a short piece of writing submitted with your resume to demonstrate your communication skills. It is commonly requested for positions like content writing, journalism, marketing, human resources, and any role involving significant written correspondence. The primary goal for employers is to evaluate your practical writing ability beyond what is shown in a cover letter or resume. This candidate screening process helps them gauge if your skills align with the company's needs.

What Are Employers Looking For in a Writing Sample? The specific criteria can vary by company and role, but hiring managers generally review several key areas. They assess the overall tone and style to see if it matches their brand voice. More fundamentally, they scrutinize technical proficiency: grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation accuracy. For specialized roles, such as technical writing or scientific research, they may also look for expertise in a specific format or subject matter. The underlying question is whether you can produce the type of writing the job requires daily.

How Long Should a Writing Sample Be? While some employers specify a word count, a general guideline is to aim for 750 words to four pages. The focus should always be on demonstrating high-quality writing within a concise format. If you have an existing longer piece, such as a research paper or detailed article, you can select a strong, self-contained excerpt. This approach allows you to showcase your best work while respecting the hiring manager's time.

What Can You Use as a Writing Sample? If an employer doesn't specify a topic, you have flexibility in your choice. The key is to select a sample that is as relevant as possible to the potential role. Consider using:

• A blog post
• A case study
• A press release
• A research paper excerpt
• A professionally written article

How to Create and Submit a Winning Writing Sample Following a structured approach ensures your sample makes a positive impact.

How to Choose the Right Sample? Always prioritize the employer's instructions. If they request a specific type of writing, such as a press release, provide that. If there are no specifications, select your most relevant and recent work. Based on our assessment experience, a sample that mirrors the content you’d produce in the role is most effective. For example, use a marketing blog post for a content creator position.

How to Ensure Your Sample is Professional? Before submitting, proofread and edit meticulously. Check for any spelling or grammatical errors. It's often helpful to step away from the document for a day and review it with fresh eyes. Also, ensure the formatting is clean and professional, with a standard font and margins. If your sample includes references, add a bibliography.

What are the Key Submission Steps?

1. Include a Brief Introduction: In your email or cover letter, briefly introduce the sample. For example: "Please find attached my writing sample for the Content Marketing role at ok.com. This excerpt from an article I authored demonstrates my ability to write engaging, SEO-friendly content."
2. Add Your Name: Always include your name on the document itself and in the file name (e.g., Jane_Smith_Writing_Sample.pdf) for easy identification.
3. Follow Instructions Carefully: Submit the sample exactly as requested, whether via an online portal, email, or as a hard copy during an interview.

Submitting a polished, relevant writing sample is a powerful way to demonstrate your qualifications. To maximize your chances:

• Focus on relevance to the specific job and company.
• Proofread exhaustively to eliminate errors.
• Adhere strictly to any submission guidelines provided by the employer. A strong writing sample not only shows you can write well but also that you are detail-oriented and understand the employer's needs.