In the last post it was mentioned that communication is “arguably the most important skill which should be in any Jamaican jobseeker or employee or employer’s arsenal”. This is especially true when we are in the process of applying for a job, sending a business email or any other type of written business communication. This is so because clear, effective business writing is more important than ever.

Now I could sit here and give you pages of information about business writing and various tips and tricks, however, it is important to just grasp the basics (what you will need in that application letter or other business email). Here I will discuss a few things to look out for.

In a recent survey of Fortune 1000 executives, 80% decided not to grant an interview decided not to interview candidates based solely on poor grammar, spelling, or incorrect punctuation on cover letters or resumes. Among these same executives 99% said that this also hurts your chances of getting a promotion.

Taking this into consideration you may need to polish up those simple skills such as spelling, grammar and punctuation. Try the following tips and you can distribute your writing with confidence.

•    Begin with a grain of sand – find out exactly what you want the document to say. Write a one line synopsis, as this is your grain of sand. Your project will start with this one little grain of sand. As your write, re-read this reminder to stay on track.

•    Use the 5 W’s – Tell who, what, when, where, and why in as few words as possible. Every piece you write may not have all the W’s but it should have a few of them which help you to keep this work on track.

•    Adopt a plain writing style. Keep your piece of work as simple, short and straightforward as possible. You should seek to express, not impress.

•    Avoid words commonly used improperly and incorrectly spelt. As Brian Clark stated there are a few grammatical errors that just “make you look dumb”. Avoid them or be careful when using (there/their and your/you’re).

There are many more but these should be sufficient to get you on the right path. Remember that at some point in your career you are going to need to make some business correspondence, and it is best to be in the know.