|
|
Perhaps you've heard that no one cares about your grades once
you leave the halls of academia. While that notion holds some truth,
it is equally true that most potential employers do care about writing
skills. They care so much that they bemoan the poor preparation of
the
entry-level pool of grads. In a labor force full of mediocre writers,
someone who writes well is bound to stand out and succeed.
Academicians and business people view writing skills as crucial,
yet
increasing numbers of these professionals note a steady erosion in
the
writing abilities of graduates. The summary of a study published in
Personnel Update states: "Writing skills ... of executives are
shockingly
low, indicating that schools and colleges dismally fail with at least
two-thirds of the people who pass through the education pipeline coming
out unable to write a simple letter."
In 1988, Lin Grensing reported that 79 percent of surveyed
executives
cited writing as one of the most neglected skills in the business
world,
yet one of the most important to productivity. More recently, a 1992
survey
of 402 companies reported by the Associated Press noted that executives
identified writing as the most valued skill but said 80 percent of
their
employees at all levels need to improve. The number of workers needing
improvementin writing skills was up 20 percent from results of the
same
survey in 1991. Results of a 1993 study by Olsten Corp., a
placement
agency, were almost identical: 80 percent of 443 employers surveyed
said their workers needed training in writing skills.
The need for workers with writing skills will only increase. A 1991
report
by the U.S. Labor Department noted that most future jobs will require
writing skills.
Ý
A List of Grammar-Specific Sites
Jack Lynch"s Grammar Rules and Explanations
<>Resource Central (has an emphasis on fiction writing, etc)Contact me with questions or feedback: