Based on readings from this week, I can see how writing in the workplace differs from writing in college. In college, most students write because the professor assigned it, or students write to their friends via e-mail and Facebook. Both of these kinds of writings are kept fairly casual. These writings also tend to be rather casual and geared towards a general audience. In the workplace, writing needs to be more concise and directed towards one person or a small group of people. People use business writing to get a job, keep the staff updated on any company policy changes, and post ads to get new employees.
The Rhetoric of Employment Documents helped me to realize where I was going wrong on my resume and cover letter. I learned that how I word things greatly effects how the reader will perceive me. I learned that editing the content of my resume and how that content is organized will greatly affect the readability of my resume. I also learned that I need to tailor my cover letter to the position I’m applying for. I need to expand on any skills or traits of mine in a fashion that makes a good selling point for me.