March 27, 2003 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Q: I frequently see ads that ask for writing samples, along with the résumé and cover letter. I have hesitated to respond to these job ads because I’m not sure what kinds of things I should submit. Any suggestions?
A: Our sources home in on the two main features of an appropriate writing sample: relevance and brevity. For example, in a recent ad for a new press secretary at Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental-law organization in Oakland, Calif., Barbara Bosma, the group’s vice president of human resources, requested press releases and news clips. “For our development positions, we generally like to see writing related to the type of work the person would be doing,” Ms. Bosma says. “This can vary from donor-acknowledgement letters to research papers or grant proposals.”
Wendy Phipps, administrative director at USAction, a political-activist network in Washington that advocates what it calls progressive views, also emphasizes relevance. For fund-raising jobs, she likes to see candidates submit solicitation letters; for prospective organizing directors, she looks for press releases. “Something that’s directly applicable is what’s most helpful,” she says.
Don’t send something just to prove your cleverness or literary skill, our sources say. “One job candidate [for a donor-relations position] sent in a fictional short story, which was entertaining, but really not applicable,” Ms. Bosma says. Also, she says, be sure to keep the sample brief — no more than three to five pages.
Along with relevance and brevity, you should also exhibit some sensitivity to the charity’s social and political orientation. It would not be appropriate, for example, to send a right-wing commentary to a liberal organization, Ms. Phipps notes — and would indicate that you haven’t conducted sufficient research on your potential employer.
Follow directions: Make sure your sample is sent in the format requested — whether a paper version or via e-mail attachment, for example. When given a choice, however, Ms. Phipps recommends using old-fashioned paper and envelope to send the entire application in one package. “I’m always surprised by people who will send the writing sample separate from their application, assuming we have nothing better to do than match up various parts of a person’s application,” she says. Also, she notes, “frequently people will send e-mail attachments in a format we can’t open. You have to be aware that nonprofits on tight budgets may not have the latest word-processing software.”
Our final point should be obvious, but apparently isn’t to many job seekers, because employers say they see too many sloppy submissions.You should always carefully comb your writing sample — as well as your cover letter and résumé — for typos, spelling errors, or grammatical problems. Says Ms. Bosma, “Careless grammar or spelling can automatically disqualify an applicant.”
