October 10, 2008

MBAs Can't Write, Employers Say

A WSJ College Journal article reported on employers' growing dissatisfaction with the writing skills of b-school grads. Recruiters complain that it is getting harder and harder to find MBAs who can communicate coherently – let alone professionally – in writing.

This should sound an alarm for all of us, whether we're MBAs or professionals with other credentials.

A financial services recruiter told the Journal that he routinely asks applicants to write a 500-word recommendation on whether or not to invest in a hypothetical company. The results are surprisingly poor.

Even promising candidates return writing samples whose tone and language are inappropriate for communicating with sophisticated investors, the recruiter said. Worse, a surprising number of candidates return writing samples that demonstrate "sub-seventh-grade-level" writing skills.

The recruiter suggested that candidates who cannot write competently have no future in his industry:

"No matter how strong one's financial model is, if one cannot write a logical, compelling story, then investors are going to look elsewhere. And in my business, that means death."

This provides a lesson for all job applicants. With clear, effective writing in short supply among MBA graduates, it's not too much of a stretch to say it's probably in short supply elsewhere. The following points apply to job candidates in any field:

1) Good communication skills distinguish a top applicant from the rest of the pool as much as they distinguish a business leader from the rest of the pack. You'll be a stronger candidate if your resume is well-written.

2) Writing is a skill you'll use throughout your business career. Don't deprive yourself of this vital career skill. Make sure your resume is letter perfect (do we even have to mention this?). All Star resume writers give you great value for your money because throughout the process of developing your resume, you'll be working with a pro who will help you understand how your own writing can be improved. As the saying goes, "give someone a fish, and he'll eat for one day – but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life."

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