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.

Address all parts of the prompt. Be concise and clear. Use active voice instead of passive wherever possible. Passive: The experiment was conducted by Roberts. Active: Roberts conducted the experiment ...

Resumes, cover letters and writing samples are the first, and sometimes only, opportunity to make a positive impression on an employer. They must be perfect. Your entire work history and educational ...

Brady Krien is a Ph.D. candidate in English Literature and an MLIS student at the University of Iowa where he works as a Graduate Careers and Fellowships Advisor in the Grad Success Center. You can ...

The following are actual responses to some of our recent submissions to the Online Writing Lab, although the names have been changed to maintain the anonymity of student writers. You can expect ...