Why Writing Well Could Mean a Higher Salary (No Matter What You Do)

Student Wendy Kan shows how crucial it is not only to write clear thoughts but to also make sure your work is error-free.

Written communication is one of the most highly regarded skill required in many occupations as it is a form of transmitting a message to another party without the aid of body language, tone of voice and facial expressions.

Reasons why writing well leads to higher salary

• Communication is a two way system. Not only does the message need to be transmitted but it must also be decoded from the recipient in the way that the sender intended to convey the message. If your message is poorly constructed, employers may see that as a lack of effort in ensuring that your message would be understood. This could lead to the misinterpretation of great ideas, which is a way to stand out and be promoted earlier on.
• In a competitive job market, resumes and cover letters are almost always the first influences of the impression that an employer gathers about you. Whether it be an online application or a face-to-face interaction, how you express yourself in written words is equally important as you are showcasing your previous skills, experience and desire to work with the employer’s business. The higher the quality of the writing in these documents, the better the impression as the employer can see the amount of time and dedication you have contributed to making your resume or cover letter sound professional and convincing of your skills. They will see you as a great potential in their business, making it more likely for you to obtain a well standing job.
• As businesses become more intertwined internationally, it is a lot harder to forge connections with face-to-face interactions. Hence, emails and other forms of written communication is an essential part of making connections, especially with other businesses. If your writing techniques and skills are good and you can convey your message clearly to others, there is a very high chance of your web of connections grow, potentially with executives who see a spot for you in their business. An indirect reputation can be built through the words you type and send so writing well would cause the recipient to notice your attention to detail as well as the clarity in your message. A positive indirect reputation creates a foundation to build upon as you continue to improve it and this would definitely appeal to future employers who may offer higher salaries.

Tips for writing well

• Always be aware of the level of formality or tone that is expected from emails or letters to future employers. It could play a major role in deciding their impression of you.
• Try to edit all your emails and online documents before sending it off as there may be things you might have missed in the moment of typing it. It’s suggested to leave the document for at least 30 minutes and do some other tasks which will take your mind off the document, like music or sports. This will refresh your mind and you will be able to pick up mistakes more easily.
• Make sure you understand what you are talking about before writing it down. Chances are, if you do not know what you are talking about, the recipient will have a hard time interpreting what you mean.