Employment documents include resumes, cover letters, and any business message that concerns employment. Your message will be directed to your contact(s) in the organization and will vary depending on what your intent is upon writing. 

Remember to ask yourself, who will read my document? When you tailor a document to a particular audience, you are adapting your writing for a reader. It is important to consider what you want your message to convey to your audience.

It is important to tailor your employment documents for a specific audience in order to personalize the document and make it relevant to the reader. If you write without a specific audience in mind, the document might be far too general and vague, or it might include too much information. When you tailor a document to a specific audience, it will make the reader feel more involved.

Employment documents must be able to persuade the reader that what you are saying is true in order to be effective. You are directly communicating with the organization, and you want the reader to understand your message and its relevance.

The documents you prepare should:

• State the main point clearly and up front
• Place the most important information at the beginning or ending of paragraphs
• Highlight key dates or figures

Example 1: This way of presenting information can make it more difficult to quickly present key information.

Operated manual and semi-automatic welding equipment in vertical, horizontal, and overhead positions; selected and installed torches, filler rods, and flux according to welding chart specifications; promoted longevity of warehouse equipment through routine inspections and maintenance, including cleaning, lubricating, and recharging of batteries for vehicles and auxiliary tools

Example 2: This way of presenting information is easier to skim and is generally more convenient for readers.

• Operated manual and semi-automatic welding equipment in vertical, horizontal, and overhead positions.
• Selected and installed torches, filler rods, and flux according to welding chart specifications.
• Promoted longevity of warehouse equipment through routine inspections and maintenance, including cleaning, lubricating, and recharging of batteries for vehicles and auxiliary tools.

It is necessary to support your statements with sufficient details and evidence. Provide specific examples, numbers, dates, names, and percentages to meet the needs of the skeptical reader.

Example
NOT: I performed very well in my classes.
BUT: I received 1st place in SkillsUSA Texas Technical Drafting in 2023 and received a Women in STEM Scholarship in May 2024.