Writing samples when applying for job

Okay, please forgive my ignorance on this subject, but this is the first time I’ve come across an instance such as this one:

I’m applying for an admin asst position at an art gallery (how cool would that be?) and the ad specifies to send a writing sample along with my resume.

What would be a good example to send? Poetry I’ve written, heartfelt letters, or just a simple cover letter? I certainly don’t have any papers from college handy.

I can’t call and ask because there’s no phone number specified; only a fax number was given.

Gracias!

Cover letters. Papers you may have written in other jobs. Memos.

Poetry is usually out (as is fiction) unless it’s specified as that sort of thing.

If you happen to have a business report from college this would be perfect. A report from another job would be good too, but chances are it would be considered the property of the company you used to work for. Try and think what kind of writing related tasks they’ll be having you do and write something similar using phony info for display purposes.

I’d guess sample business letters.

Honestly, I can’t think of a reason why writing samples would be required unless the job itself requires some writing. I require samples from all copywriter/editor candidates… but that’s the job. From my graphic artists… I look at portfolios of their work. For an admin. asst. position, I can only think of business letters, perhaps fundraising materials or something, as relevant to the position.

Part of my Admin Assistants’ jobs is to do a final proofread before something goes out the door. As such, I require a writing sample which is done at the interview. This shows comprehension skills, some level of competence with the language, and an eye for detail. I agree with the others: a business letter that is concise and well-written.

The other possibility is that they meant handwriting samples, because they intend to submit them to a handwriting analysis expert to make sure you aren’t a well-camouflaged psychopath.

To me, it implied handwriting. Personally I’d be very suspicious of any such request; the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association has a good feature on The use of graphology as a tool for employee hiring and evaluation. Their view is that using a scientifically unvalidated system constitutes an unfair selection procedure. Of course, arguing the toss about it probably won’t get you the job.

Unless they said otherwise–or art gallery positions (about which I admit I know next to nothing) are different from most other jobs–I would say the default is not a handwriting sample.

From what you have said, I think the most likely explanation is that writing will be a part of the job, and they would like some way to assess your writing ability.

Ideally you would send them a piece of writing that is identical to the kind of writing you will be doing for them. For example, when I was applying for attorney jobs, I sent a sample of a brief that I wrote.

If–as appears to be true in this case–we’re not completely sure what kind of writing they expect you to do, then we have to make an educated guess.

I would say that the art gallery is a business, and that they want to know that you can handle business communications. Letters to artists and customers, newsletters about upcoming events at the gallery, a memo to the staff about a new policy regarding overnight guests (ok, that one was a joke).

I would say they would be looking for straightforward, expository writing, such as memos, newsletters, papers you wrote for a class (even one that has nothing to do with art), business letters you wrote in a prior job.

Something between 2 to 5 pages that shows that you know how to express your ideas, that you have a command of grammar, that you know how to proofread. Although you are applying for a job in a creative business, I would tend to lean more towards the business-like than to creative writing.

What are the last 5 things you’ve written? Let us know some options and we can help you pick the best one.

Constantine