A writing sample is a supplemental document for a job application that demonstrates your competence in writing. Employers may request a writing sample for jobs that require strong writing skills, such as those in journalism, marketing, public relations, research, or HR. A writing sample provides an employer with an example of how you organize and express your thoughts, and it is used to convince an employer that you can create the kind of written materials and handle the type of work expected of an employee in the position.

When choosing a writing sample, it is important to follow the employers instructions and submit a sample that closely matches the subject matter or position. For example, for journalism positions, you can submit "clips" of actual articles that have been published in a campus newspaper, blog, or other publication. For research positions, you can submit an in-depth analysis of an issue or a topic. It is also important to consider the length of the sample, with most employers requesting 2-5 pages of writing, usually double-spaced. If you want to use a paper that is longer than five pages, provide an excerpt with a notation at the top that tells the employer that it is an excerpt from a (number)-page paper on (topic) and where in the paper this excerpt is from.

To create the perfect writing sample, you should read the job posting, research the company, choose your best idea, write, and edit. You can also consider writing prompts to get started, such as highlighting a department or position and why they play a critical role in the organization, announcing a new product or service, or describing in technical detail the importance of a product or service. It is important to have someone proofread your samples ahead of submission.