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A university education is often a means to an end. Many graduates count on degrees to secure better pay and increased financial stability (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 2019). Simultaneously, employers prize college-level skills (Finley, 2021). Students, therefore, have much to gain from transferring scholarly habits to the workplace. This is true of communicating, as research confirms effective communication is crucial to a business’s success (Saputra, 2021). Employees with academic writing experience can boost their careers with competent communication by putting their writing skills “to work” in the following ten ways.

1. Establish a Purpose.

All communication has a purpose. Like writing assignments, workplace communication might inform others or persuade someone to act or change their viewpoint. Determining the goal of a message aids in choosing the content and form. For example, to share new office policies, a staff-wide memo with bullet points could be appropriate. Requesting a schedule change might require a short email to a supervisor. In any case, clearly stating the purpose of the message at the outset helps an audience understand it.

2. Know the Audience.

Skillful writers consider the motivation, needs, prior knowledge, and expectations of their audience. Doing so helps customize language to resonate with readers (Purdue Global, n.d.). In an essay, covering background information within an introduction shows respect for the audience. Likewise, to convey ideas on the job, it is wise to begin by briefly addressing any gaps in knowledge an audience might have about the subject. Considering the organization itself as an audience member, with its unique requirements and objectives, could also be a tactic for meeting the business’s demands.

3. Use the Right Tone.

Academic writing is formal. Traditionally, so is professional writing (Williams, 2020). However, the context of a message or the cultural norms of an organization may call for less formal interaction. Face-to-face, or direct messaging chats with colleagues, for instance, are frequently informal, while quarterly reports are usually formal. In any situation, politeness matters. A respectful tone displays professionalism.

4. Organize the Message.

College essays have a beginning, middle, and end. An introduction previews a topic, a conclusion reviews it, and in between, writers divide ideas into paragraphs. This structure also makes sense in workplace communication. Employees can prepare presentations, emails, conference calls, and memos, for example, using a similar organization.

5. Research and Evaluate the Facts.

Professional credibility or the lack thereof can make or break a career. As Allgeier (2020) points out, squandering the confidence of others diminishes one’s power of persuasion, capacity to solve problems, or chance to occupy leadership roles. To establish credibility, student writers research information, weigh its relevance and accuracy, and use it to support their thoughts. On-the-job communication requires the same attention to facts.

6. Include Details to Support the Point.

Just as university compositions contain evidence and explanation in support of a thesis, a well-crafted workplace message includes relevant data or documentation, along with clarifying commentary to connect it to the central point.

7. Be Concise.

At work, time is money. Burdening an audience with irrelevant facts or too much information wastes time. Academic essays exclude content that is unrelated to the thesis or main idea. Successful writers strive for concise and precise language. Likewise, in business communication, it is best to stick to the facts that matter and state them concisely. Colleagues with busy schedules will appreciate this focused approach.

8. Be Clear and Correct.

Sharing meaning is the intent of every message. Clarity is thus paramount. Straightforward, grammatically correct language assists audience comprehension. Moreover, research shows that using poor grammar can harm one’s professional reputation. In one study, employers judged job applicants with incorrect grammar usage as less “capable, hard-working, and team-oriented” than those whose communication was error-free (Bleske-Rechek et al., 2019, p. 47). These findings make the case for checking and rechecking grammar.

9. Consider Consequences.

While students earn grades for writing assignments, professional communication has different stakes. As business projects are often ongoing, collaborative, and systemic in nature, employees must assess how messages could impact colleagues, the organization, and the company’s bottom line.

10. Be Authentic.

Lastly, in a business or in the classroom, the unique voice or perspective of an individual is what distinguishes one message from another. Adept communicators work to preserve their voices, recognizing that artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools have yet to replicate the human trait of sincerity (Deptula et al., 2025). Communicating authenticity, along with translating the best practices of college writing to the workplace, are valuable skills in the modern age.

References

Allgeier, S. (2020). Credibility busters that could ruin your career. American Management Association. https://www.amanet.org/articles/credibility-busters-that-could-ruin-your-career/

Bleske-Rechek, A., Paulich, K., Shafer, P., & Kofman, C. (2019). Grammar matters: The tainting effect of grammar usage errors on judgments of competence and character. Personality and Individual Differences, 141, 47-50. https://bleske-rechek.com/April%20Website%20Files/Bleske-Rechek%20et%20al.,%202019.%20Grammar%20Matters.pdf

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2019). Report on the economic well-being of U.S. households in 2018. https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2018-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2017-higher-education.htm

Deptula, A., Hunter, P. T., & Johnson-Sheehan, R. (2025). Rhetorics of authenticity: Ethics, ethos, and artificial Intelligence. Journal of Business & Technical Communication, 39(1), 51–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/10506519241280639

Finley, A. (2021). How college contributes to workforce success: Employer views on what matters most. Association of American Colleges and Universities. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED616977.pdf

Purdue Global (n.d.) Audience and purpose – Purdue University Global Academic Success Center. https://purdueglobalwriting.center/audience-and-purpose-2/

Saputra, F. (2021). Leadership, communication, and work motivation in determining the success of professional organizations. Journal of Law, Politic and Humanities, 1(2), 59-70. https://dinastires.org/JLPH/article/view/54/51

Williams, V. (2020). Style and Tone. Fundamentals of Business Communication. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/businesswritingessentials/chapter/ch-4-style-and-tone/