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Students at all levels of education are expected to write. This writing can take on different forms, such as personal narratives, book summaries, or lab reports. Perhaps the most stereotypically tedious type of educational writing is the academic essay: a researched assignment with an introduction, a thesis, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Many students dread this rather formulaic exercise and struggle to see any tangible or long-term benefits it may have to offer. School is supposed to serve as preparation for professional life. Therefore, it may seem odd that academic essays are so prevalent, given how few jobs involve this specific writing structure. However, the academic essay teaches skills that are valuable in all areas of the professional workforce: staying mindful of details, researching according to best practices, and writing without using generative artificial intelligence (GAI).

Academic writing and professional writing are often treated as separate entities. However, as Penn LPS Online (2023) pointed out, the two have many similarities as well. They identified several, including the importance of correct grammar and relevant outside information. These similarities indicate that students can start building skills that will still be important in their careers through these academic essays. Think of writing skills as muscles. Muscles must be used repeatedly, for longer periods of time or with greater intensity, to gain strength. Even the greatest athletes are not born with exceptional strength; they must build their muscles over time. The same principle applies to writing. By practicing grammar and research skills in progressively longer or more complex essays, writers build their writing muscles. Those muscles then allow for heavy lifting in professional contexts.

Even so, these muscles may not seem immediately relevant for certain careers, such as engineering, nursing, or IT management. However, these and other career paths still require certain writing skills for success. For example, resumes and cover letters are written documents that employers typically seek as they look to fill a position, while emails and memos are prominent professional communication methods (Tulane University School of Professional Advancement, n.d.). As this Tulane University article explained, “Responses riddled with typos or confusing and improper grammar may cause co-workers or superiors to question your professionalism or attention to detail” (para. 2). The development of writing muscles through academic essays will give writers crucial skills that might well make the difference in securing a desired job or promotion. By the same token, neglecting these writing skills could leave prospective employers dissatisfied. Thus, the continual practice provided by academic essays will serve writers well in the workforce.

One often-overlooked benefit of academic essays is the development of research skills required by many courses. Many jobs include elements of research, whether that be through creating project proposals, testing new ideas, or assessing customer preferences. The Indeed Editorial Team (2025) listed ten ways that research is important in professional fields, including giving others the latest information; making researchers aware of competing ideas, products, or philosophies; and building a researcher’s credibility in future writing or presentations. These are all skills that are built through academic essays as well. Many courses prefer that students use recent sources in their essays so that they do not base arguments or explanations on outdated ideas. Some essays ask students to consider alternate perspectives, counterarguments, or similar proposals. This builds the awareness of other ideas that professional research requires. As students strengthen their research skills, they become more credible voices in their chosen fields because they know how to find relevant information and present it well. However, all of these skills have been called into question in the past couple of years due to a recent development: generative AI.

GAI is often touted for the things it can help humans do, like compiling research, improving written content, and even creating written documents through a simple prompt. As GAI continues to develop, it may seem like human writing muscles are becoming less valuable in professional contexts. However, despite its wide array of skills, GAI cannot replicate everything that makes writing truly valuable. According to a recent textbook, “GAI can help us with the how, but it takes human insight to understand why.” (Purzycki, 2025, Chapter 1). In other words, although GAI has access to all the internet has to offer, it does not have the context provided by human experiences. This means that writing skills can make the difference between information and impact through the inclusion of unique touches and personal anecdotes. Human writers, unlike GAI, can also tell the difference between credible and unreliable sources, meaning that writers can refine GAI research. As more job applicants rely heavily on GAI, the applicants who have their own strong writing muscles will become more valuable and more distinctive to potential employers.

Although academic essays are, by definition, used in academic spaces, they build skills that are relevant far beyond. Research skills remain integral to many positions, even in the age of GAI. Old-fashioned as it may seem, the academic essay is prevalent for a reason. Writers can build the skills necessary for future success by fully embracing the lessons of academic writing. It may help to concentrate on accomplishing the hidden goals of academic writing, the ones that matter more than expected in the professional workforce. The basics of paying attention to the little details, citing modern and reliable research, and writing independently of GAI serve the professional immensely in career success and advancement.

References

Indeed Editorial Team (2025). Research skills: Importance, examples and tips for improvement. Indeed. https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-skills.

Penn LPS Online (2023). The difference between academic and professional writing: A helpful guide. https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/features/difference-between-academic-and-professional-writing-helpful-guide.

Purzycki, K. (2025). Professional Writing and Communications for Business. Open Textbook Library. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1877. Tulane University School of Professional Advancement (n.d.). The importance of writing skills in the workplace.https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/importance-writing-skills-workplace