In today’s competitive world, a good writing must engage a reader.

Whether it is a proposal or a resume, the reader must feel involved in the write-up.

Read on to get tips on how to write better while applying for a job or for a business....

1. Start with something interesting: In today’s market scenario where several resumes are lying at the desk, why does a particular resume gets picked than the others in the lot?

   Thinking...

   It is because the resume has a cover letter/introductory note that makes it saleable.

   A summary of a candidate’s profile is always better than a simply stated one line objective which merely talks about a candidate’s aspiration and does not tell about his/her profile summary.

2. Add a personal touch: While writing to potential clients for business, ensure that the content is customized as per the client’s profile and requirement. This helps creating a special bond with the reader.

3. Give examples and not just adjectives: A candidate must mention a relevant example to demonstrate or justify the adjectives included in the resume.

   For instance, if he/she talks about his/her strength in area of team management, he/she should mention an example on how well a team was handled. Avoid giving micro level details, however, mention about achievements/recognitions.

4. Leverage numbers: A candidate must back-up achievements/adjectives stated with numbers. Same goes for the corporate looking for business.

   Numbers form a strong base for generating commitment. A percentage movement showing improvement in performance or scores always catches attention of the readers.

5. Avoid jargons: If a candidate is applying in a completely different industry than the one he has worked before in, he should avoid/not use jargons which are not relevant to the new industry.

   Jargons tend to confuse people and there is a possibility of the message being lost. In case a jargon is to be used, the expanded form should also be mentioned. For instance a jargon EMS should be written in a statement as "Employee Measurement System [EMS]".

6. Do not misrepresent data: Write with integrity. Whether it is numbers or years of experience or sales volume - all facts stated should be true.

7. Communication Skills: Ensure that the document is error free - no spelling or grammatical mistake. Always proof read the document/proposal or get it read by a friend/colleague.

8. Follow-up: Most of the times a candidate submits a resume or a proposal to a prospective client and does not follow-up. Remember, there are several other resumes and proposals which are lying at the desk. A candidate needs to ensure that a prompt follow-up [ read "not too much"] should be done.