Writing on the Job: Best Practices for Communicating in the Digital Age

by Martha B Coven

A practical and compact guide to writing for professionals

Writing is an essential skill in today’s workplace. From messaging platforms and social media to traditional forms of communication like memos and reports, we rely on words more than ever. Given how much reading we do on mobile devices, being able to write succinctly is critical to success. Writing on the Job is an incisive guide to clear and effective writing for professionals.

Martha Coven begins with the basics, explaining how to develop a professional style, get started on a piece of writing, create a first draft, and edit it into a strong final product. She then offers practical advice on more than a dozen forms of writing, from emails and slide decks to proposals and cover letters. Along the way, Coven provides a wealth of concrete examples and simple templates that make the concepts easy to understand and apply.

Based on Coven’s popular writing classes and workshops at Princeton University as well as her decades of experience in the public and private sectors, Writing on the Job addresses the real challenges professionals face in today’s digital age, and shares essential practices that can improve the performance of any organization.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Business

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2022

Reviews

[Karel Baloun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly only for someone who knew nothing about the corporate world, yet arrived, and needs to write a memo. The bullet point outlines exude confidence, but the critical topics of how to get attention, how to gain credibility, how did you research, or how to write for impact… None of that is here.

This is mechanics of how to write, apparently for someone who hasn’t done at lunch, but he’s willing to read a short book about it. Felt like the kind of book that an oblivious parent buys for a child who just got a job in the corporate world, but only in the situation where the parent doesn’t have much confidence in the child’s writing.

Dry, systematic and fairly uninspiring. The final sections on practical applications, like social media, and public speaking, are not even introductions, but in their banality they avoid being wrong.

I hope this isn’t a reflection on how poorly high school may be teaching writing. I’d rather it was an older adult totally underestimating the capabilities of youth.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A writing book that follows its own advice - it's short, simple and easy to read with a clear message. As an editor, this is the book I'd like to have written.

I particularly liked the advice to "Edit everything. Even a one-paragraph email".

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Some things in here are really helpful if you aren’t already trained to do them, like formatting tips for memos, project proposals, etc. Other things are REALLY basic like not using emojis in emails. Overall it’s good for background info, but not in depth enough for my taste.

[Jenna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book existed years ago! Incredible advice that I will keep revisiting. I recommend this to anyone who writes frequently at work, especially the non profit / gov’t folks!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential and easy-to-read guide for writing in today’s office environment.

[Abbas Mehrabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great deal of useful information in just 120 pages.

I recommend this book to any professional whose job involves any kind of writing.

[Abby Epplett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide for writing, whether in a business environment or for a newspaper. The bonus chapters on public speaking and creating slides were also well done.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short practical reference for people new to the workforce and or to having a responsibility to writing more at work.

[Gabrielle Francisco-Bogert · Rating 4 out of 5]

great primer on the art and science of writing

[Elisabeth Valienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book, though very very basic. This is best for someone who doesn't have a background in writing for sure.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick & concise primer for those entering the workforce and need to hone their communication skills.

Lots of great topics covered! Here are the contents:

The basics -- Developing a professional style -- Getting started -- Writing a first draft -- Editing -- Common types of business writing -- Correspondence -- Memos -- Proposals, plans, and reports -- Critical feedback -- Resumes and cover letters -- Numbers and visuals -- Writing about numbers -- Data visualizations -- Slide decks -- Writing for public audiences -- Instructions and forms -- Writing for media -- Commentary -- Public speaking


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"Weak" resume keywords: assisted, helped, participated, responsible for, served, supported, worked