Even in the wake of breakneck technology changes, the importance of good writing is increasing. Whether it’s a run-on sentence begging for separation of a coordinating conjunction in need of critical care, poor writing skills can hold you back in the business world.

Employers say they look for people who have excellent communications skills more than any other talent. A 2002 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers ranked communications skills, both verbal and written, as the top quality employers seek.

"Finding employees who have the ability to write and express ideas clearly and concisely is still a top priority of most employers. It’s even more important than computer skills to most," says licensed professional counselor Mark Khol of Lansing. "Writing is one of the core skills of communication. Being good at it is essential for everyone, even those in labor and manufacturing positions."

Khol says that in some ways, today’s high tech business environment requires a more fine tuned writing touch than ever before.

"Employers expect their employees to be able to communicate with clarity of expression by e-mail as often as by phone. The Internet has created a huge change in the way companies communicate internally with customers," says Khol. These days, no matter what your career choice, your future employer expects good writing skills. Writing well is a career basic, whether you’re in a technical field or work in the health industry.

At Oakland Community College students can choose from a variety of courses designed to help them beef up their writing skills for the business world:

• English 135, Business Communications, teaches students the basic elements of oral and written communications

• English 145, Writing and Reading for Problem Solving, focuses on effective workplace communications for students interested in careers in industrial, technical, retail, service and health professions

• English 220, Professional Communication, helps students enhance their communication and critical thinking skills for technical and business fields

• English 284, Commercial Writing, is designed to develop and refine students’ skills in writing to client specifications, creating  materials to meet clients’ communications needs and producing commercially effective writing For individuals who need additional help in acquiring writing skills, OCC offers English 105 and 106, classes where students learn the process of writing from prewriting and drafting through revision and  editing.

OCC also offers assistance to students in Individualized Instruction Centers (IIC’s) located on each of the college’s five campuses. IIC services are available without charge to all OCC students and, for a minimal charge, to members of the community, ages 16 or older.

Randy J. Stine is a DeWitt-based freelance writer for CareerFocus Magazine

OCC FAST FACTS

• OCC is the 14th largest community college among the nation’s 1,171 community colleges

• Annual enrollment for degree and non-degree-seeking students is 74,000

• Largest freshman class in Michigan

• Since it opened in 1965, OCC has served more than 650,000 students

• In June 2002, 1712 students earned OCC degrees and certificates (668 were associate degrees in Applied Science; 202 in Business Administration; 160 in General Studies; 517 in Liberal Arts; and 65 in Science; 130 students earned one-year certificates

• The average age of OCC students is 27

• Seventy-two percent of OCC students attend part-time • Women make up 59 percent of the student population

• Minority students make up 22 percent of the student population

• OCC is an open-door institution of higher education – admission to credit classes is available to all high school graduates, to transferring students, and to anyone else 18 years of age or older.

A selection process is necessary in certain specialized programs

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