Recently, I was forwarded a link to an opinion column
written by a recent college graduate. In the column, the writer wrote
passionately and clearly about the challenges she and others faced trying to
search for jobs in Manhattan where, according to the Elliman Report, the average rental price
for a one-bed apartment runs $3,933, and the median rental price is $3,369.
Rents were high, the kinds of writing jobs she sought were scarce and she had
little luck securing offers, but, nevertheless, she persisted.
It was clear from the writer's bio that she had been
quite active trying to create a portfolio of writing to show potential
employees. In addition to the column I read, she also had created a few
different websites focusing on travel and entertainment.
When reading her opinion column on a website where
writers appear to edit their own pieces, however, it was impossible not to
notice that it contained several typographical, grammar, and usage errors.
Immediately, my mind went to the fact that any prospective employer checking
out the writer's online pieces would more than likely be concerned about
finding such errors when considering her for a writing position.
In addition to writing a weekly ethics column, my
full-time job is teaching people how to write, or, more accurately, to write
better. I urge students regularly to remember that whatever they publish on the
internet, whether it pays them a handsome fee or is done gratis, should be as
polished and professional as possible since readers will judge the quality of
their work by what's out there.
As an associate who works in Manhattan and whose opinion
I respect pointed out, however, the column writer was not a student of mine and
I had no relationship to her. I'd never read any of her work before her column
was shared with me. My associate advised that if the writer had been one of her
employees or a mentee, she would find a way to talk with her about the
mistakes. "If not, I don't think I would discuss it directly."
But it nagged at me whether the right thing for me to do
would be to contact the writer and offer her some unsolicited feedback. The
risk might be that such an email might strike her as condescending or odd given
that she didn't know me from Adam.
I emailed the writer, mentioned that I enjoyed reading
her column, but pointed out that it contained quite a few errors. Within
minutes, she responded, thanking me for my honesty and asking if I had any
suggestions on how she might improve her self-editing skills. I directed her to
some online writing, editing, and grammar sites. I also suggested she consider
attending one of the seminars offered by The Op-Ed Project, an enterprise set
up to train under-represented experts write and place strong opinion columns.
(Full disclosure, I am a volunteer mentor-editor with the project.) The writer
graciously thanked me and indicated she planned to follow up on the
suggestions.
It would have been simpler not to say anything, and to
hope that someone who knew the writer would offer advice. But contacting her
took little effort, seemed the right thing to do, and was what I hoped someone
would have done for me when I was starting out on my career.
Jeffrey L. Seglin, author of The Simple Art of Business Etiquette: How to Rise to the Top by Playing Nice, is a lecturer in public policy and director of the communications program at Harvard's Kennedy School. He is also the administrator of www.jeffreyseglin.com, a blog focused on ethical issues.
Do you have ethical questions that you need answered? Send them to rightthing@comcast.net.
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