Use Real-Life Templates For Writing Success

Written by Shaun Fawcett


At some point alongrepparttar way, most of us have used what are commonly called "fill-in-the-blank" writing templates. We might have used them to write a letter, format an essay, or set-up a resume or CV.

You know what I'm talking about here. It's those form letter templates that you see in many writing texts and workbooks.

FILL-IN-THE-BLANK TEMPLATES

For example, inrepparttar 129635 case of a letter, a "fill-in-the-blank" template would look something like this:

Dear [NAME OF RECIPIENT]:

This is to advise you that your probation period inrepparttar 129636 position [POSITION NAME] expired on [DATE].

The [NAME OF REVIEW COMMITTEE] met on [DATE OF MEETING] and determined that your probationary appointment was successful and that you should be immediately appointed to [NAME OF POSITION] [NAME OF ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT].

Accordingly, this is to inform you that effective [DATE OF APPOINTMENT] you are officially appointed torepparttar 129637 position of [NAME OF POSITION] for an initial period of [NUMBER OF YEARS/MONTHS]. Terms and conditions of your employment are covered by [OFFICIAL CONTRACT NAME/NUMBER].

Would you please report as soon as possible to [NAME OF OFFICIAL], [TITLE OF OFFICIAL] inrepparttar 129638 [OFFICIAL NAME OF HR GROUP] so thatrepparttar 129639 details of your appointment may be properly documented.

Congratulations [NAME OF APPOINTEE]. All of us at [COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION NAME] look forward to working with you inrepparttar 129640 future.

Sincerely,

[NAME AND TITLE OF ORIGINATOR]

Although this "fill-in-the-blank" approach can work, it has a number of shortcomings as follows:

DISADVANTAGES OF FILL-IN-THE-BLANK TEMPLATES

- Because of their generic nature, they tend to generalize so much that they resemble a computer generated form letter.

- They don't provide specific information on how a professional would properly fill inrepparttar 129641 required information [BLANKS].

- They don't provide mental stimulation or show how a professional might wordrepparttar 129642 letter in a specific real-life context.

- The content is typically watered down to try and cover every possible situation.

- Thus, they are virtually useless for 98% of real-life situations, since they lack real-life content.

REAL-LIFE TEMPLATES

Onrepparttar 129643 other hand, here's what a "real-life" template would look like for a similar situation:

Dear Jessica:

This is to advise you that your probation period inrepparttar 129644 position Customer Service Agent (Temporary) expired on November 30, 2001.

The Staffing Review Committee met late last week and determined that your probationary appointment was successful and that you should be immediately appointed as Customer Service Agent (Ongoing).

Accordingly, this is to inform you that effective December 1, 2001 you are officially appointed torepparttar 129645 position of Customer Service Agent inrepparttar 129646 Customer Support Group for an initial period of 36 months. Terms and conditions of your employment are covered byrepparttar 129647 Customer Service Group Employment Agreement.

Writing Business Letters That Get The Job Done

Written by Shaun Fawcett


Despiterepparttar widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional business letters are stillrepparttar 129632 main way thatrepparttar 129633 majority of businesses officially communicate with their customers and other businesses.

This is especially true when businesses want to formalize an agreement or an understanding. So far, emails are great for all ofrepparttar 129634 preparatory work, but a formal business letter is still most often needed to "sealrepparttar 129635 deal".

There are two basic categories of business letters: business to business, and business to customer.

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS LETTERS

Most business to business letters are written to confirm things that have already been discussed among officials in meetings, onrepparttar 129636 telephone, or via e-mail.

Can you imaginerepparttar 129637 letters that would have to go back and forth to cover all ofrepparttar 129638 questions and possibilities that can be covered in a one-hour meeting, a half-hour phone call, or a few quick e-mails?

The main purpose of a typical business letter is to formalizerepparttar 129639 details that were arrived at in those discussions, and to provide any additional information that was agreed upon.

Overrepparttar 129640 years, certain general standards have evolved inrepparttar 129641 business world thatrepparttar 129642 vast majority of businesses use in drafting their business to business correspondence.

BUSINESS TO CUSTOMER LETTERS

There are many different types of business to customer letters. They include: sales and marketing letters, information letters, order acknowledgement letters, order status letters, collection letters, among others.

As with business to business letters, overrepparttar 129643 years certain general standards have evolved inrepparttar 129644 business world thatrepparttar 129645 vast majority of businesses use in drafting letters to existing and potential customers.

Of course, going inrepparttar 129646 other direction are customer to business letters. These include: order letters, order status inquiry letters, complaint letters, and others.

Since these are customer-generated letters, there is no particular expectation that they follow any particular letter-writing standard. Typically, they are handled just like any other piece of personal correspondence.

BUSINESS LETTER WRITING TIPS

Here are a few tips I have picked up while writing literally hundreds of business letters overrepparttar 129647 past 20+ years. This is a slightly modified version ofrepparttar 129648 tips included in my eBook, "Instant Home Writing Kit".

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use