The most important business correspondence you write may be the résumé and letter you use to apply for a job. In any economic climate — but especially in a weak one with reduced job prospects — your materials need to be carefully developed and crafted. They need to reflect as many applicable skills and experiences as possible, including your summer, campus, part-time, or full-time employment as you attend college. First, prepare for job prospects by developing opportunities systematically, well before graduation:

Remain flexible, too. Instead of looking only for the single job title you want, consider what other experiences might build your skills on your way to that job. For example, if you are in a public health program and want to join a major city health department, by all means gain expertise so you can pursue that job despite the city’s recent budget cutbacks. But also consider rural or statewide positions, hospital outreach, companies with employee health programs, or the growing field of senior care. Take advantage of serendipity — the surprise that offers a new or unexpected option.

Finally, as opportunities arise, apply your college writing experience to the workplace in order to draft and revise effectively. Direct, persuasive, correct prose can help you stand out from the crowd.