Re: no pics
Well said Lindy.
I was fortunate enough to be selected for my current profession, which when I was hired had a competition level of 100 plus applicants per position. Competition was stiff then. The job contintues to require a well rounded skill set. One of the more important skills and an easy one to test for in the hiring process is one's skill in writing.
I never had much interest in English class being a person who is more science and math oriented. I also grew up bilingual which didn't help with some of my confusion. It was not until I began testing for my dream job that I learned in a harsh manner that being able to write matters. My scores suffered due to my lack of that skill. I was behind the curve and had to work hard to get better. I can't say that I am an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I was able to improve enough for my evaluators to take a gamble on me.
Sixteen years later, it astounds me how poorly most people write. It would seem that forums tend to contain a significant amount of drivel. However, I have also seen plenty of official, public sector documents that leave a lot to be desired.
I wish everyone took written communication more seriously. Poor writing makes intelligent people seem not so smart.
FWIW,
RB