When thinking about what it takes to have a successful career in business, things like having good planning, people, and leadership skills probably come to mind. However, you might be surprised to hear that writing is one of the most important skills to have if you want a lasting career in business. Whether it is an internal email memo to staff, an external report to shareholders, a slide presentation for clients, or a training manual for staff, all of these things need to be clear, easy to understand, and appropriate for their audience, and all of those things can only happen through good, solid writing.
Everything you need to keep in mind when you write a paper for a college-level class will help you as you learn how to write well for business. Understanding your topic thoroughly, knowing your audience, and articulating your ideas clearly and powerfully are all things you will need to be able to do as you write in the business world. In fact, good writing is so central to doing well in business that some of the most successful companies hire people whose only job is to write their internal and external communication.