Page 155 - How to write effective business English your guide to excellent professional communication by Fiona Talbot

144 How to Write Effective Business English

most-written letters sent in the National Health Service. In their
guidance ‘Please, write to me’ the Academy go so far as to say doc-
tors have to learn a new skill: writing letters directly to patients in
plain English that’s well-structured, informative, useful, supportive
and engaging.
This is quite a breakthrough and maybe you can think of other
professions that would do well to take note.

Specific tips about addressing letters

Always check the spelling of the name of the person you’re writing
to and their correct job title. Readers can be quickly offended when
their personal details are incorrect. There may also be commercial
implications if compliance-related documentation has wrong details.
It can be difficult, though, if you don’t know which gender a
foreign or unfamiliar name relates to. Ideally, make enquiries;
maybe someone else will know. Or you could use the person’s full
name at the beginning of the letter – for example, ‘Dear Chris
Palmer’ – to avoid embarrassment or offence.

CVs/résumés and cover letters

Do have a regularly updated CV (also called résumé) as a written
overview of your job experience and qualifications, even if you’re
not applying for another job. It helps you identify milestones
you’ve achieved, the skills you’re developing and the personal at-
tributes you have enhanced. It also helps you express ‘your brand’:
what makes you special over and above the next person.
Most CVs are e-mailed to prospective employers, so once again
it’s your writing that’s judged initially. With stiff competition for
jobs, employers can hit hard, often ditching CVs with mistakes or
that fail to answer the brief or impress.