The Rhetoric of Entry-level Job Postings: An Analysis of Writing Skills and Tasks [Research Assistant]

The Rhetoric of Entry-level Job Postings: An Analysis of Writing Skills and Tasks
Professor Jessica McCaughey
The Project: This project examines the rhetoric of entry-level position postings with an eye toward the ways in which employers state, define, and emphasize the required or desired writing skills of job applicants. Questions central to the project include: What kinds of writing skills do employers say they want? How do they categorize and define communication tasks? How much value do they place on writing and communication skills? In what ways do posted qualifications align (or not) with the writing skills students learn in college? Are differences substantial or mostly a matter of semantic differences in two different contexts? Ultimately this research will build toward a larger body of scholarly work examining the ways in which universities (both writing programs and major disciplines) can better prepare students for their professional writing lives.
Research Assistant Tasks: The research assistant will primarily help to code these job postings (looking at how the employers describe writing-related tasks and skills), but they will also have the opportunity to work closely with me in analyzing the data and considering implications. Additionally, they will seek out and compile existing research that will contribute to the work. No coding experience is necessary; I will train and work closely with the research assistant, and I will provide background reading to help situation him or her prior to beginning the work. Skills that are key to the position include extreme attention to detail, strong critical thinking skills, and patience for occasionally repetitive work. The student will gain insight into how such a study is conducted in terms of data collection and analysis, and they will also have the opportunity to take on a more creative role in determining how data is delineated.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 2
Application Instructions: Students should submit a resume and brief letter of introduction explaining their interest in the research and examples of how they meet the general qualifications of the position.
Contact Email: jessmcc@gwu.edu