Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Control Group • Variable Control • Confidence Interval

Academic Writing

Term from Research Institutions industry explained for recruiters

Academic Writing is the skill of creating formal, research-based documents for educational and scientific purposes. It's different from regular writing because it follows specific rules and formats that universities and research institutions expect. When candidates mention this on their resume, they're showing they can write research papers, grant proposals, journal articles, or educational materials in a clear, professional way. This skill is particularly important in universities, research centers, and organizations that deal with scientific publications.

Examples in Resumes

Developed Academic Writing workshops for graduate students that improved research paper acceptance rates by 40%

Provided Academic Writing and Research Writing support for 3 major grant proposals totaling $2M in funding

Led Academic Writing and Scholarly Writing training programs for international researchers

Typical job title: "Academic Writers"

Also try searching for:

Research Writer Academic Editor Scientific Writer Research Communication Specialist Academic Writing Consultant Writing Center Coordinator Academic Publishing Specialist

Where to Find Academic Writers

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Online Communities

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop and implement a university-wide academic writing improvement program?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate experience in program development, understanding of different academic disciplines, and ability to coordinate with various departments. They should mention assessment methods, training materials development, and stakeholder management.

Q: How do you stay current with changes in academic writing standards across different fields?

Expected Answer: Strong answers should include reference to major style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago), professional development, and networking with academic publishing professionals. They should also mention experience with adapting to new citation systems and formatting requirements.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What strategies do you use to help non-native English speakers improve their academic writing?

Expected Answer: Should discuss practical experience with language learning challenges, cultural considerations, and specific techniques for improving clarity and structure in academic writing.

Q: How do you approach editing a research paper that needs significant revision?

Expected Answer: Look for a structured approach to editing, including checking for argument coherence, evidence support, proper citations, and maintaining the author's voice while improving clarity.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the key elements of academic writing that distinguish it from other forms of writing?

Expected Answer: Should mention formal tone, evidence-based arguments, proper citations, structured format, and objective language. Basic understanding of academic integrity and plagiarism should be demonstrated.

Q: How do you help students structure an academic paper?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic paper structure (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion) and how to guide students in organizing their thoughts and research.