%0 Journal Article
%T Writing Competency and Readability of Job Application Documents among Jordanian Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study
%A Tomasz Kowalczyk
%A Anna Zielinska
%A Piotr Malinowski
%A Katarzyna Sobczak
%J Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
%@ 3108-4850
%D 2023
%V 3
%N 1
%R 10.51847/580HKO4ffr
%P 180-193
%X In an increasingly competitive employment environment, pharmacists are expected to submit high-quality curriculum vitae (CVs), cover letters, and personal statements. Nevertheless, pharmacists for whom English is not a first language may encounter difficulties in producing effective job application documents. Jordan represents a context in which English is commonly used as a second language, yet there is limited evidence regarding the job application writing competencies of Jordanian pharmacists. Accordingly, this study evaluated the ability of Jordanian pharmacists to compose cover letters and personal statements in English and explored the relationship between selected demographic and professional characteristics and the readability levels of these documents.This cross-sectional study assessed Jordanian pharmacists’ proficiency in writing English-language cover letters and personal statements and examined the readability of these documents. All submissions were independently and blindly evaluated by two researchers. Readability was measured using an online readability assessment tool that generated a readability index score. Scores ranging from 7 to 12 were classified as “optimal,” whereas scores below 7 and above 12 were categorized as “simple” and “complex,” respectively. Associations between readability scores and demographic or professional variables were analyzed using the chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.In total, 592 pharmacists were included in the analysis. Female participants accounted for nearly two-thirds of the sample (62.3%), and the majority (60.0%) had completed their pharmacy degree more than six months prior to applying for employment. Personal statements were submitted by most applicants (78.2%); however, fewer than half included a cover letter (34.8%), and just over one-quarter (27.2%) submitted both documents. Among the 206 cover letters written in English, fewer than half were position-specific (43.2%), although most followed a clear organizational structure (80.6%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between the inclusion of a professional photograph and the submission of a cover letter (p < 0.001, φ = 0.14). In addition, applicants who provided a structured cover letter were significantly more likely to include a personal statement (p < 0.001, φ = 0.24). Evaluation of text readability showed that a limited number of documents met the recommended readability standards, with only 65 personal statements and 102 cover letters falling within the acceptable range.The findings suggest that job application components such as personal statements and cover letters are frequently overlooked by Jordanian pharmacists, reflecting gaps in professional writing competence. Furthermore, the limited proportion of documents achieving appropriate readability levels highlights the need for targeted interventions to strengthen English-language writing skills and improve the overall quality of job application materials among pharmacists in Jordan.
%U https://smerpub.com/article/writing-competency-and-readability-of-job-application-documents-among-jordanian-pharmacists-a-cross-mcscsylbat3x8bc