Comma before "with," "who," "having" for non-compound sentences

Question

I've noticed my résumé and cover letter have multiple sentences like the ones (slightly edited) below:

1. I offer excellent computer skills, with a typing speed of 80–120 WPM.
2. I recently met ____, who advised that ...
3. I bring a strong awareness of ____, having completed ...
4. I assumed additional ____ at ____, where I also ...
5. I am seeking entry into ____ at ____, with an aim to ...

I want advice on this that is not "commas are a stylistic choice" — for me, whatever I start doing regularly, I become stylistically accustomed to.

I asked my career counsellor at Stanford and she told me that I should look at what follows the comma as an "aside." According to her, the comma here is correct and should be looked upon as a lone, pairless, bracketing comma. Taking sentence 1, she said it could be thought of as :

I offer excellent computer skills, with a typing speed of 80–120 WPM, and therefore I deserve ____. (Hypothetical sentence with bracketing commas)

I offer excellent computer skills, with a typing speed of 80–120 WPM. (Lone bracketing comma ― period replaces second comma for the pair)

Her second bit of advice was that if I can put what follows the comma in parentheses, then I should leave the comma in.

Going on this, I've removed commas for sentences 2 and 5.

But I'm still confused. Mainly because this rule seems a bit flimsy and could be used to justify commas that are clearly wrong.

Example: "I am good at reading, and writing."

To me, the rule is that only two sentences that can stand on their own when joined together with "but," "and," etc. may have a comma. According to this rule, only no. 4 requires a comma where there is a subject on both sides.

Could someone offer guidance on this?

Answer 1

Your use of commas is fine in the five numbered examples you presented, and your career counselor offered you confusing advice about punctuation (even though she may be outstanding at career counseling in general).

In terms of substance, excellent computer skills involve a lot more than typing speed, which is a relatively small part of computer literacy. Far more important is your familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, including Word and Excel, and especially any proprietary or specialized software specific to the industry in which you seek employment.

Speaking strictly for myself, as an employer I am put off by an applicant who thinks it is important to mention his or her typing speed in a cover letter. There are exceptions, of course. If it has been your life-long dream to become a medical transcriptionist, for instance, then it would be very important to highlight that ability, along with an outstanding medical vocabulary, excellent editing skills, and exceptionally good comprehension of spoken English. Otherwise, it just sounds like you are bragging. Please keep in mind that the person who reviews your application probably types at 40 wpm or less. As a Stanford graduate, you hopefully will not spend eight or more hours a day speed-keyboarding, which is extremely tedious and stressful work.

If you want to keep it in, then I would recommend, "I have excellent computer skills and a typing speed of 80 WPM. I'm fluent in [...] Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as [...] Adobe Photoshop and other imaging software" (or CAD/CAM applications, GIS software, or other specialized programs in math, physics, design, layout or whatever else may be required for the job). Under no circumstances should you write, "and therefore I deserve..." anything! An entire generation of students raised with the fantasy that everyone should have high self-esteem (rather than "accurate self-knowledge") has created a false sense of entitlement that clashes with the reality of working in the real world.

The key is always to write for your reader, not for yourself. Put yourself in the employer's position, and ask yourself what you would want a highly qualified applicant to say about herself in her cover letter. Try to avoid cliches and be honest and direct about your experience, education and accomplishments. You'll find that it results in far more positive responses from your prospective employers.

Good luck, and don't worry about your use of commas. You've got it!

Answer 2

The advice about bracketing commas was poor, since the 'and' is introducing a clause so it deserves its own comma. Any adverbial clause can be marked by commas, but they can sometimes be omitted: your hypothetical 'therefore' is also adverbial and could be stated: ', therefore,'.

'I am good at reading, and writing' could mean: 'I am good at reading, and [I am] writing. Too much is being assumed.

'I am good at reading and writing' means that you are good at both. The conjunction is coordinating rather than subordinating (adverbial).