Created by CakeYou'll learn:How to write a freelance
writer resume?What to put on a resume for a freelance
writer?Tips for writing the best freelance
writer resumeHow to write a cover letter for a freelance
writer?Freelance
writer resume sample
Freelance writing is the practice of earning income by writing for multiple clients, while not being hired by any employer. As a freelance
writer (also known as freelance content creator), you can cover a variety of topics or specialize in one specific area.
💡Freelance
writer job duty examples:
Communicating with clients for further discussion related to the project or assignment.Producing written text on a project basis or freelance basis and in accordance with prescribed editorial and formatting guidelines.Editing and proofreading the drafts/articles to detect and correct errors.
As every business needs compelling content, there's a huge demand for skilled freelance
writers. With an impressive freelance content
writer resume, you can maintain job stability by marketing yourselves efficiently and attracting more potential clients.
How to write a freelance
writer resume?
Step 1: Don't mix-up a freelance
writer resume with a CV
Check the table below to understand the differences between a resume and a CV.Freelance
Writer Resume1-2 pagesCovers the information related to the job opening only, including contact details, resume summary, education, work experience, certificationsRequired for the job application along with a cover letter for a freelance
writerCreative and uniqueFreelance
Writer CVNo length limitInclude full professional details: contact info, summary, work experience, education, academic experience or awardsUsually required for academic fields as teaching, medical nursing, accounting, or sciencePlain and format📝Note:Go over the job listing carefully to learn the required application document.
Step 2: Adopt the right format for your freelance editor resume
📌Three common resume formats arechronological, functional, and combinational resumes. Be aware of the choice of format for your freelance
writer resume even though they all serve the purpose of featuring your skills and work experience.
As a freelance
writer, you must have gained relevant experience in the field. Most applicants prefer to use the chronological format type to showcase their employment history. However, the hybrid one seems to work better for a freelance
writer resume format as you can still show experience while highlighting your key skills. 📝Note:Whatever freelance
writer resume format you choose, make sure it's highly optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Step 3: Refer to freelance
writer resume templates examples online
Writing a resume may seem overwhelming at first. No worries! Try to look up freelance
writer resume examples and templates on the Internet - this way, you can get yourself great tricks and writing advice.
Step 4: Tailor your freelance
writer resume for the job opening
There are a variety of jobs to get your freelance writing career off to a great start such as content
writer, journalist, travel/food reviewer, editor, and proofreader, etc. Hence, make sure to tailor your resume for writing jobs online for a specific job.
Simply put, find what is most relevant to the job requirements and fill your freelance
writer resume with personal qualifications, expertise, and experience that will impress the client.
Step 5: Craft a perfect cover letter for a freelance
writer
The cover letter is like a handshake - that's how you greet and introduce yourself to employers.
As a freelance
writer, you are commonly asked to submit a cover letter along with a resume. Through your freelance
writer cover letter, the client expects to see your clear understanding of the job requirements as well as a brief demonstration of your qualifications that motivates them to dive into your resume. 📚Further reading:The Cover Letter to Land Your Dream Job | 5 Basic Paragraphs 10 Tips.Step 6: Don't miss the final check!It's true that many people, freelance
writers included, make grammar mistakes and typos while writing. That may cause a bad influence on your brand image and stop you from getting the job successfully, especially when writing should be your best skill. Thus, be sure to proofread your freelance editor resume and cover letter before sending it out to clients.
What to put on a resume for a freelance
writer?
1. Resume profile (Personal Information)✔️You should include these:Full NameEmailPhone NumberPersonal website/Social media/Blog/Portfolio❌You should not include these:SSNMarital StatusReligion/RaceIdentifying Info
📝Note: It's important to provide complete and accurate information so that the client can reach out to you.
2. Resume HeadlineA resume headline (or personal title) states your professional level or expertise in the field. Drafting a well-branded freelance
writer resume headline can gain the client's first attention and make you stand out from other applicants. 🔑Key tip: Clearly demonstrate your competencies and experience by applying a more descriptive title rather than a generic one.For example, instead of “Freelance Content Marketer", try to make a huge difference by a statement like “Content Marketing Freelancer with a strong focus on brand building and content management on social media."3. Resume SummaryA resume summary (also known as a professional summary) ideally consists of two or three sentences placed at the top of the resume. A professional summary for a freelance
writer should briefly demonstrate your skills, experience, and outstanding achievements to motivate the clients to read your entire freelance
writer resume.
Examples of an impressive freelance
writer resume summary:
Driven Freelance
Writer with 5 years of experience in developing cutting-edge marketing campaigns from ideation to execution. Passionate and innovative strategist with a passion for managing brand and product performance.Dynamic Freelance Content Creator with specialization in content writing for digital and print media. Exceptional ability to collaborate on diverse projects with all stakeholders and leverage emerging technologies for integrated marketing campaigns.Performance-driven Freelance
Writer with extensive experience and comprehensive background in developing content strategies and marketing campaigns to promote client brands. Committed to high-impact outcomes, excellence, creativity, and innovation.
4. Resume ObjectiveWhile drafting an objective statement for your freelance editor resume, clearly state your career goals and commitment to meeting client needs.
An example of a well-written objective statement for a freelance content creator resume:Looking to increase conversions and traffic via content marketing campaigns as a Freelance Content Creator at IVY Moda.
How about an entry-level freelance
writer resume? 🔎Check out Resume objective writing tips for freshers students!5. SkillsFreelance
writer jobs require a broad skill set when compared to other professions. Hence, knowing how and what to list key skills on your freelance
writer resume can get you closer to the job.How to highlight freelance
writer skills on a resume:List both hard skills and soft skillsInclude key skills relevant to the job onlyUtilize bullet pointsStick to the truth!
What should be included in the skills section:🔗Hard SkillsGoogle AnalyticsCopywritingCMS ToolsSearch Engine OptimizationContent Marketing🔗Soft Skills
CommunicationAbility to Meet DeadlinesAnalytical SkillsSelf-motivatedDetail-oriented
6. Work ExperienceAs a freelancer, you’re likely to experience some full-time jobs or have worked on a lot of projects with different clients. Though you can showcase your work experience on your personal website or portfolio, you still need to present all of them on your freelance
writer resume.✔️You should include these:Employer/Client NameYear of Start and EndJob Responsibilities Achievements❌You should not include these:SalaryInformation that Benefits CompetitorsWork experience example for a freelance
writer resume:
Freelance
Writer | School of Business, San AntonioJan 2018 - Present
Research, write, and edit white papers on cultural diversity, business management, and contemporary communications.Coordinate and supervise research work of 20+ volunteers and interns.
7. EducationWhether the clients expect freelance
writers to have fancy academic degrees or not, you need to cover the basics in the education section, including:School NameYear of Start and EndDegree and MajorsRelevant Courses (optional)
Example of education for a freelance
writer resume:
Bachelor's Degree in Public CommunicationAcademy of Journalism and Communication | Vietnam2012 - 2016
🔎Check out education resume examples for 8+ different professions at Education on Resume|Examples, Templates, Writing Guide.
8. Feature Your Own Blog/Website or CertificationsAs mentioned earlier, freelance
writers tend to showcase writing samples on portfolios, blogs, or personal websites so that clients can take a closer look at their work. Make sure you add a link to your resume so that you can be ahead of other applicants.
Tips for writing the best freelance
writer resumeTip 1: Customize the Freelance Editor Resume for the Job
The earlier part has highlighted the role of tailoring the freelance content creator resume for the specific job.
To be more specific, you can customize it based on the following factors:
Specialization (content
writer, editor, journalist, editor proofreader, etc.)Writing style (formal,
technical, or creative writing)Industry (technology, education, healthcare medical, business, travel, etc.)
Tip 2: Quantify Results on Your Freelance
Writer Resume
Just like a portfolio or personal website, quantifiable achievements on your freelance editor resume can be a good way for clients to evaluate the quality of your work. With numbers like unique page views, organic traffic rates, membership rates, etc., you can prove yourself further to win the competition.
Example of quantifying results on a freelance content creator resume:
Research and utilize keyword research to produce 30+ articles per month, gaining 3000 unique page views.
Tip 3: Optimize the Freelance
Writer Resume for ATS
With large numbers of resumes, clients might use Applicant Tracking Systems to automatically scan through them. Although you're doing a creative job, make sure you're also crafting an ATS-friendly freelance
writer resume.
📍ATS optimization tips:
Stick to text informationCover all must-have sectionsInsert keywords from the job descriptionSave your freelance
writer resume file as a PDF
Tip 4: Add Action Words in Your Freelance
Writer Resume
Regardless of your writing style or area you specialize in, you may consider adopting relevant action words/verbs. This way you can show clients that you fully understand the job requirements and make your freelance content
writer resume stand out.Examples of action verbs: write, conduct, create, design, develop, research, edit, proofread, publish, etc.Tip 5: Make Your Freelance
Writer Resume Creative but Simple
In search of freelance content creators, clients yearn for creativity and uniqueness. Hence, it's important to hone your niche and show it on your resume if you want to attract many clients and build up your freelance writing career.📝Note: Don't overdo charts and graphics otherwise your freelance
writer resume might not get through ATS. Only play with them if you’re sure the resume will be read by a human.
How to write a cover letter for a freelance
writer?
Say that you're writing a cover letter for a content
writer with no experience or a cover letter for a content
writer on Upwork, keep in mind to include the following key points:Contact details: Name, email, social media, personal website.Self-introduction: Start with a polite greeting - make sure you say the right name of the client and desired job.Motivation: Sincerely express your intention to apply for the job.Qualification: Briefly demonstrate your expertise, relevant skills, projects, and works along with outstanding achievements.Closing: Express appreciation to the potential client.
📚Further reading: Check out Dos Don’ts of Writing a Cover Letter.
Freelance
writer resume sample
Resume ProfileMay CarlineFreelance Content Creator for online cosmetics and fashion brands.
[email protected]www.linkedIn.com/in/maycarlineMaycarline.com
Summary
Creative freelance content creator with 5+ years of experience in writing and editing for online cosmetics and fashion brands, including but not limited to website content, social media posts, press releases, and company/product briefs. Adept at creating compelling content that generates leads and sales. Excellent communication skills working within editorial teams of 5 members as well as associated departments.
Work Experience
Freelance
Writer | iHerb TaiwanMay 2018 - Present
Produce relevant and engaging content for the company website, blog, and social media as assigned and pitched.Provide media materials (e.g., original photography, sourced images, graphic designs, etc.) to accompany and support articles.Generate 5+ ideas for new features on the company blog weekly.
English Freelance Content Creator | SHEIN France
Jan 2015 - Dec 2017
Composed 350+ articles on SHEIN blog that attracts approximately 8000 readers per month.Handled daily/weekly content creation on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), increasing followers by 40%-60% in two years.Coached 4 intern
writers in content writing best practices.
Certification
Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification
Skills
Hard Skills:SEM SEO CopywritingGraphic DesignPaid Social Media AdvertisingPhotographyEmail Marketing
Soft Skills:Ability to Meet DeadlinesSelf-disciplinedSelf-motivatedDetail-orientedActive Listening
Education
M.A in Global Communication | The George Washington University2013 - 2014B.S in
Technical Communication | University of Central Florida2009 - 2013
--- Originally written by May Luong ---