Freelance Writer Resume

The job market for freelance writers is highly competitive. To stand out, you need to pair your writing portfolio with a great freelance writer resume that shows employers why you’re uniquely qualified.

Follow these three tips to write a freelance writer resume that lands you your next big client:

1. Highlight your freelance writer skills

A typical day for a freelance writer includes discussing project details with clients, interpreting creative briefs, and drafting or editing written content. So a strong freelance writer resume should highlight your writing abilities, industry knowledge, and computer literacy.

However, your job responsibilities always depend on the type of writing services you provide and your area of expertise. Although freelance writers generally hold a relevant degree in English, Journalism, or Communications, a technical degree is considered essential if you write about specific topics like finance, technology, or healthcare.

To show employers you’re the right person for the job, showcase key hard and soft skills that are required to excel. For example, if you’re applying to be a blog writer, list key technical skills in your resume skills section, such as SEO optimization, keyword research, or proficiency in Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress.

Here are some important freelance writer hard skills:

• Research skills
• Keyword analysis
• SEO
• Marketing trends
• Google Drive
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Project management software (Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Project)
• Google AdWords
• Google Analytics
• Adobe Systems (Creative Cloud, Photoshop, and Illustrator)
• Content Management Systems (WordPress)
• Coding languages (CSS, HTML, and JavaScript)
• Email marketing tools (MailChimp)

However, technical skills aren’t everything. Employers also seek freelance writers who are easy to work with. To prove you’re a reliable writer, highlight key soft skills throughout your resume, such as time management skills and the ability to take criticism.

Here’s a list of some additional soft skills employers seek in freelance writers:

• Reliable
• Organizational skills
• Creative thinking
• Active listening
• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Critical thinking
• Project management skills
• Multitasking
• Open to feedback

2. Customize your freelance writer resume to the job post

Most freelance writers pick up a variety of writing projects. Even if your writing portfolio is quite diverse, it’s still critical to modify your resume so that it aligns with the needs of each job you apply to.

For example, if you’re applying to a marketing agency, emphasize your marketing knowledge and experience within this field — advertising copy, website content, blog posts, and press releases.

Here are some ways to customize your freelance writer resume for each position:

• Highlight job-specific skills and experience in a strong resume summary
• Research the company and take a close look at its content. Because employers seek freelance writers who can mimic their brand’s tone of voice, provide examples of similar projects you’ve worked on in your work experience.
• Analyze the job description to identify what the hiring manager is seeking, then emphasize these skills in your resume bullet points. Rather than describing your past duties, focus on what you’ve achieved.

3. Add hard numbers to your achievements

Before hiring you, employers need to know you’re reliable, efficient, and consistent in the quality of work you produce.

The best way to demonstrate what you’re capable of is by providing examples of your greatest achievements as a freelance writer, with hard numbers to show the precise impact you made.

Here are some examples showing how to quantify freelance work on your resume:

• Curated original front page daily click-through content, including fact of the day and quote of the day for over 160 straight weeks
• Remotely worked with local and international clients and wrote 1,500+ articles for blogs in the finance and healthcare niche, which enhanced traffic by 15%–25% per month
• Researched and authored 200+ content pieces for Forbes on career and coaching that reached 2M readers per month