Three Ideas for Better Resumes for Writers

As a writer, you may be tempted to get overly creative when writing your resume, but a polished and professional one will land you more jobs. The clips you attach to it will showcase your creative talent; the resume just needs to intrigue someone enough to read those clips. Whether you are applying for a writing job in the communications industry or a freelance position in any part of the media world, these resume tips will help you gain an advantage over your competition.

One of the most important resume tips is to create a cohesive summary of your qualifications and objectives. Before you list all your previous employers and achievements in your field, create a brief paragraph to catch the attention of the reader, just as you would do when writing any type of business or marketing document. Resumes for writers are a mixture of those two types of writing. The Forbes article "Six Steps to Influence Others with Your Business Writing" explains that you need to focus first on the purpose of your correspondence. In this case, the purpose of your resume is to land an interview or a request to see more writing samples from your portfolio.

A resume tip for today's digital world is to use keywords when writing your document. Many companies are now using digital databases to file and store resumes. When a position becomes available, the database is scanned using keywords to find compatible resumes. So, even if you have previous employment experience outside of communications or the media industry, focus on any writing-related responsibilities that you had with those companies. For example, if you helped create advertisements or brochures for a company where you worked as an administrative assistant, make sure to highlight those duties above the data entry and bookkeeping tasks that were a part of your daily checklist.

Finally, one of the most crucial resume tips is to highlight your best work. Resumes for writers should have a separate section for awards and achievements, as well as a list of published work. Include any special accomplishments in a bulleted list so that it stands out. Along these same lines, another valuable resume tip is to choose the clips that you attach to the document carefully and tailor them to the company where you're sending the resume. Choose clips that reflect what the company stands for—even if it means changing your samples with each resume you send out. You can stay on top of the newest companies in the communications and media fields by networking with other writers in an online writing community that focuses on the business side of the industry.

When you are applying for a writing job, it is imperative that your initial communication attempt be eye-catching, targeted, and flawless. Using these resume tips can help you stand out from other job applicants, improving your odds of landing the position you want.

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