Resume for Writers (Also Freelance): Sample, Job Description

Inflated expectations and fear of failure are what make writing a breeze.

You’ve probably, at some point, written resumes for other people—

Quick and easy, right?

Now write one for yourself. A writer resume.

And—

That’s why you’re here.

But don’t stress (any more than you need to to get this done)—

There’s a way out that requires zero inspiration and works regardless of blood-sugar level and mental state.

In this guide:

• A sample resume for writers better than nine out of ten out there.
• How to create even a freelance writer job description for a resume.
• How to write a resume for writer jobs that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing your dream job.

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Just getting started or looking to specialize or branch out? These are just some of our guides:

• College Application Resume
• Scholarship Resume
• Resume for Graduate School Application
• Public Relations Resume
• Digital Marketing Resume
• Instructional Designer Resume
• Social Media Manager Resume
• Tutor Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• Librarian Resume
• Education Resume
• Student Resume
• Marketing Resume
• Marketing Internship Resume
• Academic CV
• Video Editor Resume
• Videographer Resume
• Business Owner Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Office Clerk Resume
• Stay at Home Mom Resume
• Entry Level Resume
• Resume with No Experience
• Career Change Resume

Writer Resume Example

Now here’s how to write a resume for writers that even your internal critic won’t hate will love:

1. Choose the Right Resume Format for You

Structure is important, you know this.

That’s why choosing the right resume format is crucial.

The reverse-chronological resume format is the gold standard—

Common, expected, and effective.

It’s for people with work histories defined by full- or part-time employment.

But—

Even if you’re a freelancer, try to make the reverse-chronological format work for you.

Otherwise:

Go with a functional resume format if you’ve only had a smattering of freelance work and nothing else—

Or a combination format if you’ve been freelancing for a huge range of different clients for years.

Resume for Writers—Resume Format

• Choose an understated resume font like a Noto in 11–12 pt.
• Fix the margins of your resume at one inch and keep the spacing and layout airy.
• Submit a one-page resumeif at all possible.
• Use at least these resume sections: Resume Header (Heading), Summary/Objective, Experience, Education, and Skills.

Most of us have had crises brought on by *.docx files—PDF is the natural choice for sending out a resume.

But:

Always double check that something else isn’t required.

2. Draw Them in With a Profile Worthy of a Resume for a Writer

Your resume profile is like an elevator pitch.

And writing it is the authorial equivalent of painting by numbers—you’ve got this.

Experienced?

Then your profile will take the form of a career summary statement.

Use:

1. One adjective (efficient, reliable, dedicated)
2. Job title (Content Writer, Resume Writer)
3. Years of experience (4+, 8+)
4. What you plan on doing for your employer (increase exposure, boost readership)
5. Two or three of your most impressive achievements (increased readership from 30k to 5M in seven weeks)

These writer resume examples show how:

Writer Resume Summary

Passionate content writer with 6+ years’ experience producing web content, technical documentation, academic materials, and advertising copy. Seeking to apply creative talent and pragmatic approach to SEO in helping The Knick-Knackery drive more potential customers through its funnel than ever before. At BOW Media, wrote 15 fully researched, 2,500-word articles per month while delivering engagement levels 17% higher than the average.

Content writer with 6 years’ experience. Seeking to join a forward-thinking company that’s able to provide a steady flow of interesting assignments. At BOW Media, wrote fully researched articles while delivering above-average engagement levels.

No contest.

The trick is to focus on what you can do for the employer and quantify everything you can.

What if you’re still inexperienced?

Write a career objective statement as your profile and use it to talk up skills from non-writer jobs:

Writer Resume Objective

Passionate content writer with 2+ years’ freelance experience producing web content and advertising copy. Seeking to apply creative talent and strong work ethic in helping The Knick-Knackery convert more potential customers than ever. Proven track record of consistently researching and authoring 2,000+ words per day and exceeding average click-through rates by 5–28 points.

No full-time work experience but have had a wide variety of freelance gigs (see below). Looking for a socially responsible company that has a full-time work contract and good benefits package to offer.

The second loses out by focusing on lacks and needs—what you want to do is just the opposite.

Getting bogged down?

Write your resume profile last—

It’s much easier once you have your job descriptions and skills section done.

3. Create the Perfect Writer Job Descriptions and Skills Sections for Your Resume

Let your past behaviors act as predictors for future success—

Use your resume work history to paint that picture for hiring managers.

Here’s how to write a job description for writers:

1. Go back over the job ad.
2. Pick up on any skills and duties mentioned therein.
3. Recall times you used those skills to win at being a writer.
4. Write resume bullet points that describe and quantify the above.

These freelance writer resume examples show how:

Freelance Writer Job Description for a Resume

Freelance Writer

2015–2018

• Produced 2,000+ words of researched web content and advertising copy per day.
• Maintained click-through rates 5–28 percentage points above average across three different clients.
• Created a technical manual for database redundancy protocols that is now used in 11 countries.
• Translated and edited 13 peer-reviewed medical journal articles, all of which were accepted first time and seven of which are already in print.

Freelance Writer

2015–2018

• Regularly produced researched web content and advertising copy.
• Maintained above-average click-through rates.
• Created a technical manual for database redundancy protocols.
• Translated and edited 13 peer-reviewed medical journal articles.

Striking, no?

The “only” difference here is that first example is focused on quantifying benefits that went to each client.

The achievements described are actually the same.

One more thing:

You need skills to put on your resume.

Don’t just spam all the skills you can think of onto the page, though.

Selection is the name of the game—

And the job ad is the arbiter of goodness.

Writer Resume Skills

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4. Take Care of Your Education Section—It’ll Pay Dividends

Education isn’t always required to become a writer—

But it rarely hurts.

List degrees (with majors), school names, and years attended (or expected graduation dates).

Then:

Add additional bullets that show that writing is your calling.

This resume for a writer example shows how:

Resume for a Writer—Education Example

BA in English Literature, Indiana University Bloomington

2011–2015

• Pursued a passion for elective WEP (writing, editing, and publishing) coursework.
• Worked as volunteer editor for online student journal Semper Fudge.

Short on experience as a professional writer? 

Elaborate on your education section even further with projects, classes, extracurricular activities, and accomplishments.

5. Stuff Your Resume for a Writer With Added Sections

You have a sense of what it takes to capture something in writing—

And when it comes to you as a writer, work experience, education, and a few skills just aren’t going to cut it.

So—

Add one or two extra sections:

• Publications
• Conferences
• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Courses
• Awards
• Hobbies and Interests
• Volunteering
• Certifications
• Professional References

These two resume for writer examples show yes vs no:

Resume for a Writer—Extra Sections

Awards

• MPS (Most Prolific Snippeteer) Award, DaLaq LLC, 2018 
• Metric Buster Award, Marten&Hamish Agency, 2017
• Dean’s Prize for Academic Excellence, IUB, 2015

Languages

• Italian – native speaker
• French – advanced
• Spanish – advanced

Hobbies

• Collecting SIM cards 
• Gun-disassembly simulators
• Crocheting cacti

Languages

• English, Italian, French, and Spanish 

You had one job, straw person—

Anything and everything you add to your resume for a writer has to be directly relevant to the job in question.

Nearly there—

You just need to write a cover letter and you’re done.

Were you explicitly instructed not to write a cover letter?

Then no, there’s no way around it. Get cracking.

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Key Points

For a resume for writers that gets interviews:

• Use the resume template for writers up top. It’ll save you reinventing all kinds of wheels.
• Put writerly achievementsin your resume profile, work history, and education sections to replace empty claims with hard facts.
• Choose the right writing skills to put in your resume. The job ad is almost literally a client’s brief here.
• Write a cover letter. Think of it as a longer-form accompaniment to your resume for a writer.

Got any unanswered questions on how to write a CV for writers? Or maybe some helpful advice to put out there? Leave a comment, we’ll be sure to respond.

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