Freelance Writer Text-Only Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jessica Lang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 12345
Profile
Self-directed Freelance Writer with strong recent academic and work experience. Resourceful and motivated to generate high-quality copy that meets and exceeds client expectations. Demonstrated success balancing concurrent projects and assignments.
Work Experience
Freelance Writer, Nashville, TN
April 2021 to Present
- Write, edit, and proofread quality content for diverse clients of several agencies.
- Praised for 100% on-time delivery of assigned writing projects.
Writer & Proofreader, Internship, GHI Times, Nashville, TN
Summer 2019
- Reviewed newspaper articles for spelling, grammar, and parallel structure.
- Appointed to take on additional writing duties due to high work quality.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) English
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2017 – 2021
3.6 GPA cum laude
Key Skills
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Copy Editing
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Proofreading
- Research & Fact-Checking
- Task Prioritization
- Time Management
- Writing & Editing
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Pine Brook Dr, Miami, FL 12345
Profile
Resourceful and diligent Freelance Writer with 5+ years of experience. Collaborator skilled at building positive relationships with virtual teams and writer networks. Focused on finding new ways to optimize writing efficiency and quality.
Professional Experience
Freelance Writer, Miami, FL
April 2020 to Present
- Currently ranked #5 out of 45 in virtual writer network, based on Q1 client satisfaction surveys
- Build reputation as a valued partner to key clients. Frequently consult on new content strategies and ideas
- Adopt standard procedures to ensure consistent project quality and timely communication with colleagues
Writer, KLM Content Services, Inc., Miami, FL
April 2017 to April 2020
- Member of a team that achieved a 23% increase in weekly article production
- Helped define new copy-editing protocols that improved service quality and client retention
- Appointed and served as a mentor and coach to junior writers
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) English
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2014 – 2017
Key Skills
- Client Relations
- Content Development
- Copy Editing
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Pages (Apple)
- Process Improvement
- Proofreading
- Research & Fact-Checking
- Team Collaboration
- Writing & Editing
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W. Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345
Portfolio
Profile
Freelance Writer & Editor with 10+ years of experience. Set and execute strategies for high-quality content that resonates with target audiences. Recently demonstrated success in a mentor role. Passionate about sharing valuable writing tips and strategies to new writers.
Professional Experience
Freelance Writer, Detroit, MI
April 2018 to Present
- Write, edit, and proofread quality content for diverse clients of this broad writing services network
- Serve as mentor and coach for ten new writers. Introduced new training resources that were adopted by the wider organization
- Establish and maintain a portfolio of recurring 40+ clients with extensive annual content update needs
Writer, LMN Company, Corp., Detroit, MI
April 2012 to April 2018
- Conceptualized and wrote press releases and marketing copy that helped the company expand to lucrative new markets
- Member of the content development team that won several industry awards for innovative copy and ad campaigns
- Gained a strong foundation in diligent proofreading and fact-checking
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) English, Creative Writing
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2008 to 2012
Key Skills
- Content Strategy Development
- Copy Editing
- Microsoft Word
- Pages (Apple)
- Peer Mentoring
- Proofreading
- Research & Fact-Checking
- Writing & Editing
Tips for Writing a Better Freelance Writer Resume
1. Omit needless words, and then some
Dust off your copy of The Elements of Style. The timeless writing guide’s direction to “omit needless words” carries extra force on a resume. That’s because resumes use a style called “tight writing,” which leaves out pronouns, most articles, and some stray phrases allowed by even the leanest regular prose. Adopt this style to keep your resume concise enough.
Example
- Member of a content development team that won several industry awards for innovative copy and ad campaigns (Short for “I was a member of a content development team that…”)
2. Keep a forthright tone
As a professional writer, you likely know how important it is to maintain a clear tone or “voice” through any regular piece of writing. That’s no different on a resume, which calls for a formal yet forthright tone (as opposed to the more casual style of a LinkedIn profile and the eager, confident voice of a cover letter). In practice on your resume, this means using simple sentences and straightforward descriptions of your experience. Keep this principle in mind, especially when writing your profile section, since you may be tempted (or think you need) to use overly “promotional” terms like Brilliant or Outstanding at, when a more direct phrase like Skilled at says it better.
Example
Resourceful and diligent Freelance Writer with 5+ years of experience. Collaborator skilled at building positive relationships with virtual teams and writer networks. Focused on finding new ways to optimize writing efficiency and quality.
3. Link to any online writing samples
If you have writing samples or an online portfolio, provide a link on your resume so hiring managers can get a better sense of your past work. You can include the link as part of your contact header.
Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Freelance Writer Resumes
For an effective freelance writer resume, include a “Key Skills” section under your summary. This section helps give the hiring manager a broad view of your expertise. Use only nouns and noun phrases in this section, not personal traits or adjectives. Often you can simply turn the adjective in question into a noun phrase. For instance, if you’d describe yourself as collaborative, you can use a phrase like Team Collaboration or Cross-Functional Collaboration in this section.
Consider including any of the terms below:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Client Relations | Complex Problem-Solving |
| Content Development | Content Strategy Development |
| Copy Editing | Microsoft Word |
| Pages (Apple) | Peer Mentoring |
| Process Improvement | Proofreading |
| Research & Fact-Checking | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Time Management |
Common Action Verbs for Freelance Writer Resumes
Even with an above-average vocabulary, you may find yourself running out of action verbs to describe your work. To help you over the hump, we put together this list of strong resume verbs. As you look over the options, keep in mind that the best resume verbs will show you creating or changing something for the better, rather than simply handling a task, so while a verb like Managed is OK, it’s less impressive than a verb like Enhanced or Increased.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Compiled |
| Consolidated | Coordinated |
| Decreased | Delivered |
| Earned | Eliminated |
| Formatted | Honed |
| Increased | Introduced |
| Partnered | Proofread |
| Raised | Refocused |
| Researched | Reviewed |
| Synthesized | Wrote |
How to Align Your Freelance Writer Resume With the Job Description
Like so many other writing tasks, a resume must set a clear focus to be effective. You can improve your resume’s focus by taking a close look at any job posting that intrigues you. Does it call for any qualifications you possess but have not featured on your resume yet? If so, consider adding a mention of those qualifications in your resume’s profile or skills section. Taking this extra step will make your resume much more focused on the job and. therefore, more likely to attract the hiring manager’s notice.