How To Write a Freelance Writer Resume
To develop a good freelance writer resume, you must show you can turn out high-quality text while meeting or exceeding client expectations. The tips and examples below will help you capture this skill on your resume so it gets you interviews for your next freelance writing job.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Your resume profile should catch hiring managers’ interest by giving the top reasons you excel as a freelance writer. How do you make your written content engaging and informative for readers? How have you built positive relationships with the people or organizations you’ve written for? And do you have any advanced degrees or credentials, such as a Master in Creative Writing? Brainstorm and jot down your answers to these questions, then choose three to five points most relevant to the writing work you’re seeking.
Entry-Level Profile Example
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.
Mid-Career Profile Example
Resourceful and diligent freelance writer with over 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.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
View the professional experience section as a chance to give examples of your success researching, writing, and editing top-caliber content.
Review your recent work history, brainstorm, and choose relevant duties or highlights to add under each writing job. But also consider the importance of any non-writing positions. Maybe you had a customer-facing job where you developed strong service and collaborative skills or a project management role that gave you a great sense of work scheduling and prioritization. Since freelance writing jobs are often unsupervised, companies want evidence that you’ll stay on-task regardless of how much daily or weekly contact you have with them.
Mid-Career Experience Example
Freelance Writer, Miami, FL | April 2020 — present
- Currently ranked fifth out of 45 in virtual writer network, based on Q1 client satisfaction surveys
- Adopt standard procedures to ensure consistent project quality and timely communication with colleagues
- Built a reputation as a valued partner to key clients. Frequently consulted on new content strategies and ideas
Senior-Level Experience Example
Freelance Writer, Detroit, MI | April 2018 — present
- Write, edit, and proofread quality content for diverse clients of a broad writing services network
- Serve as mentor and coach for 10 new writers. Introduced training resources that the wider organization adopted
- Established a portfolio of over 40 recurring clients with extensive annual content update needs
3. Include relevant education and certifications
With the Education and Certifications sections, you can show hiring managers you draw on a strong knowledge base in your field. Feel free to specify your college major, minor, or select courses if they were on English, journalism, or a subject you’d now like to write about. Also, consider including any certificates or training on customer relations – these can help show employers you have the service mindset and work ethic to be a reliable contributor.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note: optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (BA) English
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | 2017
Certification
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023
4. List pertinent key skills
Add a key skills section to show the various ways you can deliver high-quality work as a freelancer. These might range from hard technical skills or publishing programs, to soft skills like client relations and cross-team collaboration. Aim for variety in this section, but make sure each term overlaps with your expertise and the freelance gigs you’re now pursuing. Consider including any of the terms below:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Client relations | Complex problem-solving |
| Concurrent project management | Content development |
| Content strategy development | Copy editing |
| Microsoft Office Suite | Pages (Apple) |
| Peer training and mentoring | Process improvement |
| Proofreading | Research and fact-checking |
| Subject interviewing | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
| Writing and editing | |
5. Omit needless words and then some
Dust off your copy of “The Elements of Style.” The famous 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 short 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…”)
6. Link to online writing samples
If you have writing samples or an online portfolio, provide a link on your resume so hiring managers can better understand your past work. You can include the link as part of your contact header.
How To Pick the Best Freelance Writer Resume Template
As with most vocations, freelance writers should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a visual design that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by employers to screen resumes.
Freelance Writer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jessica Lang
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Nashville, TN 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example
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.
Key Skills
- Complex problem-solving
- Copy editing
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Proofreading
- Research and fact-checking
- Task prioritization
- Time management
- Writing and editing
Professional Experience
Freelance Writer, Nashville, TN | April 2021 — present
- Write, edit, and proofread quality content for diverse clients of several agencies
- Praised for 100% on-time delivery of assigned writing projects
Writer and 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 | 2021
3.6 GPA | cum laude
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Miami, FL 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Resourceful and diligent freelance writer with over 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.
Key Skills
- Client relations
- Content development
- Copy editing
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Pages (Apple)
- Process streamlining
- Proofreading
- Research and fact-checking
- Team collaboration
- Writing and editing
Professional Experience
Freelance Writer, Miami, FL | April 2020 — present
- Currently ranked fifth out of 45 in virtual writer network, based on Q1 client satisfaction surveys
- Built reputation as a valued partner to key clients. Frequently consulted 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 — April 2020
- Member of team that increased weekly article production by 23%
- Helped define new copy editing protocols that improved service quality and client retention
- Coached and mentored junior writers
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) — English
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | 2017
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Detroit, MI 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example | Portfolio
Profile
Freelance writer and editor with over 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 with new writers.
Key Skills
- Content strategy development
- Copy editing
- Microsoft Word
- Pages (Apple)
- Peer mentoring
- Proofreading
- Research and fact-checking
- Writing and editing
Professional Experience
Freelance Writer, Detroit, MI | April 2018 — present
- Write, edit, and proofread quality content for diverse clients of a broad writing services network
- Serve as mentor and coach for 10 new writers. Introduced training resources the wider organization adopted
- Established a portfolio of over 40 recurring clients with extensive annual content update needs
Writer, LMN Company, Corp., Detroit, MI | April 2012 — 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 | 2012
Frequently Asked Questions: Freelance Writer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for freelance writer resumes? +
Even with an above-average vocabulary, you may run out of action verbs to describe your work. We put together the following list of strong resume verbs for freelance writers.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Analyzed |
| Brainstormed | Compiled |
| Conceptualized | Consolidated |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Decreased | Delivered |
| Drafted | Earned |
| Eliminated | Enhanced |
| Exceeded | Expedited |
| Formatted | Generated |
| Honed | Improved |
| Increased | Interviewed |
| Introduced | Investigated |
| Managed | Organized |
| Outlined | Partnered |
| Prevented | Produced |
| Proofread | Raised |
| Ranked | Refocused |
| Researched | Reviewed |
| Scheduled | Synthesized |
| Updated | Wrote |
| Won | |
How do you align your freelance writer resume with a job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for writers and authors will increase by about 4% (or 5,900 positions) between 2021 and 2031.
You can get more interviews in this field if you tailor your resume for each application. Take a close look at any job posting that intrigues you. Does it call for any qualifications you possess but haven’t featured on your resume yet? Consider adding those qualifications to your resume’s profile or key skills section. Taking this extra step will make your resume more focused on the job and, therefore, more likely to attract the hiring manager’s notice.
What is the best freelance writer resume format? +
In nearly all cases, use a combination (or hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest to align with your job goals.
With the combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section. By carefully choosing the details for these intro sections, you can (a) position yourself for your target job and (b) give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is tailoring it to each job opening. Read our cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our editor cover letter guide.
