As a professional writer, recruiters and hiring managers will scrutinize your resume more heavily during the job search. You’ll be assessed based on your portfolio of work and must submit an accomplishment-driven resume that demonstrates your writing capabilities, such as copywriting, film reviews, and blogging. Resumes follow a unique language structure, but several strategies to craft compelling content within that framework exist. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help you translate your writing experience into a powerful marketing resume template.
“A writer’s resume should be as clear and compelling as their work. Whether you're in journalism, content marketing, or technical writing, show how your words drive engagement, clarity, or results.” — Carolyn Kleiman, Resume and Career Advisor
Most Popular Writer Resumes
Proposal Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
John’s resume showcases his ability to handle complex writing tasks while maintaining quality, accuracy, and client satisfaction. His measurable success in securing funding demonstrates the impact of his writing. Learn more about making your proposal writing stand out here.
Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Alicia’s resume showcases her experience in content creation and SEO-driven results, highlighting her contributions to improving site rankings and increasing traffic. Learn more about writing a compelling resume summary here.
Senior Grant Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Mark’s resume highlights his leadership in managing grant writing teams and his success in securing significant funding for various projects. His experience in developing persuasive proposals strengthens his profile for senior writing roles. For tips on improving your resume, check out this guide on resume skills here.
Medical Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Rachel’s resume effectively showcases her deep knowledge of medical writing, technical accuracy, and understanding of clinical processes. Her certifications and collaboration with medical professionals further strengthen her candidacy. Learn more about technical skills for your resume here.
Freelance Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Emily’s resume emphasizes her extensive experience as a versatile freelance writer with a strong focus on SEO and content optimization. She provides measurable results, showcasing how her writing drives traffic and engagement. For tips on creating effective content-focused resumes, check out this guide on soft skills for resumes here.
Technical Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
David’s resume emphasizes his experience in creating high-quality, user-centric documentation and highlights his ability to improve internal processes. His technical expertise combined with certifications and measurable achievements makes him a strong candidate for technical writing roles. Learn more about how to structure your resume here.
High-Profile Ghostwriter Resume
Why This Resume Works
Samantha’s resume highlights her expertise in writing for others while maintaining their voice and style. The addition of her best-selling works adds credibility, while her extensive client experience shows that she can handle diverse writing projects. For tips on writing a persuasive resume summary, check out this guide here.
Nonprofit Grant Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Doris’s resume highlights her ability to secure substantial funding for nonprofit causes, making his experience and skills directly valuable to potential employers. The measurable impact of raising over $500,000 adds further weight to his expertise. For tips on improving your nonprofit grant writing resume, check out this guide on how to list certifications on your resume here.
Mid-Level Freelance Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Emilia’s resume effectively showcases her broad experience as a freelance writer, with measurable outcomes such as increased web traffic and customer retention. Her SEO and content marketing skills demonstrate a well-rounded ability to create content that drives results. For tips on structuring a content-focused resume, refer to this guide on resume skills here.
Bid Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Thomas’s resume showcases his specialized expertise in bid writing, particularly in government and corporate sectors. The measurable achievement of a 30% increase in proposal success rates highlights his impact on the business. Learn more about effective writing for proposals and technical content here.
Ghostwriter Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Serena’s resume emphasizes her ability to write in others’ voices while maintaining a high level of creativity and confidentiality. The addition of best-selling works adds credibility, and her versatility across multiple formats (books, speeches, articles) demonstrates her range. For tips on emphasizing writing skills, check out this guide on resume writing skills here.
Travel Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Jessica’s resume highlights her ability to blend research, storytelling, and SEO to create compelling travel content. Her experience with both freelancing and contributing to established publications strengthens her credibility. Learn how to effectively showcase your experience: Resume Summary Examples.
Freelance Medical Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Olivia’s resume demonstrates her medical writing expertise, focusing on clinical trial and patient-facing documents. Including certifications and her ability to collaborate with medical professionals highlight her qualifications. For more information, see this guide on listing certifications on your resume here.
Technical Content Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Chloe’s resume effectively shows her technical writing abilities, particularly in simplifying complex concepts for end-users. Her collaboration with engineers and the measurable impact of reducing customer service calls highlights her value to companies. Learn more about making your technical resume stand out by checking out this guide on best resume formats here.
Proposal Editor Resume
Why This Resume Works
Lucas’s resume demonstrates his ability to handle high-stakes, complex writing tasks, particularly in the government contracting space. This resume illustrates tangible outcomes by showcasing his impact on contract award rates. For more on writing a strong resume summary, check out these resume summary examples here.
Beginner Freelance Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Alexandra’s resume effectively highlights their passion for writing despite limited experience. By listing freelance projects and university contributions, she demonstrates initiative and skill development. If you’re starting your freelance career, be sure to showcase any writing-related experience, even if it’s unpaid work. Learn more about how to present your skills effectively: Resume Summary Examples.
Blog Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Max’s resume highlights his ability to create engaging and optimized content, making him an excellent candidate for freelance blog writing roles. Including SEO experience strengthens his appeal to online publications and brands. Learn how to make your resume stand out: How To Make a Resume.
SEO Content Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Daniel’s resume effectively showcases his SEO expertise, a highly valuable skill for content writing roles. Including data analysis experience strengthens his appeal to companies looking for data-driven content strategies. Learn more about structuring your resume for impact: Resume Outline Examples.
Copywriter Resume
Why This Resume Works
Sera’s resume highlights her ability to create impactful marketing content, which is essential for a copywriting role. Her experience in brand messaging and persuasive writing makes her an asset to any marketing team. Want to refine your resume format? Check out: Best Resume Formats.
Script Writer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Nathan’s resume effectively showcases his scriptwriting experience across multiple platforms. By highlighting his collaboration with media professionals and ability to craft compelling narratives, he positions himself as a versatile candidate for creative roles. If you want to enhance your resume with storytelling experience, check out: Resume Interests Section.
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Writer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Create a Writer Resume
1. Create a profile by summarizing your writing qualifications
To grab the hiring manager’s attention, build a professional profile that captures your personal brand. In the opening sentence, list your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job description.
In the subsequent sentences, highlight key achievements or mention something specific about your writing approach. By providing an engaging snapshot of your career, you’ll greatly increase your odds of landing the interview and securing your next big job opportunity.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Profile
A senior writer with over 10 years of experience specializing in copywriting, content strategy, team management, and editing. A strong history of crafting over 300 journalism articles and film reviews for industry-leading publications. Expertise in identifying creative solutions to refine content quality and improve style guidelines.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Profile
A dynamic writer with entry-level experience specializing in content writing, editing, blogging, journalism, and marketing. A strong background in crafting articles and blog posts to grow audiences and refine brand messaging. Adept at ensuring consistency of tone and voice across all written materials.
2. Create a powerful list of your writing experience
To craft an accomplishment-driven professional experience section, provide unique insights to showcase your writing style and career achievements. Also, leverage hard numbers and data to bolster the impact of your bullet points.
For example, mentioning the number of articles or blog posts you’ve written may help establish the scope of your professional experience. If you were focused on writing copy for web pages, you might want to include metrics that showcase the impact your efforts had on search engine optimization (SEO). Using numbers to your advantage can go a long way in differentiating yourself from the competition.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Professional Experience
Writer, Ludwig Freelance Services, New York, NY
May 2021 – present
- Write and edit blog posts, web copy, and advertisements for clients across a wide variety of industries, including nutrition businesses, legal firms, marketing services, fitness products, and PR businesses
- Collaborate with clients to discuss project specifications, identify tone and brand voice, and create exciting copy that resonates with target audiences
- Improve web traffic by 20% for an online nutrition website featuring recipes and information on vegan diets using SEO strategies
- Edit existing web pages and copy for articles and blog posts to improve content quality
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Professional Experience
Writer, Boston Copywriting Pros., Boston, MA
May 2018 – present
- Craft more than 100 engaging articles, posts, marketing materials, and web pages for a diverse client base, perform market research on industry trends, and ensure alignment with brand messaging and strategy to drive organic growth and audience engagement
- Lead the development of articles and web copy for an emerging blockchain investment consulting site, resulting in a top 15 Google ranking
- Write a series of thought leadership articles for a career consulting firm on job search and career change strategies, resulting in a 30% increase in monthly page views
3. List your education and certifications relevant to writing
In addition to your education, consider pursuing certifications to help your resume stand out from the applicant pool. For instance, if you were pursuing a job as a technical writer, you’d complete courses from an accredited organization such as Technical Writer HQ. You could obtain a professional content writer certification if you’re a marketing professional.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (B.S.) English
- Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2012 – June 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Creative Writing Certification, Coursera, 2020
- Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization, Northwestern University, 2018
4. List your key writing skills and proficiencies
Companies rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to identify candidates who meet their organizational needs. Although you’ll be evaluated based on your writing portfolio, you’ll still need to pass the initial ATS scan for the opportunity to showcase your work. Incorporating specific key skills and action verbs from the job description is a crucial element of the resume writing process. Below, you’ll find a list of keywords that you may encounter during your job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adobe Suite | AP style |
| Articles | Blogging |
| Brand messaging | Content strategy |
| Copy editing | Copywriting |
| Creative writing | Digital publications |
| Editing | English |
| Google Suite | Grammar |
| Journalism | Microsoft Office Suite |
| MLA | Project management |
| Proofreading | Publishing |
| Quality assurance | SEO |
| Social media | Web content |
| WordPress | |
5. Provide a link to your writing portfolio
Feature a link to your writing portfolio in the profile or header. Your writing samples will heavily impact whether or not prospective employers bring you in for an interview. Make it as easy as possible for them to access your portfolio. Also, consider providing a link to your writing samples in the featured section or about section of your LinkedIn profile.
How To Pick the Best Writer Resume Template
If you struggle to select the ideal resume template, you’re not alone. With such a variety of options available, finding a template that fits your personal brand can be challenging. Limited use of color is acceptable, but avoid incorporating large graphics. These elements can negatively impact your formatting and draw the reader’s eye away from your career accomplishments. Ultimately, the quality of your writing will always be the deciding factor in whether or not a company chooses to hire you, so prioritize organization and structure over aesthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions: Writer Resume Examples and Advice
How do I optimize my Writer CV to get noticed by hiring managers?-
To optimize your Writer CV, begin by showcasing measurable achievements that demonstrate the value you’ve brought to previous employers. Use action verbs and specific examples to highlight your contributions. Incorporating industry-specific keywords, particularly in the skills and professional experience sections, will help your CV stand out, especially with ATS systems.
What are common action verbs for writer resumes?-
Differentiating your usage of action verbs is an important aspect of the resume-building process, especially for professional writers. Using the same verbs repeatedly can cause your bullet points to appear stale or redundant. Remember that as a writer, your word choice, language, and sentence structure will be more heavily scrutinized than other job seekers. Below is a list of action verbs to keep your content fresh and compelling:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Collaborate |
| Coordinate | Craft |
| Create | Design |
| Develop | Edit |
| Enhance | Examine |
| Identify | Implement |
| Improve | Lead |
| Manage | Oversee |
| Perform | Proofread |
| Revise | Support |
| Write | |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writer positions are expected to grow by 4% by 2031. Although the demand for experienced writers is high, you’ll need to align your resume with the job description to capitalize on these opportunities. The most lucrative writing positions will always have the strongest competition, so it’s vital you make a positive impression on the hiring manager.
Start by tactically integrating keywords from the job posting directly into your profile, professional experience, and skills section. This will help you achieve ATS compliance. However, it’s important to remember that hiring managers want to see tangible examples of your experience. For example, rather than only listing SEO writing as a skill, highlight specific projects you worked on that demonstrate your expertise in this area.
What is the best writer resume format?-
Professional writers should utilize a reverse chronological resume format in almost every instance. Hiring managers are always more interested in your recent experience, and this approach places that information towards the top of your document. If you have specific achievements that are older, consider creating a career highlights section directly below your profile. The downside is that while your accomplishments are featured higher up on the resume, the hiring manager won’t have context for your bullets.
Should my writer resume be one or two pages?-
Your writer resume should ideally be one page, especially if you have fewer than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume can be effective for seasoned professionals with a longer track record if it highlights accomplishments and skills directly relevant to the job. Every detail should add value and strengthen your candidacy.
Limit your work experience to the past 10 to 15 years, unless earlier positions are highly relevant. Keeping your resume concise and targeted will make a strong and memorable impression on potential employers.
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Providing a matching cover letter can be a helpful tool for professional writers. This allows you to showcase your unique writing style without the constraints of resume language. If you submit a cover letter, carefully tailor it to individual job descriptions. Mention something specific about the company’s reputation, mission statement, or work culture and why this draws you to apply for the position. For more information, visit our editor cover letter guide.
