Writer Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
John Ludwig
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A dynamic Writer with entry-level experience specializing in content writing, editing, blogging, journalism, and marketing. A strong background in crafting compelling articles and blog posts to grow audiences and refine brand messaging. Adept at ensuring consistency of tone and voice across all written materials.
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 compelling 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
Academic Experience
Academic Projects, Columbia University, New York, NY
September 2017 – May 2021
- Contributed short stories and poetry to the university literary magazine, The Columbia Review, and achieved a positive critical response
- Wrote and edited articles for the university newspaper, proofread copy from journalism students, and provided constructive feedback
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) English
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2017 – May 2021
GPA: 3.75
- Writer, The Columbia Review, 2019 – 2021
- Lead Editor, Columbia University Newspaper, 2018 – 2021
Key Skills
- Copywriting
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Brand Messaging
- Microsoft Office Suite
Alicia Santos
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
An innovative Writer with five years of professional experience, specializing in copywriting, brand messaging, tone of voice, and editing. A proven track record of delivering over 150+ articles, blogs, and creative writing pieces across a variety of topics and subject matter. Expertise in conducting market research to enhance organic SEO growth.
Professional Experience
Writer, Boston Copywriting Pros., Boston, MA
May 2018 – Present
- Craft 100+ compelling 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
Writer, Arthur & Taylor Legal Associates
May 2016 – May 2018
- Wrote 50+ blog posts, landing pages, and thought leadership articles covering a range of legal topics, including personal injury and workers’ compensation
- Crafted copy for web pages to highlight successful cases and provide insights into the firm’s legal expertise while maintaining client confidentiality
- Created informative blog posts on the legal process and state laws governing personal injury statutes and workers compensation in a variety of situations
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Journalism
Boston University, Boston, MA September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Content Development
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Copywriting
- WordPress
- Brand Messaging
Mark Andrews
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A Senior Writer with 10+ years of experience, specializing in copywriting, content strategy, team management, and editing. A strong history of crafting over 300+ compelling journalism articles and film reviews for industry-leading publications. Expertise in identifying creative solutions to refine content quality and improve style guidelines.
Professional Experience
Senior Writer, CinemaCritics.com., San Francisco, CA
May 2016 – Present
- Write comprehensive reviews of over 200+ films for a leading movie review website with over 5M subscribers, conduct critical analysis of themes, acting, scores, and plot, and provide observations on the artistic success of films within the larger cinema canon
- Manage a team of editors, content writers, and film critics to deliver compelling reviews of vintage and current commercial films, television, and indie films
- Coordinate with creative teams to identify process improvement opportunities to enhance style guidelines and improve the quality of content
Writer, Bay Area News, San Francisco, CA
May 2011 – May 2016
- Edited, wrote, and proofread 150+ journalism articles for an online news publication with over 800K monthly subscribers, which included coordinating with journalists and staff writers to deliver compelling stories and opinion pieces on current events
- Evaluate articles prior to publication and deliver constructive criticism to writers to improve tone of voice and ensure proper handling of sensitive content matter
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Journalism
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Copywriting
- Journalism
- Style Guidelines
- Content Development
- Team Management
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Writer Resumes
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 meet the initial ATS scan for the opportunity to showcase 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 key words that you may encounter during your job search.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adobe Suite | AP Style |
| Articles | Blogging |
| Brand Messaging | Content Creation |
| Content Strategy | Copy Editing |
| Copywriting | Creative Writing |
| Editing | English |
| Digital Publications | Google Suite |
| Grammar | Journalism |
| Microsoft Office Suite | MLA |
| Project Management | Proofreading |
| Publishing | Punctuation |
| Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Social Media |
| Web Content | WordPress |
| Writing | Quality Assurance |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Conduct |
| Coordinated | Collaborate |
| Craft | Create |
| Develop | Design |
| Edit | Enhance |
| Examine | Execute |
| Identify | Implement |
| Improve | Lead |
| Manage | Oversee |
| Perform | Proofread |
| Resolve | Support |
Tips for Writing a Better Writer Resume
Quantify your writing experience
Although it may not be easy to quantify all of your achievements as a writer, there may be opportunities to include numbers and metrics that will enhance the impact of your bullet points. For example, mentioning the number of articles or blog posts you’ve written may help establish a sense of scope for 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 SEO. Using numbers to your advantage can go a long way in differentiating yourself from the competition. Below, you’ll find examples to help you quantify your writing experience.
Example #1
Good
- Wrote over 130+ blog posts and articles for a financial advising company providing investment strategies and news articles on developments within the stock market
Bad
- Edited and wrote articles on financial topics for a company, which included proofreading and creating content
Example #2
Good
- Crafted 50+ pieces of web page content and thought leadership articles for a social media marketing company, which generated a 15% increase in organic web traffic
Bad
- Provided writing services to a marketing company, which included writing web pages, editing content, and creating articles
Feature your leadership abilities
As a professional writer, you’ll often be expected to collaborate with creative teams on various projects. Employers want to see your ability to mentor junior team members and interface with clients to deliver the highest quality content possible. Focus on including examples from your professional experience that demonstrate your capabilities as a leader and your communication skills. Below, you’ll find some examples to help you feature your leadership experience on your resume.
Example #1
Good
- Led a creative team of seven writers and four editors to produce quality web pages and blog posts for small and medium-sized businesses across various industries, which included providing coaching and constructive feedback to drive professional growth
Bad
- Supervised a team of writers, assigned various tasks and projects, reviewed content for proofreading mistakes, and corrected errors
Example #2
Good
- Coordinated with clients throughout the writing and quality assurance process to ensure alignment with brand voice, long-term goals, and target audiences
Bad
- Worked well with clients on projects, communicated regularly, and wrote content according to customer specifications
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
You need to tactically integrate keywords and qualifications that align with the job posting to secure interviews during your job hunt. Tailoring your resume to the job description will ensure that you meet the criteria of the initial ATS scan and demonstrate how your experience fits the needs of potential employers. The resume is a complementary piece to your writing portfolio and will help you advance to the next phase of the hiring process.
When determining what pieces to include on your resume, you should pay attention to the order in which the keywords appear on the job posting. If you see that SEO is mentioned in the opening paragraph, this is a clear indicator that you should highlight your experience in this area in your professional profile. Key terms mentioned multiple times throughout the job description are equally important and should be featured closer to the top of your document. Below, you’ll find examples to help you align your resume with the job description.
Writer Job Description Example
XYZ, Inc. is a leading online marketing firm named one of the best places to work in Los Angeles. We’re seeking an experienced writer to join our team who excels in search engine optimization (SEO) and content strategy. Our organization values candidates who thrive in high-volume production environments with strong team leadership and client relations skills.
Responsibilities:
- Perform copywriting, editing, and proofreading for client projects, including blog posts, web page content, and social media content
- Identify opportunities to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and collaborate with clients to refine brand messaging for marketing initiatives
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in English or journalism required
- 4-5 years of experience in copywriting and editing
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and WordPress
- Expertise in content strategy and team collaboration
According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:
- Writer
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Copywriting
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Content Strategy
- Blog Posts
- Social Media
- Microsoft Office Suite
- WordPress
- Marketing
- Brand Messaging
- Client Relations
- Team Leadership
Next, take what you highlighted from the job description and include your experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate them in your resume to your advantage:
Writer Work Experience Example
Writer
Western Sun Writing Services, October 2017 – Present
- Execute various copywriting projects for diverse clientele across a variety of industries to enhance social media presence and search engine optimization (SEO)
- Attend meetings with creative teams and client stakeholders to evaluate brand messaging and define content strategy for blog posts
- Perform editing and proofreading for all project deliverables and conduct marketing research to ensure alignment between content and target demographics
Key Skills
- Copywriting
- WordPress
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Client Relations
- Team Leadership