The Letter-Resume: An Alternative to the Standard Resume Format
If you are responding to an ad or are preparing a pitch for a potential client but you don’t want to include a formal resume. There is are a way that you can tell the client about your experience without using one: the resume letter.
Here’s how it works:
- Start your letter off in the usual way to introduce yourself and explain why you are making contact with the client.
- Then include a list of points from your resume that show the client why you are a good fit for the ad you are responding to or the role that you are interested in filling for them
- Finish with a good closing, thanking the client for taking the time to consider you and that you hope to hear from them soon or when you will be contacting them to follow up.
Why Use Bullet Points
Rather than use a paragraph style for your letter-resume, using either bullet points or numbers draws the reader’s eye directly to that section of the letter. Keep each point relatively short – two or three sentences will do. Make sure that what you list in your letter-resume is relevant to the writing gig you are applying to or hope to land.
I’m in favor of using whatever strategy works to present yourself in the best possible way to a client, as long as you are following the instructions in their ad. Part of doing so is giving the client all the information they need to determine if you are qualified for the gig and if they can work with you. If they don’t want to see a resume, that’s fine. You can tell them about yourself in this way instead.
The Freelance Writing World: Big Enough for Everyone
October 15, 2009 by Jodee
Filed under Writing Life
I consider myself to be a feminist, and have been since the ’70s. Not in the “women of the world unite; all men are evil” way, though. I like and respect men, and I think that gender shouldn’t be the reason why girls and women shouldn’t be able to define success in any way that they choose.
When it comes to the world of freelance writing and writers, I don’t think there is any “one size fits all” definition of success. When I started writing, I thought it would be wonderful if I could make enough money to buy groceries every week and help out with some bills. I achieved that first goal and much more, and now I get to work full time doing something that I actually love.
To my mind, there should be enough room in the freelance writing world for people who want to dabble in writing to earn a few extra dollars here and there, as well as those who want to (or have already achieved) a six-figure career. No choice is better than the other; they are just different.
Some people used to state that because women now have more opportunities that we should all climb on the high-powered career bandwagon and doing anything else is letting all of our sisters down. That wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now. Feminism should be about choices for women, even if we choose something different for ourselves.
How does this relate to freelance writing? Freelancing also offers choices. I say let’s throw the doors wide open and look at all the choices and the possibilities that the choice to freelance gives us. I, for one, love to hear about the kind of work my fellow freelancers do. It inspires me to broaden my own horizons and apply for gigs that I may not have considered before.
In much the same way that a symphony won’t sound right if everyone is playing the same instrument, there is room in the freelancing world for all of us, no matter what kind of work we choose to do. Everyone is invited to the party, and everyone is welcome.
The Elephant in the Room: Asking for More Work After a Mistake
One of our readers posted this question in comments and has kindly agreed to my answering it in a post.
“I missed a deadline with a client once because I was moving and my ISP was giving me the run-around. It was the worst. I can tell my client is now standoffish, but I’m not sure about how I should approach him to ask for more work. Keep in mind assignments with this client has went well and I completed projects sometimes weeks before the deadline. Should I just let him go or try?”
The short answer to this question is that you should try. Building and maintaining good working relationships with clients is the key to a successful business. Does that mean that everything is going to run smoothly all the time? Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
When you do all the right things for your clients, they appreciate it. The fact that you have done what was expected of you and met your deadlines was what you were being paid to do. Missing a deadline is never good for business and I hope that you turned in the work as soon as you could once the ISP issues were resolved.
Your client may have concerns that something may prevent you from going back to your previously good record of being reliable. I know that it may seem tempting to just write the client off and slink off to lick your wounds, so to speak, but you have an opportunity to show this person the kind of freelancer you are. I can’t guarantee that you will be able to re-establish your working relationship, but it will help to resolve things so you know where you stand.
Dealing With the Elephant
I was working on a project once where my role was more of a personal assistant than a writer. There was a mistake made and to be honest I don’t remember now what it was. The client was not pleased and let me know in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t happy.
I read his e-mail a couple of times. The first time through I admit that my back went up and I got angry. My first thought was to quit and run (not necessarily in that order). Then I calmed down and tried to address the situation like a professional.
Here’s how I handled it:
I acknowledged the mistake without making excuses. Then I apologized. Those two actions diffused the situation. Then, I explained that while I can’t change what has happened, I would like the opportunity to rectify the situation and I offered a couple of suggestions. He chose one and we got our working relationship back on track.
In the situation the FWJ community member is asking about, I would contact the client and explain that the ISP problem was an isolated occurrence and that I now have backup arrangements (a friend’s computer, going to Starbucks, etc.) so that any inconvenience to my clients will be minimized if something similar happens in the future.
I would tell the client how much I have enjoyed working with them in the past and that I hope that the incident in question will not affect future projects. Then I would ask what I can do to help rectify the situation so that we can get back on track.
Then it’s up to the client to let you know what they need from you. There is the chance that they will tell you that they aren’t willing to work with you anymore. It’s more likely that they will appreciate your professionalism and will consider you for other projects. My guess is that not knowing is worse than hearing the word, “No” in this situation.
So, FWJ community: What do you think? Is this the right approach, or is it better to walk away from clients who may not be happy with your working relationship?
Resume Roundup: Some Posts You May Have Missed
I’ve been getting some questions about resumes for freelance writers lately. Not everyone who you are interested in working with will want to see a resume. Some prospective clients will want to see it to get an idea of who you are and what kind of experience you bring to the table.
You can’t judge the quality of a gig that you are applying for by whether the client is asking for a resume. (I don’t remember if Deb has ever asked to see mine.) Some of them would rather see samples of your work to get an idea of what you can do for them. I started with one client when I received an e-mail asking if I wanted to work for him.
For those prospective clients who would like to see a resume, you want to make sure that what you show them presents your product, which is you, in the best possible light. Here are some links to previous posts on resumes:
Transferable Skills and Your Resume
Functional Resume Format for Freelancers
Listing Multiple Clients on Your Freelance Writing Resume
Do you have questions about resumes? Post them in the comments section and we’ll answer them. I bet if this community puts its collective heads together we can come up with some great answers. You can e-mail questions to me at freelancewritinggigs@gmail.com and I’ll answer them in future posts.
Your Freelance Resume: Focus on Experience
One of our readers has recently started working for a new client and is wondering how soon to list that experience on a freelance writer’s resume. Here’s my take on it:
Working as a freelance writer is not the same thing as being an employer. When you are preparing a resume for a job using a chronological format, you list the names of your previous employers and the dates when you worked there. When you are preparing a freelance writer’s resume, keep in mind that you are working for yourself, and the way you tell a prospective client about your work experience is a little different.
A prospective client is more likely to ask how long you have been freelancing and what kinds of work you have done than how long you have worked with a particular client. (It’s a good policy to make a point of not discussing your clients with each other anyway.) Some of your assignments are going to be one-time or short-term arrangements only, simply because that’s all the client needs.
If you’re wondering how soon you can list a new client on your resume (if you choose to name names, that is), I would say that you can put this information on your freelance writer’s resume as soon as you like. Rather than listing any of your clients by name, you can focus on the kind of writing you did and the topics you have written about, if appropriate.
You aren’t required to reveal how long you have written for a particular client. Your freelance writer’s resume should focus on what you have done, not who your clients are.
How To Stay Motivated in Your Job Search
I thought I would try something different for this post. I found about this new tool that lets people make their own animated movies. I made my own short film about staying motivated when you are looking for freelance writing gigs. Hope you like it!
How Often Should You Update Your Resume?
A resume is an important job search tool for freelance writers. Not all prospective clients ask to see one. For those clients who do, we want to present ourselves in the best possible way, and an updated resume is a must if we want to do that.
How often should this important document be updated? Ideally, you will update your resume when you have new experience or updated skills to add to it. I’m the first person to admit that I’m not always right on top of things when it comes to my resume. I do take a look at it very few months and make changes as necessary, though.
When you take a look at your resume, do more than just add your new experience to it. Go through the whole document carefully. You may want to make changes in the way you have described your previous work experience or other parts of your resume. As you add more freelance writing work experience, you may want to shorten or change the descriptions of your previous employment experience to keep the employer’s focus on your experience with writing, editing, blogging, etc.
If you have been applying for a lot of freelance writing gigs that you feel you are a good fit for but you aren’t getting hired, it may be a sign that you need to revamp your resume. This document may be the only opportunity you get to show a potential client who you are and what you can do for them, and you need to make sure that you make the best first impression you can.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve gone over your resume, review it and make changes as needed. This step is just as important to your business as any of your other marketing efforts.
Google Alerts as a Job Search Tool
When it comes to looking for freelance writing job opportunities, I’m of the “Leave No Stone Unturned” school of thought. Along with checking out job postings and preparing pitches for potential clients, you may want to consider signing up for Google Alerts.
The process is very easy. You visit the Google Alerts page and fill out the online form indicating whether you want to receive Alerts from Google News, the Web, blogs, or groups. Choosing “Comprehensive” gives you Alerts from all sources.
Next, set up the frequency you would like to receive Google Alerts. You can choose to get them once a week, once a day or as-it-happens. I would suggest as-it-happens so that you get leads sent to your promptly.
I use “freelance writer” as my search term because I want to see all the results with that phrase. If I chose “freelance writer wanted,” or something like that, I would be limiting myself to Alerts with that particular phrase. Keeping it simple means that I get updates that include job leads, news about freelance writers, as well as links to some wonderful blogs written by my colleagues.
If you are open to turning over a few rocks on your search for freelance writing jobs, you may end up finding a diamond or two for your trouble. Have you tried setting up Google Alerts as a job search technique? How has it worked out for you?
5 Tips on How to Ask a Freelance Writing Client for More Work
I wanted to follow up on the suggestions I made in my post about asking a client for more work with some more specific tips.
1. Make sure this is someone you want to work with again.
Don’t ask someone for more work if you really would rather not work with them again. If this client is someone you find difficult to deal with and you cringe at the thought of doing anything else for them as opposed to being excited or at least interested in getting started, skip the request for more assignments. Just thank them for their business and move on.
Asking for more work as a matter of course when you’re not interested amounts to the “I had a really nice time. I’ll call you” thing in the dating world. Don’t go there.
2. Mention the project(s) you have worked on for the client when you make your pitch.
Your client may have a number of writers working for them on various projects at any given time. While we all like to think that we are so stellar that a client couldn’t possibly forget us or our work, it does happen. Give them a gentle reminder so they can place you before moving on to your request for a new project.
3. Tell the client what else you can for them.
If you don’t share the other things you have in your bag of tricks, as I like to call it, the client doesn’t know. You may have submitted a resume when you applied for the gig, but once you were hired, the client probably hasn’t looked at it again.
Say you were hired to write some press releases. Being the professional freelance writer that you are, you have done your homework to find out about your client and what they do. Consider where they might need more writing services and make a pitch for them.
For example, if they don’t have a blog yet and you have experience in that area, contact the client to explain the benefits of having one. Since you already have a relationship with the client, you are in a good position to be hired for the gig – without having to go up against a hundred or more other candidates if the client were to place an ad. You can do the same with web content, copy for web and print, technical writing, white papers, etc.
4. Rinse and repeat.
If you ask for more work and the client doesn’t have anything for you at that point, it doesn’t mean that the source of work has dried up. Make a note to check back later. The client may even give you an idea of when they may need a writer and you should follow up with them slightly before that point. That way, you are well positioned to be chosen for the next gig.
5. Make asking for more work a regular part of your routine.
If you get it the habit of asking for more work when you finish a project, you are more likely to avoid down times in your freelance writing career. It’s far easier to convince someone who you have worked with already to hire you again than to start trying to build a relationship with a new client. A stable of regular, loyal clients who can keep you supplied with work and refer you to other people who can hire you is gold. Treat them like the precious resource they are and watch your business grow.
Ask, Ask, Ask Your Way to More Freelance Writing Work
If you want to turn a one-time gig into a source of repeat business, a good strategy is to remember the “Three Asks,” as I like to think of them. The first one is just good customer service, and the other two have to do with marketing. Here’s the rundown:
Ask if the Client Needs Anything Else
When you hand in your work to the client, ask them to let you know whether they need anything else. This could be interpreted to mean revisions or edits, or the client could interpret it to mean another project that complements the first one. It’s just good business to make sure that your clients are happy with the work that you have done for them and this practice increases your odds of being given future assignments.
Ask for More Work
Clients aren’t mind readers. Unless you let the client know that you would be interested in working with them again, they may not automatically think of you for future projects. Assuming you would be interested, contact the client after you have delivered the project. Tell them that you enjoyed working with the on “Project X” and that you hope that they will contact you with their future writing (editing, blogging, copywriting, etc.) needs.
Ask for Referrals
Assuming that the project went well and the client is happy, you can ask them to refer you to other people who may need similar services. If you don’t mention it, the client may assume that you have a full plate and that you aren’t taking on anyone new right now. While that may be the case today, the situation can change quickly and my take on it is that I’m always happy to talk to a potential client. The details can be worked out once the potential client turns into an actual one.
Do you use any of the “Three Asks” in your freelance writing career?
