Freelance Writer Resume Guide with Samples

freelance writer resume example
Created by CakeResume

Freelance writing is the practice of earning income by writing for multiple clients, while not being hired by any employer. As a freelance writer (also known as freelance content creator), you can cover a variety of topics or specialize in one specific area.

💡 Freelance writer job duty examples:

  • Communicating with clients for further discussion related to the project or assignment.
  • Producing written text on a project basis or freelance basis and in accordance with prescribed editorial and formatting guidelines.
  • Editing and proofreading the drafts/articles to detect and correct errors.

As every business needs compelling content, there's a huge demand for skilled freelance writers. With an impressive freelance content writer resume, you can maintain job stability by marketing yourselves efficiently and attracting more potential clients.

How to write a freelance writer resume?

Step 1: Don't mix-up a freelance writer resume with a CV

Check the table below to understand the differences between a resume and a CV.

Freelance Writer Resume

  • 1-2 pages
  • Covers the information related to the job opening only, including contact details, resume summary, education, work experience, certifications
  • Required for the job application along with a cover letter for a freelance writer
  • Creative and unique

Freelance Writer CV

  • No length limit
  • Include full professional details: contact info, summary, work experience, education, academic experience or awards
  • Usually required for academic fields as teaching, medical & nursing, accounting, or science
  • Plain and format

📝 Note: Go over the job listing carefully to learn the required application document.

Step 2: Adopt the right format for your freelance editor resume

📌 Three common resume formats are chronological, functional, and combinational resumes.

Be aware of the choice of format for your freelance writer resume even though they all serve the purpose of featuring your skills and work experience.

As a freelance writer, you must have gained relevant experience in the field. Most applicants prefer to use the chronological format type to showcase their employment history.

However, the hybrid one seems to work better for a freelance writer resume format as you can still show experience while highlighting your key skills.

📝 Note: Whatever freelance writer resume format you choose, make sure it's highly optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Step 3: Refer to freelance writer resume templates & examples online

Writing a resume may seem overwhelming at first. No worries! Try to look up freelance writer resume examples and templates on the Internet - this way, you can get yourself great tricks and writing advice.

Step 4: Tailor your freelance writer resume for the job opening

There are a variety of jobs to get your freelance writing career off to a great start such as content writer, journalist, travel/food reviewer, editor, and proofreader, etc. Hence, make sure to tailor your resume for writing jobs online for a specific job.

Simply put, find what is most relevant to the job requirements and fill your freelance writer resume with personal qualifications, expertise, and experience that will impress the client.

Step 5: Craft a perfect cover letter for a freelance writer

The cover letter is like a handshake - that's how you greet and introduce yourself to employers.

As a freelance writer, you are commonly asked to submit a cover letter along with a resume.

Through your freelance writer cover letter, the client expects to see your clear understanding of the job requirements as well as a brief demonstration of your qualifications that motivates them to dive into your resume.

📚 Further reading:  The Cover Letter to Land Your Dream Job | 5 Basic Paragraphs & 10 Tips.

Step 6:  Don't miss the final check!

It's true that many people, freelance writers included, make grammar mistakes and typos while writing.

That may cause a bad influence on your brand image and stop you from getting the job successfully, especially when writing should be your best skill.

Thus, be sure to proofread your freelance editor resume and cover letter before sending it out to clients.

What to put on a resume for a freelance writer?

1. Resume profile (Personal Information)

✔️ You should include these:

  • Full Name
  • Email
  • Phone Number
  • Personal website/Social media/Blog/Portfolio

❌ You should not include these:

  • SSN
  • Marital Status
  • Religion/Race
  • Identifying Info

📝 Note: It's important to provide complete and accurate information so that the client can reach out to you.

2. Resume Headline

A resume headline (or personal title) states your professional level or expertise in the field. Drafting a well-branded freelance writer resume headline can gain the client's first attention and make you stand out from other applicants.

🔑 Key tip: Clearly demonstrate your competencies and experience by applying a more descriptive title rather than a generic one.

For example, instead of “Freelance Content Marketer", try to make a huge difference by a statement like “Content Marketing Freelancer with a strong focus on brand building and content management on social media."

3. Resume Summary 

A resume summary (also known as a professional summary) ideally consists of two or three sentences placed at the top of the resume.

A professional summary for a freelance writer should briefly demonstrate your skills, experience, and outstanding achievements to motivate the clients to read your entire freelance writer resume.

Examples of an impressive freelance writer resume summary:
  • Driven Freelance Writer with 5 years of experience in developing cutting-edge marketing campaigns from ideation to execution. Passionate and innovative strategist with a passion for managing brand and product performance. 
  • Dynamic Freelance Content Creator with specialization in content writing for digital and print media. Exceptional ability to collaborate on diverse projects with all stakeholders and leverage emerging technologies for integrated marketing campaigns. 
  • Performance-driven Freelance Writer with extensive experience and comprehensive background in developing content strategies and marketing campaigns to promote client brands. Committed to high-impact outcomes, excellence, creativity, and innovation.

4. Resume Objective

While drafting an objective statement for your freelance editor resume, clearly state your career goals and commitment to meeting client needs.

An example of a well-written objective statement for a freelance content creator resume:

Looking to increase conversions and traffic via content marketing campaigns as a Freelance Content Creator at IVY Moda.

How about an entry-level freelance writer resume? 🔎 Check out Resume objective writing tips for freshers & students!

5. Skills

Freelance writer jobs require a broad skill set when compared to other professions. Hence, knowing how and what to list key skills on your freelance writer resume can get you closer to the job.

How to highlight freelance writer skills on a resume:  

  • List both hard skills and soft skills
  • Include key skills relevant to the job only 
  • Utilize bullet points
  • Stick to the truth!

What should be included in the skills section:

🔗 Hard Skills

  • Google Analytics
  • Copywriting
  • CMS Tools
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Content Marketing

🔗 Soft Skills

  • Communication
  • Ability to Meet Deadlines
  • Analytical Skills
  • Self-motivated
  • Detail-oriented

6. Work Experience

As a freelancer, you’re likely to experience some full-time jobs or have worked on a lot of projects with different clients.

Though you can showcase your work experience on your personal website or portfolio, you still need to present all of them on your freelance writer resume.

✔️ You should include these:

  • Employer/Client Name
  • Year of Start and End
  • Job Responsibilities                   
  • Achievements

❌ You should not include these:

  • Salary
  • Information that Benefits Competitors

Work experience example for a freelance writer resume:

Freelance Writer | School of Business, San Antonio
Jan 2018 - Present 

  • Research, write, and edit white papers on cultural diversity, business management, and contemporary communications.
  • Coordinate and supervise research work of 20+ volunteers and interns.

7. Education

Whether the clients expect freelance writers to have fancy academic degrees or not, you need to cover the basics in the education section, including:

  • School Name
  • Year of Start and End
  • Degree and Majors
  • Relevant Courses (optional)

Example of education for a freelance writer resume

Bachelor's Degree in Public Communication
Academy of Journalism and Communication | Vietnam
2012 - 2016

🔎 Check out education resume examples for 8+ different professions at Education on Resume|Examples, Templates, Writing Guide.

8. Feature Your Own Blog/Website or Certifications

As mentioned earlier, freelance writers tend to showcase writing samples on portfolios, blogs, or personal websites so that clients can take a closer look at their work.

Make sure you add a link to your resume so that you can be ahead of other applicants.

Tips for writing the best freelance writer resume

Tip 1: Customize the Freelance Editor Resume for the Job

The earlier part has highlighted the role of tailoring the freelance content creator resume for the specific job.

To be more specific, you can customize it based on the following factors:

  • Specialization (content writer, editor, journalist, editor & proofreader, etc.)
  • Writing style (formal, technical, or creative writing)
  • Industry (technology, education, healthcare & medical, business, travel, etc.)

Tip 2: Quantify Results on Your Freelance Writer Resume

Just like a portfolio or personal website, quantifiable achievements on your freelance editor resume can be a good way for clients to evaluate the quality of your work.

With numbers like unique page views, organic traffic rates, membership rates, etc., you can prove yourself further to win the competition.

Example of quantifying results on a freelance content creator resume: 

  • Research and utilize keyword research to produce 30+ articles per month, gaining 3000 unique page views.

Tip 3: Optimize the Freelance Writer Resume for ATS

With large numbers of resumes, clients might use Applicant Tracking Systems to automatically scan through them. Although you're doing a creative job, make sure you're also crafting an ATS-friendly freelance writer resume.

📍 ATS optimization tips:

  • Stick to text information
  • Cover all must-have sections
  • Insert keywords from the job description
  • Save your freelance writer resume file as a PDF

Tip 4: Add Action Words in Your Freelance Writer Resume

Regardless of your writing style or area you specialize in, you may consider adopting relevant action words/verbs.

This way you can show clients that you fully understand the job requirements and make your freelance content writer resume stand out. 

Examples of action verbs: write, conduct, create, design, develop, research, edit, proofread, publish, etc.

Tip 5: Make Your Freelance Writer Resume Creative but Simple

In search of freelance content creators, clients yearn for creativity and uniqueness. Hence, it's important to hone your niche and show it on your resume if you want to attract many clients and build up your freelance writing career.

📝 Note: Don't overdo charts and graphics otherwise your freelance writer resume might not get through ATS.
Only play with them if you’re sure the resume will be read by a human.

How to write a cover letter for a freelance writer?

Say that you're writing a cover letter for a content writer with no experience or a cover letter for a content writer on Upwork, keep in mind to include the following key points: 

  • Contact details: Name, email, social media, personal website. 
  • Self-introduction: Start with a polite greeting - make sure you say the right name of the client and desired job.
  • Motivation: Sincerely express your intention to apply for the job.
  • Qualification: Briefly demonstrate your expertise, relevant skills, projects, and works along with outstanding achievements.
  • Closing: Express appreciation to the potential client. 

📚 Further reading: Check out Dos & Don’ts of Writing a Cover Letter.

Freelance writer resume sample

Resume Profile 

May Carline
Freelance Content Creator for online cosmetics and fashion brands.

[email protected]
www.linkedIn.com/in/maycarline
Maycarline.com

Summary

Creative freelance content creator with 5+ years of experience in writing and editing for online cosmetics and fashion brands, including but not limited to website content, social media posts, press releases, and company/product briefs. Adept at creating compelling content that generates leads and sales. Excellent communication skills working within editorial teams of 5 members as well as associated departments.

Work Experience

Freelance Writer | iHerb Taiwan

May 2018 - Present

  • Produce relevant and engaging content for the company website, blog, and social media as assigned and pitched.
  • Provide media materials (e.g., original photography, sourced images, graphic designs, etc.) to accompany and support articles.
  • Generate 5+ ideas for new features on the company blog weekly.

English Freelance Content Creator | SHEIN France

Jan 2015 - Dec 2017

  • Composed 350+ articles on SHEIN blog that attracts approximately 8000 readers per month. 
  • Handled daily/weekly content creation on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), increasing followers by 40%-60% in two years. 
  • Coached 4 intern writers in content writing best practices.

Certification

Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification

Skills

Hard Skills: 

  • SEM & SEO Copywriting
  • Graphic Design
  • Paid Social Media Advertising
  • Photography
  • Email Marketing

Soft Skills:

  • Ability to Meet Deadlines
  • Self-disciplined
  • Self-motivated
  • Detail-oriented
  • Active Listening

Education

M.A in Global Communication | The George Washington University
2013 - 2014

B.S in Technical Communication | University of Central Florida
2009 - 2013

--- Originally written by May Luong --- 

Resume Builder

Build your resume only in minutes!

あなたが関心のありそうな記事

Latest relevant articles
Resume & CV
3月 6日 2024

What to Write in an Email When Sending a Resume [+ Examples & Tips]

Looking for guidance on writing an effective email to send resume? Discover expert tips and email examples to maximize your chances of landing that dream job!