Having switched careers before I accepted writing is my calling, I have multiple versions of my resume, one legal, one general etc. Each one with a different focus and the context is focused on the specific industry, which I am applying for. So when writing a Writer's Resume what is important to mention, or leave out? What is the general format I should use? Finally how do I address the previous employment part of the resume - if I have never worked as a writer?
After a couple of Google searches, and found Writing World's "Creating a Writer's Resume" by Moira Allen, was the best step by step overview. I found several other bloggers referring to her, which helps me realize I found a solid source. I have inserted several portions of her article and I will review each one.
Putting Your Credentials First A skills resume differs from a job-history resume in that it lists your skills and qualifications in a separate section, rather than as a subset of your work history. The basic framework for such a resume might look something like this:Well I would like to hope that all of you remember to include your name and contact information as the title of your resume. If not - well good thing you read this! Yet notice how the resume is a "job skills" resume, not just a "work history" resume. This will allow readers to immediately notice your skills over your (possibly lacking) work history section.
Section 1: Name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail, URL
If you're using a print resume, center these in a larger, attractive (but not too fancy) font, as follows:
(Which should be centered on page)
Ima Great Writer
123 Quill Pen Rd. · Hometown, CA 94000
(555) 123-4567 · (555) 123-4568 (fax) · e-mail
Great Writings Page · http://www.greatwritings.com
Section 2: ObjectivesSo this has been a difficult section for me in the past, and I always had reverted to using a super polished tag line talking about productivity gained through prioritization. Horrible.
Optional. If you choose to list your objectives, use no more than two lines here.
I found this section from Purdue's Online Writing Lab which clarified the purpose of the objective. "The objective should be short and concise, but it also must be user centered....The objective does not mention the specific organization or job, and [the objective] does not discuss how the applicant plans to help the company."(1.
So something like:
Objective
To contribute to HarperCollin's litterary empire, influencing school children world wide.
Please excuse my sarcasim, and I hope it does not undermine the importance of this section. Ultimately, as Purdue mentioned the objective should be "user centered", and "focused on the job being applied for." This section should be really strong, and represent you and what you want to contribute / how you want to grow and develop. Also it should represent your style as a writer.
As I discussed above, it is important to have various copies of your resume, and change the objective to really suit each job posting. I would even go as far as having a personal resume template for every area of writing you want to pursue, ready and waiting so when the right job comes along, you are ready!
So here is where things get a little tricky. Purdue's CV writing format called for "Section 3" to be the "Education" part of the resume. Obviously their directions are aimed at recent collage grads. If you are a college grad your education was probably quite recent, also you may be lacking actual job experience. If this is true then put your education first. While Allen's article suggested that "Section 3" be used for the "Qualifications" section.
Section 3: QualificationsNotice how she evaluaed the job post's requirements and addressed each issue.
This is the critical part of your resume. You may want to give this section a more definitive title, such as Writing and Editing Experience. Here, you'll want to list each type of skill that is relevant to the job you're applying for. For example, if the job listing asks for demonstrated writing and editing skills, plus familiarity with Internet publishing and HTML, your "qualifications" section might look something like this:
- Writing: Professional writer for XX years, with experience in magazine, newspaper, and business writing. Author of XXX articles in XX national publications; co-author of two books; author of three book chapters. Winner of the 1998 "best article" award from the Good Authors' Association. (See attached publications list for details.)
- Editing: Editor of two electronic newsletters, various corporate and business materials (including reports, white papers, and brochures) and one organizational newsletter. Experienced in copyediting, content editing, and proofreading.
- Business and Corporate Writing (Type) : Developer, writer, editor and designer of a wide range of business materials, including brochures, newsletters, and annual reports. Clients include...
- Internet, HTML, and Desktop Publishing (tech): Webmaster for the Great Writings Page (http://www.greatwritings.com). Familiar with HTML, VTML, and java. Familiar with several desktop publishing programs for both electronic and print publishing, including [list programs you've used].
- Anything else that might seem relevant...
I enjoyed how she started out her list of qualification with the length of time she has been a professional writer, and forms of media in which she writes.
Allen organizes the qualifications in relation to specific skills within the writing industry. Also notice how in this section she informed the reader of a separate page of publications page, to be attached to the resume, and ultimately is a separate document from the formal resume.
Many of us who aren't published, nor are editing published documents may not be able to write much this as we haven't had formal experience. So get some! Try Figment.com, I recently signed up for and may get some experience editing that way.
It is important to include what form of writing you specialize in. There are thousands of different types of writing, it is important to focus on a couple. This may take some brainstorming, to choose types of writing where you have at least some experience. Also remember to consider the audience this specific resume is aimed at.
(*Side note: Deciding on which writing genres you want to focus on is essential research. I have been noticing that many writers, just start writing without a focus on a specific genres inwhich they want their work will be placed. Then after the work is published, it ends up in the entirely wrong section. To avoid this, think about tone, which perspective the book is written from, among other things - which I will address in a later article, because I am having problems with this myself).
Allen ends this section with her website calling herself a "web master", and ultimately focusing on the technical relevance of the her position. I often include that I am computer literate, include every program I have ever used (relevant to job of course), and also that I am a quick learner. There are many people, who didn't grow up using computers, and just being technically versatile is important. Also researching common programs used in the publishing industry, will help you focus on what you need to learn to become more attractive to employers.
Section 4: Work HistoryI love how she starts off this section, calling her freelance writing - a job. Brilliant. Because everybody knows the last thing you want in your resume is "gaps".
Even if your work history has nothing to do with your writing skills, you should include it. A history of employment indicates to a potential employer that you are, in fact, employable. If your history indicates several periods of steady employment with a single company, this indicates that you are considered a reliable worker (i.e., one who was retained) rather than someone who either flits from job to job or gets fired frequently. If you've been promoted within your company (past or present), list this as well, as this is another good indication of your ability to function well as an employee.
Unlike the job-history listings in a regular chronological resume, however, you'll want to keep these sections short. List your job title, dates, the name of the company and its location, and a contact name and number if you wish. Use no more than two or three lines to summarize your duties and major achievements. Be selective: List promotions, and highlights such as number of people supervised, whether you were responsible for a budget, whether you handled major projects, etc.
If you have been self-employed as a freelance writer for a period of time, list this as your most recent "job." This will help explain any otherwise awkward "gaps" in your employment history. For example:
Freelance Writer - June 1997 to present
Needless to say, if you can find any duties in your work history that relate to writing or the job you're trying to obtain, list them -- even if it's something as obscure as "contributed to the company newsletter." Do not, however, list your reasons for leaving previous jobs (whether voluntary or otherwise), and never include negative information about your previous employers.
- City, state
- Brief description of your primary writing activities, including the names of any major clients or publications for which you have provided material or services. Don't bother to recap the skills you've already listed above.
- Previous Job Title - April 1990 to June 1997
- Company Name
- City, state; contact name and phone number if desired.
- Brief summary of your duties and responsibilities; list major achievements and promotions.
Do a little research into the publisher or company your are addressing. What type of work do they usually publish? Who is their targeted readers? Adjusting little things like this will help you win over the reader.
Section 5: EducationThis is where Allen placed "Education" in her resume. Be sure to include any University groups, or organizations, and extra curriculars. Also I might even go as far as to include my senior project since it was 150 pages written on the Foreign Policy Orientation of Peru.
Every resume should include your educational history, starting with the most recent degrees and working backwards. If you have a college education, omit information about high school. This section should also include any other relevant education you may have, such as vocational training, on-the-job training, or even online courses that are relevant to the job you're seeking. (Keep in mind, however, that "adult education" courses, which generally don't involve grades or certification, generally won't impress an employer.)
Section 6: Awards and MembershipsHere is where we list awards, but most importantly memberships. Search for your town's Writer's Guild, go to a couple meetings, you may bennifit from contacting other writers
This is the section to list any awards you've received, especially relating to writing and editing. (Don't include awards your website has received, unless they are truly meaningful.) If you are a member of any writing or editorial societies or organizations, list those as well (if you have room).
Section 7: Personal Information It was once fashionable to list personal interests and hobbies on a resume. Now, however, that is considered inappropriate. If you have specific "hobby" skills that somehow relate to the job in question, try to find a way to list those under "skills" instead. (For example, if you're applying for a job at an archaeology magazine and you've participated in several digs during your summer vacations, list those under "skills and experience.").I thought this was the most informative part of Allen's article. I was under the impression that a hiring manager, with so many applicants, would look to the "Personal Information" section to understand more about the applicants personality. Yet as Allen discussed, this section is now out dated, and people don't really care about your hobbies. If they did, they would be hiring you to build boats in a bottle, or some other random hobby.
Keeping an up-to-date resume is essential. Also as writers we are judged on how we use our words. So take ample time to use your words carefully to describe you as a writer. I hope this article helps shed light on a important part of becoming a accomplished writer.
