Write like you know how to write
This guy got hired because he knew how to respond to a job ad!
If you are applying for a writing job (or for any job really) you want the person who reads your response to believe that you are an intelligent, professional candidate who knows how to write. Write in complete sentences and leave out the Twitspeak (OMG!).
Explain why you are the right person
Read the ad carefully and respond to every one of the job requirements. If the ad says they want someone with editing experience, tell them about your editing experience. Tell them about any relevant work experience or education. You want to convince them that you are the best person for the job.
Leave your personal life out of it
If your life experiences apply directly to the job’s requirements feel free to include them in your response but don’t add details just because you think they make you sound sympathetic. Being poor, a struggling writer, a writer with a disability, a deeply religious person, or someone who has overcome addiction means nothing unless it is directly applicable to the topic you will be writing about. When you include those items, it makes you sound like you are trying to use emotional blackmail to get the job. Concentrate on why they need you for the job, not why you need them to give you the job.
Beware of scams
There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there, and job ads are one ways that these people find their victims. Most ads are legitimate but beware of any ad that:
- Sounds too good to be true
- Tells you that your compensation should be anything other than money
- Wants you to give them money in order to get the job
- Wants you to perform work upfront for free (such as writing a free article for their site to prove you are “qualified”)
Include your resume and samples
Always include your resume and either writing samples or links to work you have done. Give your potential employers a chance to see your work and read all about your past work experience. You want them to be as informed as possible before they start cutting down their initial list of candidates. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed.
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 3 comments }
LOL John – It amazes me that folk include personal stuff about themselves to try to get jobs. It’s a shame that there’s so many scammers about too. I heard that a lot of scammers post writing jobs on Craigslist. Mind you, it seems that a lot of scammers post on just about every Craigslist category.
Craigslist is a tough market. I love that they provide a free place for ads, but most writing job ads I find there are scams. t pays to be discerning when it comes to ads from sources like Craigslist, but you never know when you’ll find just the right gig. I applied to one just the other day because it seemed to be well-written and a legitimate opportunity. I
Picking out the scams from the “gems” is a hard task at times, but worth the effort. Love the motivational photo.