As writers, we are very conscious of words and how they are used (or we should be).We know that the words we choose to use in our work matter, but do we give the same care to the language we use when writing a cover letter? If you are applying for a brick and mortar job, the goal of writing your cover letter should be to get invited to meet with the employer for an interview. When you write a cover letter for a freelance writing gig, your focus is a bit different. Many clients don’t interview in the traditional [Read more…]
Be Specific When You Write Your Cover Letter
April 4, 2010. 1 Comment
Applying for a freelance writing job can be a bit different from looking for work in the brick and mortar world. Some clients will take the time to assemble a short list and conduct interviews, but many of them rely on the information in your cover letter, resume and/or writing samples to make a decision about whether they would like to work with you. You may only get one opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective client, so take extra care when composing your cover letter. Take the time to tell the reader about your experience as it relates to [Read more…]
Connect With a Potential Client Through Your Cover Letter
March 26, 2010. 3 Comments
Have you ever thought about why you would write a cover letter to someone? It’s not simply a way to let them know that you are forwarding your freelance writing resume and/or samples for their review. Your cover letter is a way to introduce yourself to the potential client and invite him or her to enter into a discussion about whether you can effectively work together. If your goal is to invite further discussion, you need to add something more than a simple laundry list of your qualifications. By all means tell the client something about your background, but share [Read more…]
Rethinking Your Freelance Writing Job Strategy
March 25, 2010. 6 Comments
So you’ve been searching for freelance writing jobs for several months or more and so far haven’t yet landed a gig. Though it’s a competitive market, good writers should still not have too many problems finding work within a couple of months. There are so many opportunities available during this time, it shouldn’t be too difficult for someone with talent and good writing samples to earn a living. Still many aspiring freelance writers are frustrated because they’re not landing any lucrative gigs, or even gigs at all. If you’ve been job seeking for some time and you’re still not finding [Read more…]
Back to Basics Part 3: 11 Things NOT to Do When Applying for a Freelance Writing Job
October 13, 2008. 25 Comments
by Deborah Ng I don’t wish to be redundant, but I’ll say it once again. Your freelance writing job application, whether it’s an online form, an emailed cover letter, or writer’s resume, is the first impression a potential client will have of you. Your writing never needs to be more perfect than it is on your job application. 11 Things NOT to Do When Applying for a Freelance Writing Job 1. Rush One mistake I made in the past is to hurriedly whip up an application letter in order to be one of the first to apply. I now know [Read more…]
