Dear friend Anne Wayman has a great post on her blog detailing how to apply for freelance gigs. She includes the top two reasons why you’re not getting jobs now. Please read them. These are the mistakes I’ve seen writers do when answering ads. I know. I placed an ad once. And of all who answered, only one got it right.
While there’s not much you can do about not having the credentials for the job, there is something you can do about giving the employer what she’s asked for. Nothing screams “Couldn’t be bothered to do it right” more than sending a “Here’s my resume. Let’s talk” query instead of the resume, cover letter, and two samples the employer asked for (I received two of these).
Anne’s post goes on to detail how you can personalize your query. And you should. Your personality is what the employer is looking for. Would you hire the person who writes “I saw your ad and I’d like to be considered for the position” or the writer who instead says “I have pleased over 200 clients, matching my writing skills to their projects with successful results. I’d love for you to be Satisfied Client number 201.”
Don’t forget to match the tone of the advertisement or the company, if you know it. I had my own post on how to apply for the job here.
Thanks, Anne. A timely reminder as we head into our busy season!