Guide to writing a perfect writer CV, with examples

The quality of your CV is absolutely crucial when you are applying for a writing position. Potential employers will consider your CV and cover letter as evidence of your grasp of the English language, or other languages you write your CV in, as well as your communication skills. The ideal writer CV should include:

• Attractive header with contact information

Your CV header should include your full name, email and phone contact info, and links to any professional social media or online portfolios you may have. For example, you could add your LinkedIn or Medium profile.

• Persuasive CV summary or objective statement 

You will need to include either a CV summary or a CV objective statement. A CV summary should be a sum-up of your most important and notable skills and achievements, while an objective statement should be a statement of your career goals and intent. The first is best for those who have many years of experience while the second is ideal for those who have a short work history. If you are a freelance writer, aim for a CV summary that presents your most successful projects along with your strongest skills.

• Tailored skills section

A good CV features your strongest and most relevant skills. If you have any specializations, for example writing about healthcare, this is the place to mention them. Read the job description carefully and choose between 8 to 12 skills that most closely match what the employer needs.

• Detailed work experience

Your work history should be listed in reverse-chronological order with your most recent position placed at the top of this section. Include up to 10 years of work experience. Remember that your CV should be one page in length at most. So if you find yourself short on space, you should prioritize the most recent work and focus on highlighting your accomplishments.

• Education 

While there is no formal education necessarily needed to be a writer, you should list any academic achievements that you may have. If you have a bachelor’s degree in English or a masters’ degree in creative writing, listing these achievements will be very beneficial.

• Relevant projects and certifications

If you have relevant professional certifications (in for proofreading or editing for example) then highlight them on your CV. Likewise, if you have taken on any stand-alone projects that are relevant, you should present them on your CV as well.

• Professional memberships and affiliations

If you are a member of any professional associations and bodies (e.g., the Screen Writers Guild), listing this information in a separate section of your CV can be helpful.

 

Remember, all of the information you include in these sections should be tailored to the job description that you are applying for. A high-quality, freelance writer CV, in particular, could look completely different each time a job seeker submits a new application. If you want to make this process easier, use the CV templates via the CVHelp CV builder. This free online tool will create an editable CV that meets all U.S. formatting requirements.

If you want to stand out in this competitive market and land a copywriting job, listing high-quality skills and achievements will help your professional CV to rank well in applicant tracking systems (ATS) that employers use to scan CVs. Here are some examples of skills, competencies, and achievements that are highly desirable on a writing CV:

 

Skills and competencies

• Social media content creation
• Search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Time-management
• Copywriting
• Copy editing
• Writing press releases
• Project management
• Technical communication
• Technical writing
• Knowledge of social media platforms
• Developing story ideas
• Developing creative content ideas
• Blog posts
• Proofreading
• HTML
• WordPress proficiency
• Microsoft Office competency
• PowerPoint competency
• Grammarly proficiency
• Creative writing skills
• Content management systems
   

Achievements

• Published articles
• Consistent traffic and engagement on blog posts
• Published fiction
• Placing in or winning writing competitions

If you combine these kinds of skills and achievements with an attractive CV layout, you will create a CV that stands out and catches a hiring manager’s attention. Remember to read each job description carefully and only highlight the competencies and achievements that best meet its requirements.

If you want to make the most of your writer’s CV template from CVHelp you should consider CV samples. A relevant writer CV sample will provide inspiration for your own CV writing process.

 

These writer CV examples are particularly effective: 

• Service writer CV example
• Writer CV example
• Senior technical writer CVexample
• Freelance writer
• Freelance staff writer CV example
• Technical writer CV example
• Content writer CV example