Has your resume been the same for the past two years? If it has, then maybe it’s time for a change. You know more than you think you know, so don’t be afraid to show that knowledge off. Since I’ve been freelancing, I often have this kind of conversation:
Friend: Have you heard about … {social networking, teenage obesity, roofing materials}?
Me: Yes, I wrote an article about it.
As a web content writer, I get to research all kinds of interesting things. Although they don’t always match my own interests, I always learn something from my research. So, although I’m not necessarily an expert in the new areas, I know more than enough to get by. Here are a couple of questions to show where I’m going with this.
- What do you list as your main topics of expertise on your resume?
- What have you learned in the last six months that you could add?
We have to research what we write, and so we are always learning. In the last three months, I have written about:
- blogging
- broadband
- business education
- conservatories
- consumer finance
- employment law
- fertility treatments
- freelance writing
- marine biology
- mobile phones
- post traumatic stress
- property sales
- psychics
- real estate
- salsa
- self catering holidays
- teenage obesity
- travel
- writing careers
Some of those topics, such as writing and consumer finance, I knew about before. Others I learned about as I did the research. I’m not claiming I’m an expert in everything, but my knowledge of employment law has definitely expanded.
So here’s my challenge. Make a list of everything that you have written about recently. What have you learned enough about to qualify as an expert? If you’re wondering what counts as expertise, consider whether you would still need to do research to write an introductory article on the subject. I’m not saying that you’ll never have to do research again. After all, statistics and facts should always be checked and updated. However, the chances are that you will know more about your subject of expertise than the average person. Now, add those areas to your resume and any public profiles that you use for attracting clients. See what happens. Who knows, you might get some new business because of it.
You do write on a wide range of topics!!
I’m just curious — do you keep a formal writing resume? I’ve never had anyone ask for a formal resume, nor do I really see the benefit for one for most web writers. So I’m always curious about what a content writer’s resume would look like. Do you list all your clients, or do you list your experience covering certain topics? Both? Do you tailor it for each client you send it to?
Hi Amy
When I was employed I had a resume and I’ve always maintained one. Some of the jobs I apply for do ask for them. It fails one important test of a resume in that it’s not short. Instead, I have a list of skills (types of writing I do), areas of expertise (topics I cover) and links to my work. It’s far too long, but when I need to send a query I can edit it easily.
Hey Sharon. Thanks for sharing. I’ve always been curious. I see a lot of writers saying they use resumes, but none of them has ever said what theirs looks like.
Check out my resume page. It’s not perfect, but it’s landed me a few jobs. I’m still thinking about better ways of presenting it.
Nice! I like it. Actually, it gives me a few ideas of how to make an online resume of my own if I ever decide I’m going to do that. If you don’t mind my asking, what do you do when someone asks for you to forward your resume (like a word doc, for example?)? Do you just say “Here’s the link to my online resume” or do you have a separate resume that you use?
No, since it’s so long, Amy, what I usually do is include the skills and topics bits, the education bit (if it’s needed) and shave down the links to suit the job. I just copy, paste and edit.
Very cool. You rock.
Sorry to turn this post into an Ask Sharon column.
Hey, that’s what I’m here for.
I’m glad I read this post Sharon because I put mine up on my site but really it is far too long and so much of it is not specific to my writing – looks like another item for my to do list.
They keep stacking up, don’t they, Sue?