The purpose of your resume is to entice the reader to learn more about you. When an employer first opens your resume in a PDF, they should not see a long, rambling story about your life, but an organized summary of your skills and the experiences that you’ve had that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. After all, the employer doesn’t have time to go into great detail about each vacancy. They just want to know if you are qualified for the job and if you’ll fit in with the team. So to achieve the best possible results from your resume, start by thinking about what you should write about.
Your Skills
There are a number of skills that you need to develop to succeed in a role as a writer, including the ability to analyze a problem, come up with a solution, and present it in a clear and concise manner. If you’re worried about whether or not you have the raw talent to be a successful writer, it’s time to stop believing in yourself and start believing in your skills. The best place to start is with your resume. One of the most important things for an employer to look at is your resume, so ensure that it is perfect and has all the necessary information. If your resume is doing its job, it should be grabbing the attention of the reader. When an employer sees that you have experience in a specific field, they are more likely to want to learn more about you because they know that you are passionate about what you write about. To follow up, be sure to include a writing sample, which is why your resume is asking for a writing sample.
Your Education
Just as with your resume, your education is another area of your application that the employer will look at. However, your education is more important than your resume because it is a gauge of your potential. When an employer sees that you have a formal education, they know that you have the potential to grow with more experience, so it is imperative that your education is something exceptional. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a GPA of at least 3.5 and preferably 4.0. If you can maintain a high GPA while pursuing your bachelor’s degree, it will undoubtedly set you apart from others. With the right attitude and the right GPA, you are sure to shine through in the accomplishments section of your application.
The Experience
No matter what role you are applying for, whether it is editorial or commercial, your experience is something that the employer needs to see in order to determine if you are suitable for the job. In the same way as with your education, your experience is more important than your resume because it shows that you have the potential to grow and become more effective as an employee. When it comes to experience, most employers will look at your work history, so ensure that your work history is something that you are proud of. If you are worried about whether or not you have the necessary experience, you should not be. All great writers started with some amount of experience in an area similar to what they are now pursuing, so you have nothing to worry about in that regard.
Why Are They Asking For This Data?
Depending on the role you are applying for, you may be asked to provide additional information that is not directly related to your skillset or education. For example, in the case of a literary magazine job, they may ask for a portfolio of your work. Portfolios are not something that all literary magazines require, but it is something that many of them do. The purpose of a portfolio is to provide the employer with a visual of your work, so that they can have something to go off of when making a decision about you.
When it comes to writing samples, many employers will not have specific instructions about what they should look for. Instead, they will use judgment and their own experience to determine if you are capable of handling the work. In this regard, it is up to you to make sure that you send them something that will convince them that you are the best person for the job. When it comes to your writing samples, be sure to showcase your versatility by including a variety of work. This means that you should not only include the report that you are most familiar with writing, but also one or two other examples of the same. In general, you should aim to include a writing sample from each of your degrees. Just remember that it is not necessary for you to send a sample from every single one of your degrees. Depending on the role, you might be asked to send a sample from one of your previous jobs, or you might be asked to write about a specific topic for which you have some expertise. Whatever the case may be, make sure that you include something that will make the employer want to learn more about you.