Struggling to articulate your diverse writing experience in a concise and impactful way is a common CV challenge you may face. By consulting our guide, you can learn how to streamline your achievements and make your CV stand out to employers.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your writer CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your writer CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your writer CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your writer CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a writer CV
- Writing Experience showcases published work and expertise.
- Portfolio of Works demonstrates versatility and writing style.
- Education & Qualifications highlight relevant academic achievements.
- Writing Awards & Honours signify recognition and excellence.
- Editorial Skills reflect proficiency in content editing and review.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your portfolio by linking to your published work or attaching samples that showcase your writing versatility and style, ensuring that the genres or formats match the prospective employer's needs.
- Demonstrate mastery over language with a flawless CV, free of typographical and grammatical errors, reflecting your attention to detail—a crucial skill for any writer.
- Include any writing-specific qualifications or courses, such as a Degree in Creative Writing or Journalism, that lend credibility to your skills and show your dedication to the craft.
- Detail your experience with different writing tools and platforms, such as content management systems, SEO principles, and social media, highlighting how you've used them to enhance your work's reach and engagement.
- Reflect your ability to meet deadlines and manage projects by providing examples of your workflow, your history with long-term projects, or tight turnaround pieces, which reassure employers of your time management skills.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning writer CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for writer:
- "Senior Content Strategist | SEO Specialist | Certified Copywriter | 12 Years in Digital Marketing"
- "Technical Writer | IT & Software Documentation Expert | Clear & Concise Manuals | 10+ Years Experience"
- "Creative Scriptwriter | Film & TV Industry | BAFTA Nominee | Engaging Storytelling | 8 Years' Experience"
- "Travel Journalist | Published Author | Bilingual Spanish-English | Exotic Destinations Expert | 15+ Years Writing"
- "Junior Medical Writer | MSc Biochemistry | Clinical Trial Reports | Ethical Research Advocacy | 3 Years"
- "Freelance Blogger | Social Media Influencer | Engaging Content Creation | Fashion & Lifestyle | 5 Years"
Your writer CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
writer candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you writer CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a writer job:
- With over 10 years' experience as a professional writer, I possess a proven track record of producing captivating content for a leading lifestyle magazine. I am adept at SEO strategies, have a robust command of the English language, and my article on sustainable living won the National Feature Writing Award.
- As a seasoned journalist with 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for a globally recognised news outlet, my expertise spans in-depth research and multimedia storytelling. I am skilled in AP style and my coverage of international political events has been nominated for the prestigious Journalism Excellence Award.
- Transitioning from a career as a corporate lawyer to a dedicated writer, I bring an extensive background in legal documentation and a passion for persuasive writing. Although new to professional writing, I have a deep understanding of narrative structure and an ability to present complex information clearly.
- A former IT consultant making the leap into professional writing, I bring a unique perspective on technology and digital trends. My experience includes 5 years of contributing technical insights to a popular online tech forum. I am eager to leverage my analytical skills and technical knowledge in a creative writing capacity.
- Intending to pursue a career in writing, my objective is to utilise my keen interest in world cultures and languages, which is supported by a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. Despite lacking formal writing experience, I am committed to mastering the craft and contributing perspectives shaped by diverse global experiences.
- Seeking to immerse myself in the world of professional writing, my aim is to bring my enthusiasm for storytelling and my academic background in English literature to the forefront. I am driven to develop my writing skills and contribute fresh, innovative narratives that resonate with a modern audience.
Best practices for writing your writer CV experience section
If your profile matches the job requirements, the CV experience is the section which recruiters will spend the most time studying. Within your experience bullets, include not merely your career history, but, rather, your skills and outcomes from each individual role. Your best experience section should promote your profile by:
- including specific details and hard numbers as proof of your past success;
- listing your experience in the functional-based or hybrid format (by focusing on the skills), if you happen to have less professional, relevant expertise;
- showcasing your growth by organising your roles, starting with the latest and (hopefully) most senior one;
- staring off each experience bullet with a verb, following up with skills that match the job description, and the outcomes of your responsibility.
Add keywords from the job advert in your experience section, like the professional CV examples:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Detail your ability to craft engaging narratives by highlighting published works, including the titles and dates, to demonstrate a track record of successful writing.
- Explain your experience with research and how it has enabled you to write with authority on a diverse range of topics, thus showcasing your versatility as a writer.
- Include experiences that demonstrate your ability to adhere to strict deadlines, underscoring your time management skills and reliability.
- Mention any experience you have collaborating with editors and other writers, which shows your capability to work well within a team setting.
- Illustrate your proficiency in different writing styles, such as creative, technical, or academic, to show your adaptability to various writing assignments.
- Quantify your achievements when possible, like mentioning the readership numbers or sales figures your writing has contributed to, providing concrete evidence of your impact.
- List any awards or recognitions you've received for your writing, as they serve as external validation of your skills and success as a writer.
- Highlight your familiarity with various content management systems and digital tools, if applicable, as these skills are increasingly important in online publishing environments.
- Explain any experience you may have in SEO and social media content creation, as these competencies can be particularly appealing to employers looking for digital content savvy writers.
- Developed and maintained a successful blog with over 100k monthly visitors, through well-researched, SEO-optimized articles on technology trends.
- Contributed to a 30% increase in digital subscriptions by writing compelling copy for marketing campaigns and email newsletters.
- Authored a series of feature articles which were syndicated across multiple platforms, resulting in a 40% rise in web traffic.
- Ghostwrote articles for several C-level executives, enhancing the company’s thought leadership and brand authority in the tech industry.
- Curated and managed the editorial calendar, coordinating with cross-functional teams to align content with business objectives and product launches.
- Led a team of junior writers, editing their work to ensure consistency and quality, contributing to a 20% increase in content engagement rates.
- Implemented a content marketing strategy that boosted organic search traffic by 50% within a year.
- Delivered high-quality white papers and technical guides that generated over 10,000 downloads and nurtured leads through the sales funnel.
- Regular contributor to the 'Tech Innovations' column, which became one of the most popular sections with a readership loyalty rate of 60%.
- Created and executed a content refresh plan that revitalized an outdated blog platform, tripling reader engagement metrics.
- Collaborated closely with graphic designers to produce multimedia content, resulting in a 25% uptick in social media shares.
- Organized and led writing workshops to improve the team's storytelling abilities, significantly enhancing content quality and reader satisfaction.
- Pioneered an investigative technology series, shedding light on issues like data privacy, which increased readership by 15%.
- Played a pivotal role in establishing the company's style guide, ensuring brand voice consistency across all written materials.
- Assisted in the launch of a mobile app by writing app store descriptions and promotional content, resulting in 50,000 downloads in the first month.
- Wrote and edited over 200+ product reviews and round-up articles which attracted over 500,000 unique visitors per month.
- Collaborated with the video production team to script and produce tech review videos that garnered over 1 million views on YouTube.
- Developed content partnerships with influential tech brands, providing exclusive content that secured a 35% annual growth in partnership revenue.
- Authored a monthly newsletter reaching 20,000 subscribers with a consistently high open rate of 25%, exceeding the industry average.
- Directed the content strategy for new product launches, which included writing press releases, blog posts, and social media copy that increased engagement by 45%.
- Edited and curated an anthology of essays on technological advancements that was published and sold 5,000 copies within the first six months.
- Conceptualized a viral marketing campaign using storytelling techniques that led to a 60% increase in user-generated content submissions.
- Established a network of subject-matter experts to provide credible insights for a bi-weekly column focused on emerging tech, attracting sponsorship deals worth over $100k annually.
- Crafted detailed user guides and FAQs for new software releases, which reduced customer support inquiries by 40%.
- Successfully pitched and developed a weekly podcast script, which consistently ranked in the top 100 tech podcasts on iTunes.
- Substantially grew the online community through engaging webinars and live Q&A sessions, leading to a 20% increase in membership.
- Recruited and managed a panel of five industry experts to provide insights for a monthly roundtable discussion, which became a key feature for premium subscribers.
- Significantly improved the readability of instructional material by restructuring technical documentation for user manuals and help guides.
- Generated in-depth reviews and comparison features for consumer electronics that enhanced the decision-making process for readers.
- Worked in collaboration with the social media team to craft targeted ad copy, doubling conversion rates for advertised tech products.
What to add in your writer CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your writer CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your writer CV:
Creative Writing
Copywriting
Technical Writing
SEO Knowledge
Research Skills
Content Management Systems
Proofreading
Editing
Scriptwriting
Grant Writing
Creativity
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Collaboration
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Communication
Self-Motivation
Patience
Empathy
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your writer CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your writer CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
