Applying for a Freelance Writing Job? 7 MUST AVOID Mistakes!
Applying for a Freelance Writing Job? 7 MUST AVOID Mistakes!
Freelancing is a competitive marketplace and as such, no short cuts should be taken with any application for writing jobs. Time, care and attention is the only way to be awarded that much sought after job. Sometimes there is a compulsion to rush your application but resist at all costs, whilst haste ensures that your application is received, it does not mean that your application is the best. The following are some general good-to-avoid mistakes that could ruin your chance of picking up a lucrative writing project.
1. When writing your application, avoid telling them about your whole life history or going for the sob story. Your life, your experiences, your various jobs might be interesting and the client may even share the pain of your recent job redundancy or your heart breaking divorce but that doesn’t mean you will get the job- unless of course your experiences are perfect for this role. Desperation translates whether by voice, letter or email. Always be positive, personalise with hard to resist, relevant information and try that approach instead.
2. The flip side of the coin is when writers don’t really say anything at all. Nothing can be as infuriating as a writer saying ‘Google me’ instead of writing about themselves. An interested client may well do their research to ensure that you are the right person for the role, but don’t make them work to get the required information from you. An application is your chance to sell yourself and not to become elusive and mysterious. Do you want the job or not?
3. Edit and proofread your application. If you tell them how accurate you are in terms of writing technique and then make some appalling errors, it may well put them off hiring you.
4. Writing samples support your application, make sure that they are relevant for the project where possible and most importantly, don’t send poorly written articles that will not show off your writing skills in a good light.
5. Don’t happily ignore the potential client’s questions. If the job spec states confirmation of experience is required or that they would like confirmation of your rates, then remember to do so. If not, you will simply make the client feel that you can’t follow directions.
6. Don’t pretend to be something that you are not. If the client has requested that only applications with specific qualifications or skill-sets need apply, then don’t waste your time or theirs if you don’t meet the criteria. Lying is not a good start and you will only get caught out eventually and lose the job anyway. Ideally, securing a writing job is about matching your skill-set for the role and not cramming a multitude of facts so that you can write with authority. Would you go for a job as a brain surgeon if you didn’t have the relevant experience and qualification? Then why go for a writing project that is totally alien to you?
7. It’s easy to misinterpret emails so make sure yours are succinct. Don’t say ‘you think’ or ‘you feel’ that you’re the best person for the role, you need to convince them that you are. If you have doubts about your own abilities, you really shouldn’t be applying for the project. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you to get closer to your goal of picking up freelance writing jobs, just remember, take your time with each and every application, believing heart and soul that you are the perfect writer for the job then all you need to do is to get that message across to your potential client.
Image:© Dana Bartekoske Heinemann | Dreamstime.com
Related posts:
- Four BIG Mistakes To Avoid On Elance I definitely stand by Elance as the King Of All...
- Want To Be A Freelance Content Writer? Want to be a freelance content writer? You can. Thousands...
- Could you Become a Freelance Writer? Freelance writing may be a wonderful career for many but...
- Writing Tip of the Week 1 Applying for writing jobs? Being professional is great but......
- Freelance Work From Home- But Where Is Your Motivation? Would you like to work from home and write all...
Category: Freelance Writing
