How to Write a Resume for a Writing Job (Writer & Editor Examples)

Quick answer: To write a resume for a writing job, keep it to one clean page and include a header with a portfolio link, a short summary naming your niche and content types, writing experience with measurable results (traffic, rankings, conversions, publications, deadlines met), a skills section with writing and editing skills plus tools (WordPress, Google Docs, SEO tools, style guides), and education. Tailor it to each job, and proofread it obsessively, because for a writer, the resume is a writing sample.

Every resume is a writing test. For writers, it's a writing test that's graded by someone who edits for a living. One misplaced comma and your "meticulous editor" claim gets a red pen through it.

This guide shows you how to write a resume for writing jobs, from content writing and copywriting to journalism and editing, with examples, skills, and tips for presenting your portfolio.

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What Hiring Managers Look for in a Writer's Resume

• Clean, error-free writing: your resume is your first sample
• A clear niche: B2B SaaS, health, finance, travel, technical, or marketing copy
• Proof of results: traffic, rankings, conversions, engagement, or publications
• Reliability: volume, deadlines, and turnaround times
• A portfolio of relevant clips
• Tools and process: CMS, SEO, style guides, and collaboration with editors and designers

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How to Format a Writing Resume

• One page for most writers; two at most for senior writers and editors
• Single-column, clean layout with clear headings and plenty of white space
• One professional font (Calibri, Georgia, Garamond, or Helvetica) at 10.5 to 12 pt
• Minimal design: dark text on white, no graphics or skill bars
• PDF file so your formatting stays intact

Simple formatting also helps you get through applicant tracking systems.

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What to Include on a Writer's Resume

1. Header with portfolio link

Name, target title ("Content Writer," "Copywriter," "Editor"), email, phone, city and state, LinkedIn, and your portfolio or website. Make the link clickable.

2. Professional summary

Two to three sentences with your niche, content types, years of experience, and a standout result.

See how to write a resume summary.

3. Writing experience

List jobs and significant freelance clients in reverse-chronological order, with three to five results-focused bullets each.

4. Skills and tools

Five to ten skills that match the job (see below).

5. Education

Degree, school, and year. English, journalism, communications, and marketing degrees are common but not required. Add relevant courses or certifications (e.g., HubSpot Content Marketing, Google Analytics).

6. Selected publications or clips (optional)

A short list of your best bylines or projects, with links.

7. Awards and testimonials (optional)

Writing awards, fellowships, or a one-line client testimonial.

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How to Write Bullet Points for Writing Jobs

Show impact, not just output.

Weak: "Wrote blog posts for clients."

Strong: "Wrote 120+ SEO articles for a B2B SaaS company, 35 of which rank on page one of Google and drive 60% of organic sign-ups."

Metrics for writers

• Articles, pages, or pieces produced (per week or month)
• Organic traffic and keyword rankings
• Conversion rates, sign-ups, or leads from content
• Email open and click-through rates
• Social shares or engagement
• Publications or outlets you've been published in
• Deadlines met and turnaround time
• Editing volume and error reduction

Writer resume bullet examples

• Grew a fintech blog's organic traffic from 20K to 140K monthly sessions in 14 months
• Wrote landing page copy that lifted conversion rates from 2.1% to 3.4% in A/B tests
• Produced 8–10 long-form articles per month with a 100% on-time delivery record
• Published features in The Atlantic, Fast Company, and Wired
• Wrote a 6-email onboarding sequence with a 48% average open rate
• Ghostwrote 40+ LinkedIn posts for 3 executives, growing their combined following by 25,000

See our guide to resume bullet points.

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Skills for a Writing Resume

Writing skills

• Long-form and short-form content
• SEO writing and keyword research
• Copywriting (web, email, ads)
• Research and interviewing
• Storytelling and brand voice
• Technical writing
• Editing and proofreading
• AP, Chicago, or in-house style guides

Tools

• WordPress, Webflow, or other CMS
• Google Docs and Microsoft Word
• SEO tools (Ahrefs, Semrush, Surfer, Clearscope)
• Grammarly or Hemingway
• Google Analytics
• Project management (Asana, Trello, Notion)
• AI writing assistants (used responsibly, with your own editing)

Soft skills

• Meeting deadlines
• Taking and applying feedback
• Collaboration with editors, designers, and SMEs
• Curiosity

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Writer Resume Example

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Editor Resume Tips (and Example)

Editors need to show quality control, leadership, and process, not just writing:

• Volume and scope: pieces edited per week, publications or teams supported
• Quality improvements: reduced errors, faster turnaround, higher engagement
• Standards: style guides you enforce or created
• Leadership: writers managed, freelancers coordinated, editorial calendars owned

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How to Present Your Portfolio

None of the top guides go deep on this, but your portfolio often decides whether you get an interview:

• Curate 5 to 10 pieces that match the jobs you want; quality beats quantity
• Organize by type or niche: "SEO Articles," "Case Studies," "Email Copy"
• Add one line of context per piece: the goal and the result
• Use live links or PDFs, and save copies in case pages go offline
• Handle NDA and ghostwritten work by describing results without naming the client, or asking permission to share
• Free options: a personal site, Contently, Muck Rack, Medium, or a simple Google Drive folder

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How to Write a Writing Resume With No Experience

• Create samples: start a blog, write spec pieces, or contribute to student or community publications
• Highlight writing-heavy roles: academic research, marketing internships, newsletters, social media
• List relevant coursework and certifications, like journalism, content marketing, or SEO courses
• Volunteer your writing for nonprofits or local businesses
• Use an objective that names the kind of writing you want to do. See resume objective examples.

See how to write a resume with no experience.

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Proofreading Checklist for Writers

• Read it out loud
• Check every link in your header and portfolio
• Make tenses consistent: present for current roles, past for previous ones
• Use one date format and one style for numbers
• Ask an editor friend to review it
• Print it once, because typos hide on screens

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I write a resume for a writing job?

Include a portfolio link, a short summary with your niche, experience with measurable results, writing skills and tools, and education. Keep it to one page and proofread it carefully.

What skills should I put on a writer resume?

SEO writing, copywriting, research, editing, storytelling, style guides, CMS tools like WordPress, SEO tools, and soft skills like meeting deadlines and applying feedback.

Should I include a portfolio on my writing resume?

Yes. Most writing employers expect one. Put a clickable portfolio link in your header and include a few selected clips.

How long should a writer resume be?

One page for most writers. Senior writers and editors can use two pages.

How do I list freelance writing on my resume?

List it as one entry ("Freelance Writer, Self-employed") with dates, and summarize your clients and results in the bullet points. For standout individual pieces, see our guide to projects on a resume.

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Write a Resume Worth Reading

Our Resume Builder gives you clean, single-column templates and helps you turn your clips and results into sharp bullet points, so your resume reads as well as your best work.