What does it take to get your resume taken seriously as a freelancer? It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelance writer, an editor, even a freelance social media maven needs to be able to grab someone’s attention right off the bat.

The key to powerful freelance resumes and cover letters? There’s no SINGLE solution, but there are three areas you should concentrate on:

• Competing well–people lose when they forget that a cover letter and resume are in actual competition with other resumes and cover letters. This is a contest for attention. What do professional athletes do when they prep for a contest? They study the competition. Read other resumes, cover letters, etc. anywhere you can find them.
• Put yourself in the editor’s chair–read your own resume and cover letter with the notion that you have a stack of 20 to go through. What can you do better in both documents with that notion in mind?
• Cut the crap–eliminate anything in your resume or cover letter that’s not relevant to the job you’re applying for. Don’t mention your hobbies or interests unless they pertain somehow to the gig. This may sound like I’m telling you to come off like you’ve got a one-track mind, but remember that stack of 20 other resumes that still need to be gotten through. How much time do you want the reader to spend on material that won’t impress them to hire you for the gig?

–Joe Wallace