This booklet describes the difference between the content and style of a traditional resumé and the functional resumé, which the authors recommend for freelancers seeking work. A skills-based resumé is a more effective strategy for freelance editorial professionals because potential clients can identify at a glance whether the freelancer has the skills required for the job.
For serious freelancers committed to self-employment in the communications and publishing industries, the traditional resumé is fundamentally flawed. It doesn't accommodate the variety of projects an experienced editorial professional may have worked on as a freelancer. If their last full-time job was years ago, the reverse chronological approach makes it look like they've been unemployed since then. More importantly, a traditional resumé doesn't tell a potential client whether the freelancer can do the job.
Managing editors looking for proofreaders, for instance, don't really care about previous job titles or where an applicant went to college. They want to know that they'll do a good, fast, accurate job on schedule and on budget-in other words, that they'll be a reliable professional.
One of the best ways to present oneself as a freelance editorial professional worth hiring is with a functional resumé. This type of resumé focuses on a freelancer's skills, abilities, and accomplishments, though it may mention previous job experience and educational attainments.
For a self-employed editorial professional who wants to get freelance work, a functional resumé extracts valuable skills hidden in the traditional resumé and highlights them to emphasize writing and editorial skills for specific clients.
To create a solid functional resumé, rethink the old chronological resumé. Look at the skills used in all prior jobs, including those outside publishing. Skills developed through volunteer work also count.
The authors have provided four sets of before/after resumés to assist the reader's understanding of the differences between the two and to envision how the functional resumé might work for them as they pursue self-employment or work on marketing their small business.
In addition to explaining the benefits of the functional resumé, this booklet discusses elements of resumé design that take into account artificial intelligence screening as well as human foibles that might affect a job offer.
The authors also describe ways to supplement your resumé, leverage LinkedIn effectively, target your job search, build your network, and protect yourself against scammers.
Sheila Buff is a bestselling writer, co-author, and ghostwriter specializing in health, nutrition, and consumer-oriented medicine who has been a freelancer since 1981. A longtime EFA member, she served as co-executive director from 1995 to 2001, founded the EFA Discussion List, serves as Job List chair, and wrote the original version of this booklet. Résumés for Freelancers - How to Turn Your Traditional Résumé into an Effective Marketing Tool by Sheila Buff (Editorial Freelancers Association, 2007)
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker whose motto is "I can write about anything!"(R) She is the editor of the EFA's bimonthly newsletter; coordinator of the St. Louis chapter and past coordinator of the Rochester, N.Y., chapter; author of "Freelancing 101: Launching Your Editorial Business" for the EFA (updated in 2020); chair of the EFA's 2005 national conference and speaker at its 2013 and 2019 conferences; and a frequent presenter of workshops, webinars, and conference sessions for the EFA and other organizations. She is also the creator of Communication Central's annual Be a Better Freelancer(R) conference; owner of the publishing company A Flair for Writing and the blog An American Editor; and Networking Expert for the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE).
