What I learned from hiring freelance writers

Practical takeaways for landing your next commission or writing job.

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What I learned from hiring freelance writers

I’ve been on the freelancer side of the table for years, but last week, for the very first time, I was the one doing the hiring.

I’ve now brought on two writers to help launch video content for the Freelance Writing Network (more on them soon!).

Reading through more than 100 applications has taught me a lot. Not just about hiring, but about what actually helps a writer stand out among a crowd of 100-plus.

So, what will help your future applications? Let’s dive in.

Always be specific

A lot of applicants said they “had experience” with video or freelance writing, without ever actually providing an example. I had never really appreciated how vague it sounds until you compare it to someone who explains their experience thoroughly.

If you don’t tell me how you gained experience, I’ll never know. And I have too many applicants to get through to search each one individually online. So show me the evidence! Make my life easier!

The strongest candidates were clear, detailed, and connected their experience directly to the role. That made them stand out fast.

Do your homework

Kindness isn’t a requirement, but genuine enthusiasm matters. Perhaps not every company will work like that, but a little effort to show you know who you’re applying to goes a long way.

One of the people I hired has been a paid subscriber to the FWN for a while, something I only discovered later. How did that help? Well, they knew all about the brand, the content, and what future work could look like.

Many other candidates were also very clear about how they knew what the FWN is and what it does. It was always clear when people had not spent the time doing their research, as the responses felt far more clunky.

The more tailored your application feels, the more memorable you become.

Read the job description (all of it)!

Strangely, a large number of people did not do this. I’m not talking about people who weren’t qualified. I mean people who literally had not read what was asked for.

For a start, I said that only applications completed via the form would be considered. A few people sent me emails as well as the form, which is fine, though I will be honest and say I did not come back to them (I get dozens of emails a day and would never remember who had done both).

Some people simply sent me an email. If those people cannot even read a handful of lines in a job description carefully, how can I expect them to read the briefs I send them for work, or pay attention to what I’m asking for? These details matter!

Let your voice come through

One thing that really stood out during the process was the difference between the applications that felt human and those that read like they’d been copied and pasted from a CV. The more corporate the tone, the harder it was to get a sense of the person behind it. In this field, and for this job specifically, that matters a lot.

I knew I would be asking whoever I hired to run workshops, webinars and other video content. I need to see personality. Showing you can communicate clearly, warmly and with intent goes a long way. A number of people wrote in a way that made me immediately think, “Oh, I’d like to work with you.” That’s a powerful thing to be able to do in a short application.

Apply early

I read more than 100 applications for this job and went back over many of them multiple times. It gets harder and harder to think critically about applications as the pile gets bigger.

What’s the lesson? Don’t waste time getting your application in. This isn’t a sneaky nudge to start using the live board (though obviously I recommend it), but hiring managers don’t always have time to give everyone a fair look. While I made time to read through all of them, not everyone will.

Even being a few hours late could mean a manager or editor has already moved on. Don’t let that be you.

Proofread, please!

The number of incorrect spellings, punctuation and grammar really surprised me. You should always check what you're sending, even if it’s for a brief application.

Don’t let silly grammar mistakes be the reason you miss out on a commission or a job. When I have 100+ applications and very little separating many of them, bad spelling could be the thing that pushes you into the discard pile.

You’re a writer. Basic editing at least is expected!

Be as detailed as possible

I didn’t actually ask for lots of writing, and I’d probably include more questions in hindsight. But this meant some people really stood out by going the extra mile, as I always checked links and videos when people shared examples of their work.

That extra detail made it clear that applicants were both passionate and thorough. It helped me feel like I could rely on them, which matters a lot when you're hiring someone to work closely with you.

So… Who did I hire?

More on that coming soon. But I can’t wait to share this new avenue of growth with you as we continue to expand the Freelance Writing Network.

Thanks as always for your support!