You've posted your mini-bios at the MB Freelance Marketplace in hopes of snagging a great freelance - or full-time - gig. Way to go! But, are you completely satisfied with your listing? Do you think you've described your accomplishments, specialties and skills in the best possible light? From now on, I'll be checking in to share a once-a-week critique of one of your Marketplaceprofiles.

Our expert, Jane Ashen Turkewitz, is the premiere resume writer for MediaBistro. As a former media recruiter, she has reviewed thousands of resumes and has successfully placed candidates at Time Inc., Hearst, Hachette, Primedia and other major media companies. Turkewitz has written hundreds of resumes for writers, editors, publishers, sales executives, marketers, graphic designers, business managers, technology executives, public relations professionals and others.

The critique of the week for January 31 goes to Vernell Hackett. His overview goes as such:

Jane advises:

The primary focus of your opener should be to entice the potential employer to want to know more about you. You want to hit the reader hard with your specialty areas without positioning yourself as a jack of all trades. To start, I would take out the phrase "a variety of subjects."

Second, I would substitute "interesting people" with "celebrities and musicians." Aren't we all interesting in our own ways? You mention quite a few famous folks in your full overview. Why not move those names up front? Name dropping will definitely help to differentiate you against your competition.

Your opener continues with: "I have good interviewing and research skills...". Anyone who is a practicing journalist can state these two things. Find something more unique to put up front. Remember, your goal is to make sure you stand out, not fit in.

You also mention that your work is well respected. By whom? Your co-workers, your friends, your Editor? A better way to say this is, "award-winning journalist," as this makes it clear that you are respected industry wide.

In terms of the overview as a whole, I am struck by two things: one, that you don't mention your accomplishments as an Editor (which you list under "other work history") and two, the fact that you start every single sentence with the word "I." As a journalist, it is important to show you are a skilled writer, even with something as small and informal as this personal overview.

If you are interested in having your listing critiqued, send a note to the folks at the Marketplace.