You've posted your mini-bios at the MB Freelance Marketplace in hopes of snagging a great freelance - or full-time - gig. Go you, it's your birthday. But, are you completely satisfied with your listing? Do you think you've described your accomplishments, specialties and skills in the best possible light? Let's check in with our expert, Jane Ashen Turkewitz, the premiere resume writer for MediaBistro, in our weekly segment where a real Marketplace profile, just like yours, is critiqued to give its owner insight on how to make it even more effective. As a former media recruiter, Jane 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 goes to Steven Bruce, who begins his profile with the following overview:

Seeking writing and editing assignments, particularly those that test my ability to bring order and logic to complex topics. Expertise in human resources, employment law, compliance, lawsuit avoidance, and safety. Bringing structure, flow, and continuity to confused manuscripts a specialty.

Jane says,

Steven, after I read your profile, I decided to do a search for your name in the other categories listed in the Freelance Marketplace. I looked under "Publicity, Marketing, Advertising" and "Other Media Professionals" to see if you had the same profile published elsewhere. How come? Very simply, your profile just doesn't do a good job positioning you as an editorial guy.

You have, as an attachment, a list of the books you have written, contributed to and edited. Why not tell the reader up front that you have contributed to x-number of books in x-categories? Why not list some of these books under your "Work Info?" The only reason the reader will download and read one of your attachments is if you have enticed him/her to do so. And, frankly, this profile fails to do just that.

As written, your profile positions you as more of a corporate business writer rather than a writer covering business/HR issues. With such little time to make an impression on a hiring manager or Editor, you have to make sure you are VERY clear about your skills, accomplishments and capabilities. You have to spell it out that you are a senior writer and book editor with expertise in business.

Instead of opening with "Seeking writing and editing assignments...," start with a strong statement about who you are and what you can CONTRIBUTE to an organization in terms of your writing and editing skills. The reader doesn't want to know what you want. He wants to know what you have to offer.

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