You've posted your mini-bios at the MB Freelance Marketplace in hopes of snagging a great freelance - or full-time - gig. Good for you! 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 belongs to John Agoglia, whose profile starts with:

A reformed editor who now gets to do what he does best, write. I have extensive experience covering fitness, sports and business. I have also done several marketing and public relations pieces for magazines and outside companies over the last few years. If it's not listed here, don't worry I can do it all from humor to lifestyle to politics to promotional and advertising copy!

Jane says:

John:
I'm not sure I'd start off by saying you are a "reformed Editor." What if someone wants to hire you as a freelance Editor? Do you really want to close that door? Second, you focus way too much on your marketing and advertising marketing experience. I think this is a mistake. There is that separation of church and state in magazines/newspapers (at least there's supposed to be) and many Editors are not interested in promotional copywriters. They want editorial writers. My suggestion is to create two profiles. Highlight your marketing work in a new profile and store it in the publicity/marketing/advertising section of the Freelance Marketplace. Take the time to focus on your editorial work in your editorial profile. In addition, I really think you need to spend more time writing your profile. It looks like you were in a rush. You have two sentences in a row starting with "I" in your summary. I'm sure that you'll agree that this does not reflect the style of a very good writer. And, under "Associations" you have a glaring typo ("iestigative"). Treat your profile like it was a piece you would submit to a magazine and I'm sure you'll see some results. Good luck!

If you'd like your profile critiqued by Jane (and really, if you took the time to create one you should have the best one possible),drop a line to the Marketplace people.