Writing samples are an important part of landing jobs in content creation and writing. Whether you’re applying for a position as a blogger, copywriter, technical writer, or journalist, employers typically expect to see examples of your previous work. Having solid samples that highlight your skills and abilities is crucial to standing out from other candidates.
In this article, we will discuss why writing samples are important for content jobs, what kinds of samples to include, tips for crafting effective samples, and how to present them professionally.
Why Employers Want Writing Samples
For content-focused roles, writing ability is one of the most important skills an employer is looking for. Since most job interviews only provide a brief glimpse into a candidate’s writing talent, samples allow hiring managers to evaluate writing style, tone, organization, subject mastery, and editing abilities outside of a time-constrained conversation.
Writing samples let employers get a feel for your true writing capabilities—such as how well you synthesize information, structure paragraphs, and craft compelling prose. They demonstrate whether you understand the audience and can communicate complex ideas simply. Samples also reveal your strengths when it comes to research, sourcing, formatting, layout, and following style guidelines.
In short, samples give hiring managers concrete examples of the quality of work they could expect from you on the job. This helps them determine if your writing would be a good fit for their brand, audience, and specific requirements. Without writing samples to review, it’s difficult for employers to assess writing skill and gauge potential job performance.
Deciding What to Include
When choosing samples to include, focus on pieces that closely match the type of writing and subject matter required for the position you’re applying for. You’ll want to select samples that highlight all of the core competencies listed in the job description. For example:
Blog writing roles: Include 2-3 blog posts on various topics within the industry.
Copywriting roles: Portfolio of marketing emails, web copy, ads you’ve written.
Journalism roles: Published news articles covering several topics and lengths.
Technical writing roles: Product documentation, manuals, tutorials, white papers.
In general, aim to provide 3-5 high-quality writing samples that best exemplify your abilities. Stick to published pieces when possible, as published work lends more credibility than drafts. If you don’t have published clips, unpublished pieces for class or personal sites are acceptable too.
You’ll also want to show range in your writing. Include a mix of shorter snippets (250-500 words) and longer form pieces (800+ words). Demonstrate you can effectively address a variety of topics within the field. Present samples from different platforms/mediums as well if relevant, like both article and video scripts.
While samples don’t need to be flawless, make sure to proofread and polish them carefully before submitting. Ask others to review and provide feedback to catch any small errors you may have overlooked. Hiring managers will form opinions based on the quality of your samples, so put your best foot forward by submitting top-notch work.
Presentation Tips
Once you’ve selected your writing samples, it’s important to present them cleanly and professionally. Here are some tips for making your samples easy to review:
Provide context – Briefly explain the purpose, audience, specs or goals of each sample. For example, “Blog post published on [SITE] about [TOPIC].”
Organize systematically – Compile samples chronologically in a PDF portfolio, or categorize them thematically in an online folder. Number or title each item.
Remove clutter – Crop out unnecessary graphic elements, comments, or metadata. Samples should stand alone on their textual merits.
Cite publication details – For published clips, include the publishing outlet name, date, and link if applicable. Reference the class if from school assignments.
Format uniformly – Use consistent font, margins, and spacing so samples are aesthetically cohesive as a whole. Number pages for longer pieces.
Highlight skills – Add light commentary to emphasize relevant skills utilized, like “Demonstrates keyword optimization strategies throughout.”
Include contact – Provide your name and current/relevant contact details on the cover page.
Presenting samples professionally shows hiring managers you understand templates, layouts, and organization—all valuable hard skills. It also signals your work is polished and presentation-ready, further cementing you as a thoughtful, professional candidate.
Following Up
After submitting your writing samples, it’s a good idea to briefly follow up to remind the employer of your interest and reiterate why you’d excel at the role based on your samples. Express enthusiasm for the company and position. You can also ask when they anticipate making a hiring decision.
With strong writing samples tailored to the job requirements, impressive presentation skills, and post-application follow up, you’ll be in a strong position to land content writing and creation opportunities. Remember – your samples are often the first impression you make on an employer, so put your best work forward. Focus on quality over quantity to really highlight your signature skills and abilities.
Writing samples remain a pillar of online job applications in content fields. By understanding their importance, crafting high-caliber samples, presenting them professionally, and following up strategically, candidates can leverage samples into new and exciting career opportunities. With practice, writers learn to view past work as assets to continually build their online portfolio and impress future employers.
Andrew Stroud