How to Feature Published Writing in a Resume

Job candidates with published writing successes can have an advantage over the employment-seeking competition. Featuring documented published works in a clearly defined manner is key to communicating effective writing skills in a resume. Many types of published writing can help land a job, including magazine and newspaper articles, web content and published genre books. Following a few key steps can help any job candidate incorporate these skills into a winning resume.

Instructions

1. Ensure that your resume and application follows the company's requested guidelines. Each professional experience bullet point should convey business successes. Evaluate your published writing and how the content relates directly to the desired job. Possibilities of published works include lifestyle features in magazines, a travel writing newspaper column, documented medical research papers in a peer-reviewed journal, published genre books or online web content writing.

2. Analyze the credibility of each published work. For example, an applicant with an extensive presence in well-known, peer-reviewed medical research journals like the New England Journal of Medicine will have an increased chance of landing a clinical research scientist position. Additionally, a published children's book author may likewise score an interview as a college writing professor due to her extensive book sales, Random House book deal and nationwide writing reputation over a candidate who only has a short story featured in an issue of Highlights for Children. The same perspective holds true for medical journals, newspapers and publishing houses--each industry has both elite and sub-standard groups. Study your area of expertise and revisit your publication list. Does each article, book or paper represent well in the industry? Is each published by a credible, respected source or publishing house? Furthermore, understand that self-publication is often overlooked by admission committees and not considered published works.

3. Eliminate publications that are irrelevant or unimportant. Quality publications are more important than quantity. Revisit the list and consult approachable professionals in your industry if you have questions about what publications to include and which to omit. Additionally, examine the loopholes of each existing publication. Could you work harder to publish in more respectable or well-known places? Continue to write and publish to increase experience, credibility and presence in your field of work.

4. Insert a new category into the resume. After "Professional Experience," create a new heading entitled "Publications, Presentations and Awards," or something similar. Add published writing and follow the APA, MLA, AP or AMA citation style, as required for your area of business. Ensure that the publication is relevant to the job description and prepare answers for possible questions about your work that may arise during the interviewing process.

5. Emphasize key writing skills in other professional areas. Skilled writers are often organized, leaders in training or teaching, creative and articulate. Evaluate your resume and revise professional experience bullet-points to represent yourself in the best possible way. Utilize Boston College's action verbs for resume-writing assistance (see Resources).

6. Ensure the resume is free of errors. Proofread the resume and ask a friend or family member for edits. Verify the resume is free of punctuation, spelling and mechanical errors before applying to the desired job.

Resources

• Long Island University citation style help
• University of Purdue resume-writing resources
• The Wall Street Journal Career Information
• Boston College's Resume Action Verbs