Proposal Writer Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Proposal Writer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Proposal writing is a highly specialized skill set that requires you to synthesize complex information and present it in a way that’s easy for your audience to understand. You need to be able to identify opportunities, research potential clients, and draft compelling proposals that will convince potential partners to work with you.
If you have what it takes to write winning proposals, you could land a job with a company that allows you to work with some of the most exciting projects in the industry. Or maybe you want to work for yourself as a freelancer. Either way, your resume needs to land you interviews with top companies across industries. Follow these tips and resume example to write a winning proposal writer resume that will make hiring managers sit up and take notice.
How to Write a Proposal Writer Resume
Here’s how to write a proposal writer resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters and hiring managers will see. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.
So it’s crucial that you use them to your advantage. And one of the best ways to do that is by using specific, descriptive bullet points that clearly describe your responsibilities and achievements.
For example, rather than saying you “managed project timelines,” you could say you “managed timelines for 15+ projects across five departments to ensure on-time delivery of new product line for Q4 2019 launch.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume for a proposal writer role, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This software looks for specific terms related to the position, like “marketing” or “advertising,” in order to determine whether your skills are a match for the job. If your resume doesn’t have enough relevant keywords, the ATS might not forward it to a human recruiter.
To make sure your resume makes it past the ATS, use this list of common proposal writer keywords as a starting point:
- Proposal Writing
- Business Development
- Sales
- Business Strategy
- Marketing Strategy
- Negotiation
- Customer Service
- Strategic Planning
- Management
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Microsoft Access
- Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Business Planning
- Strategic Partnerships
- Engineering
- Engineering Management
- AutoCAD
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
- AutoCAD LT
- AutoCAD Architecture
- Construction
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Revit
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Just as with any other profession, proposal writers need to be proficient in the use of technology in order to be successful. In order to write proposals that are clear and concise, they need to be familiar with the various types of software and systems used in the business world. Additionally, proposal writers need to be able to use technology to communicate with clients and other members of the team.
Some of the programs and systems that proposal writers are typically expected to be proficient in include: proposal management software, word processing software, presentation software, and communication tools, such as email and instant messaging.