If you’ve ever browsed the freelance world, you might have already heard of platforms like PeoplePerHour or Upwork. The platforms function like job boards where the process of talent matching allows the customer to choose the best expert for the job. When applying for a job, the candidate is supposed to write a proposal. So how to compose a job-winning proposal? Check the proposal tips in the article below.
What is a Job Proposal?
A proposal written by a professional in the industry functions as a common letter of interest. It contains data on the applicant’s background, skills and education, and other job-related details. For a company to hire freelancers, the recruiter must also learn more about your experience. That’s why most job proposals contain examples of work or projects similar to the one in the job post.
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Other details to consider in your job proposal:
- Budget. Any employer wants to know your hourly rate or the money you’ll charge for the whole project;
- Deadline. Stay realistic with the number of hours required for high-quality performance;
- Communication channels. Make sure your communication happens straight through platform tools to avoid scamming.
Eager to learn more about writing job proposals? Keep reading.
Tip #1: Evaluate Your Ability to ‘Sell’
Before you apply for the job, weigh the requirements. For instance, there is no need to apply for the job if the client requires an expert but you’re an entry-level specialist. Considering jobs that entail skills you don’t possess is also a waste of time. Learn more about what to consider when evaluating your readiness for the job:
- Check the profiles of people who’ve applied for the job. It will help you get an idea about the competition level. Compare your skills and experience to the ones of other applicants;
- Check the company’s reviews. Has the employer had toxic demands or inadequate job requirements before? Find the red flags in time;
- Learn more about instructions and budget. Can you keep up with the employer’s expectations? Does the task contain clear instructions? Is there the same clarity about the budget?
Tip #2: Mention Similar Work Experience
Most platforms will allow you to upload the projects you’ve already worked on. If there is no such option, you can always share the link to the project you’ve performed. To persuade the client that you’re the right talent to hire, list the projects similar to the client’s job post.
When listing your projects, follow the next steps:
- Add a short description to each of the projects you’re uploading, like time and requirements;
- Tell the reader about the difficulties you’ve encountered and the measures you’ve taken to solve the problem;
- Talk about the parts of the project that were the most interesting to focus on.
Tip #3 Core Proposal Tips - Define Your Audience
A recruiter is a specialist who aims to find the best candidate for the job from the global talent pool. Hence, the recruiter or the client themselves is the audience of your job proposal. So think of the information they want to see in your message.
- Read the job post twice and customize your proposal according to job demands;
- Mention the relevant skillset required for the job;
- Add certifications when putting your educational background on a proposal;
- List relevant projects you’ve already worked on.
Tip #4: Follow a Specific Structure
A job proposal shares a few features with a traditional cover letter. Think of a job proposal as a ‘cover letter for freelancers.’ All because a standard job proposal explains to the reader why you’re the best candidate for the project. Just like a cover letter explains why you’re the best fit for a particular job position.
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The components of a job proposal will have sections as follows:
- Greeting. Keep it standard;
- Introduction. Provide more background on your profession, education, and the number of years you’ve been in the industry;
- Body. In 2-3 paragraphs, include your skills and work examples. Also, discuss the budget and deadline here in case;
- Farewell line. Again, keep it formal.
Tip #5: Details Matter
Keeping your proposal well-polished in terms of design is a must. Research would tell you that recruiters pay more attention to proposals pleasing to the eye. Make sure the font you use is formal while the spacing is even. Pay attention to the structure of paragraphs.
Other factors to consider:
- Length. Keeping your job proposal one page is most effective;
- Testimonials. Platforms like Upwork give you an opportunity to gather testimonials (reviews) from the clients you’ve already worked with. Add them to your resume;
- Proofreading. Clients love working with professionals who know past or future tense, dots, and commas.
Final Thoughts
Writing your first job proposal is not as daunting as it sounds. All you need is to develop the structure for your proposal and fill in the paragraphs. Then, follow the format mentioned in Tip #4, add work examples, and pay attention to details you can also ask for help from professional resume writers.
We hope the proposal tips in the article were helpful to you. Good luck!