Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. -Summarize information
-Edit/rewrite brief text
-Draft articles and essays
-Conduct Internet research
-Compile list of resources/further reading
Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.
A. -An article on dealing with memory loss in an aging parent
-A descriptive listing of colleges that offered psychology degrees and what careers the recipient could pursue
-An article on succeeding at change by planning small, incremental steps (based on Japanese kaizen concept)
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Take the time to look at other things the writer has produced to get a feel for his/her range of capabilites, his/her voice, and the overall quality of his/her work.
Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
A. Thorough work sometimes takes more time than it would appear on the surface. The best written works require time for rereading, sometimes reworking, and checking things over for accuracy.
Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?
A. -What is your area of expertise?
-Can you show me examples of your work?
-Can I contact other clients with whom you've worked?
Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?
A. It is important to think about the physical length of your document(s) (eg,about how many pages, paragraphs, or slides). Also, do you want something written from scratch, do you want to send a preliminary outline, or do you just need editing of a completed document? Consider a phone call; sometimes a dialogue can establish the parameters of the project quite efficiently. It's helpful to create a follow-up e-mail (from writer or client, according to the scenario) that summarizes the conversation.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. My work speaks for the commitment I have to quality, accuracy, and completeness. It reflects careful research that has been fact-checked, proofread, and edited.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. The ability to research information and find a way to synthesize it in an attractive, easily understandable format.
Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?
A. I am extremely conscientious and have an excellent track record of meeting deadlines. I take every assignment seriously.
Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?
A. In order to write well, you must read voraciously and write every day. Once you've produced a first draft, you must reread it several times to be sure it's clear and thorough. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your clients to be sure that you both have the same expectations of the project.
Q. What is your greatest strength?
A. My greatest strength is attention to detail. I research thoroughly, double-check sources and cite them as needed, check spelling and grammar, and edit with a high standard.
