When you search Guru.com for projects, you'll find literally thousands of work opportunities at your fingertips. But in order to turn these opportunities into paying jobs, you'll need to do more than send a canned proposal to Employers.
You need a customized, attention-grabbing proposal.
Though Employers certainly consider your resume, earnings, and feedback when deciding whether to hire you, your proposal is your tool to convince Employers that you are exactly the person they need to make their project successful.
If you are a Guru or Guru Vendor member, you can grab an Employer’s attention before they even read one word of your proposal by having it featured as a Premium proposal.
Employers will know (and will not appreciate) if you send them a canned "cookie cutter" proposal, so it's best that you thoughtfully tailor each proposal you submit to the project for which you're applying. Not only will this approach improve your chances of being hired (by proving to Employers that you're serious about the work), but it will also help you be certain that this is a project which you are suited for and eager to tackle.
Structure your proposal around these five major points and see how they come together in the sample proposal below.
- Introduction
- Plan of Action
- Your Skills and Experience
- Pricing and Time Estimates
- Closing
Introduction
In a brief opening paragraph, state the project title and Project ID. You may also want to thank the Employer for the opportunity to submit your proposal, or briefly outline the rest of the proposal.
For example:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit my proposal for your project 12345, "Experienced Book Writer Needed." Enclosed, please find a plan for project implementation, information about my skills and experience, as well as cost and time estimates.
Short. Sweet.
Plan of Action
This is the heart of your proposal, the part that really sells your pitch. Employers are less interested in your past projects than they are in hearing what you can bring to their current project. Offer a concrete series of steps and ideas on how to execute the work. Prove your ability to plan efficiently.
Your Skills and Experience
Rather than expounding on your entire resume, build this section around a few unique advantages that only you can bring to the Employer's project. If you're applying for a ghostwriter position, for instance, the Employer won't be particularly interested to know about your ice sculpting expertise. It's more important and more relevant that you link to articles you've written online, mention your creative writing degree, and tell the Employer about the series of books you published. Highlight the skills and experiences that make you the ideal candidate for the job.
Pricing and Time Estimates
By this point, if you've written a strong proposal, the Employer knows that you're a talented, capable Freelancer, and wants to hire you, so lay out the nuts and bolts: When will the project be done, and how much will it cost? If you're willing to negotiate, let the Employer know.
Closing
Reiterate your interest in the project and thank the Employer for taking the time to consider your proposal.
General Tips
The Employer is receiving many proposals, and may not want to read another lengthy pitch. By keeping your proposal concise and topical, you are more likely to ensure that the Employer will read to the end.
If the Employer has asked specific questions in the project posting, be sure to address them. These questions are key points that the Employer needs answered; if you neglect them, you paint yourself as lazy or uncooperative.
Check and check again to make sure that your document is free of spelling and grammatical errors. The way you present yourself through your writing is indicative of the way you will approach a project. Establish yourself as thoughtful and detail-oriented, not hasty and careless. |