How to market yourself as a copywriter

A common question asked of a potential new hire is: Why do you want to work for us?

It can be a tough one to answer. With a diminished job market, people are pursuing any job that's available and editing their skills to meet what a company is looking for. However, this can quickly become obvious if a job seeker does not educate himself on the practices of his target job field.

Creative positions are evolving and accommodating new technologies. People who can adapt and learn multiple skills at a time are more desirable. For an employer, it can be tough to navigate through a massive amount of job seekers and find the most talented people in an eclectic bunch. For companies looking for copywriters, it can be especially hard, because writing skills are not the sole determining factor in whether a potential candidate will thrive in the fast-paced environment.

As a copywriter, it is important to understand what a recruiter is looking for in a potential hire so that you can market yourself accordingly. Typically, a copywriter crafts copy for advertising and marketing materials, such as print ads, direct mail and brochures. In addition to printed items, copywriters are commonly expected to be able to create audio and visual scripts to be used as promotional pieces. Each form of advertising requires a different type of writing, so if you are unable to adapt to multiple formats and stylistic voices, copywriting may not be for you.

Beyond writing, copywriters have a lot of other responsibilities that they should be aware of before completely marketing themselves as writers. It is one thing to write a script or ad, but the ability to conceptualize and construct campaigns often stands between a job offer and rejection. Being able to look at the big picture shows a recruiter that you are capable of adapting to evolving needs within the office.

Additionally, being able to communicate is just as important as being able to write. A creative copywriter must have the necessary skills to pitch her ideas to clients and coworkers. Oftentimes, advertising and marketing ideas are a team effort, and the ability to take criticism and positively apply it to your work shows that you are looking out for the best interest of the company and not just yourself.