What Do Bad Job Proposals Look Like?
We've pulled together some examples of job proposals that have not been successful and a few notes about what our team feels could be improved upon.
Example 1 (17 words, 90 characters)
Thank you for your previous order. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Lol, bye.
What's Wrong With This Proposal?
- It provides no detail on what that writer will write.
- It does not tell the prospective client why the writer has authority in the subject.
- We don’t recommend using informal language like "LOL" in a proposal. (And no, "lmao" isn't any better.)
Example 2 (54 words, 277 characters)
I am an interior designer and I spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve the "UX" of homes. I have also written about the Internet of Things, and I know a lot about smart home devices. I will use this knowledge, research, and input from the client to craft this piece.
What's Wrong With This Proposal?
- It provides no detail on what that writer intends to write.
- It does a decent job telling the prospective client why the writer has authority in the subject but does not link to any written work that the prospective client can view.
- It’s very short, provides no sample intro and no outline.
Example 3 (12 words, 67 characters)
I've been married for nearly 10 years now, so lots of experience ;)
What's Wrong With This Proposal?
- It provides no detail on what that writer will write.
- It does not tell the prospective client why the writer has authority in the subject.
- We don’t recommend using informal language like "wink" emoticons in a proposal.
It's important to note that a Bad Proposal does not necessarily have to be long or thoroughly researched. We don't expect nor recommend Scripted Writers spend a tremendous amount of time on each proposal, but it's essential to strike the right balance of showcasing your unique qualifications for each proposal, a general idea of what you intend to write and relevant writing samples if you have them.
And please, leave the "lol" at home.