I began using Indeed in late October, 2017. I was looking for a way to supplement my income and decided to give it a try. In less than three months, I’ve made $1,400 from the site, and I have enjoyed the writing gigs, but it’s definitely been a challenge just to find clients.

Indeed is a free job board with thousands of new posts daily in numerous categories such as sales, customer service and, of course, writing. There are full-time, in-house jobs, and plenty of ads for us work from home folks, both full-time and part-time.

But I have to be honest with you: even though Indeed doesn’t technically cost a penny to use, and you can apply for as many jobs as you’d like, you have to remember that time is money. On this job board you will have to put in a great deal of time and effort to find work.

However, that time can pay off. As I am about to show you.

Tips to Get Jobs on Indeed

There are a few reasons it’s difficult to find work on this job board. First off, I don’t think most of the applications I submit even get reviewed by the client. When a potential client views submitted applications, the prospect receives a notification from Indeed. I’d estimate I get a notification for one in every five resumes sent.

Other obstacles include competing against numerous other skilled writers for most jobs, finding projects that match your skillset, and spending time creating a resume and personalized cover letters.

So, let me give you a few simple pointers to make your life easier.

• Go to the website of the company you’re interested in working for and see if they are accepting resumes via email instead. I often do this simply because, like I said before, either many employers receive too many resumes from Indeed or they rarely check Indeed notifications.
• Sort your searches by “Date.” That way the most recent jobs appear first. I’m not a fan of wasting my time applying for old jobs. Oftentimes, those ones are no longer active, but the client never removed the post.
• Create a professional resume. I have a few different resumes I use and choose the one that is most relevant to the project I’m applying for at the time.
• Write a personalized cover letter for EVERY gig (see below).

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

When you apply for gigs on Indeed, you are asked to submit a resume which should automatically be uploaded. The next step is to write a cover letter, and it is important to knock it out of the park in this step. This is your opportunity to tell the potential customer why you’re the perfect hire.

If you don’t hit a home run on your cover letter, your odds of getting the job are about as good as my chance of marrying my dream woman, Megan Fox.

• Address the employer as such: “Dear XYZ Company Hiring Manager.”
• The first line should read, “I am interested in the position of (insert job title) with XYZ Company, as advertised on Indeed.”

Once I have the hiring manager’s attention, which is my goal with the introduction, I highlight specifically why I’m the right candidate for the job. Here’s an example from a gambling-related gig I applied to, and was subsequently hired for:

• “I have been a professional poker player for the past decade and written for numerous gambling-related blogs and websites. I believe that the skills and experiences I have gained throughout my career make me the perfect candidate for this role.

The next paragraph should be dedicated to highlighting your experience relevant to the ad. I begin the paragraph with, “I have developed strong writing and research skills,” or something along those lines. I then back my claim up with a specific example, such as the one I used in the cover letter for the aforementioned gambling writer job.

• “For example, during the summer, I work as a reporter at the World Series of Poker, conducting interviews with popular players and celebrities, and finding the most intriguing stories each day. This position requires meticulous writing skills, and an ability to convey to my readers the excitement of the WSOP.”

Equally as important as the introduction is the conclusion. This is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression. Think of it as the finale to a great first date. Tell the prospective client, “please see the attached resume and following links to review my writing style and additional qualifications.” Then, include 3-4 links to your best work that is relevant to the topic at hand. And then…

• “I am confident that my experience in (industry) and writing skills qualify me for this position. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to speaking with you and discussing my qualifications in more detail.”

Wrap the cover letter up with a simple, “Sincerely, (Your Name).”

My Experience on Indeed

Now that I’ve given you some pointers on how to find writing gigs on Indeed, I want to share with you my experiences on that job board so you can see what you’re getting yourself into. In total, over about 70 days, I made $1,400, which isn’t bad for supplemental income. I’ve received three jobs during that period, two of which have become long-term projects.

The other gig didn’t work out so well, but I still made $200 for writing four 400-word articles on marketing. The other two jobs have provided me with a few hundred extra dollars each month and will continue on for the foreseeable future. One is a blog writing gig for a gambling-related blog, and the other a lifestyle blog. I don’t spend more than 4-5 hours each month on either of these projects so the hourly wage sure beats what you’d receive at McDonalds.

It’s time consuming and hard work to find writing jobs on Indeed, but you can do it if you’re persistent and patient. Don’t expect a response to many of your applications. But if you stick with it and send in a few resumes every day, you’re bound to find something eventually.

A Few Final Tips

Before I wrap this up, I want to leave you with a few additional pointers that will help increase your odds of finding the right job on Indeed:

• There are full-time jobs available, including work from home and in-house. I know I only mentioned part-time gigs I do, but that’s a personal preference. I never look for a full-time job. I don’t have time for one.
• If you can’t provide any relevant writing samples, don’t apply for the job. You’ll be wasting your time.
• Respond to your messages within a few hours. Like I said, these employers/clients have many other applicants, so you need to be responsive.
• When searching for jobs, if you are looking for freelance writing gigs, enter “writing” in the “what” box, and “remote” in the “where” box so that your search results match the type of jobs you desire.

Good luck in your search for the perfect freelance writing gig!

Jon Sofen resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been a freelance writer since 2010, covering a wide range of topics for numerous blogs and websites. He is also a semi-professional poker player, die-hard sports enthusiast, and avid traveler. You can check out his personal listicle blog at JonSofen.com.

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