Do you have a passion for writing and an eye for detail? If so, a proposal writer may be the perfect career for you. In this job, you’ll get to help draft documents that are meant to persuade the reader to help support you in your company’s project proposal. As a writer, you must provide factual research for financial information, as well as have great public speaking skills as you’ll be presenting presentations to “sell” ideas. Other duties that you’ll perform on the job will include editing documents, working with other graphic designers, and presenting different proposals to potential partners. You will need a bachelor’s degree in either journalism, English, or communications. You also must have strong written and oral communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and experience writing proposals.
Sample job description
We are searching for a proposal writer to join our team of writers at [Your Company Name] in creating engaging and persuasive proposals. A proposal writer is responsible for gathering information, formatting each proposal according to company guidelines, and obtaining approval before sending proposals out to sources. You must have excellent organizational skills, work well under deadlines, and be able to communicate effectively in writing. The perfect candidate for this position cares about facts and details as well as writing in a convincing manner.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Attend kickoff meetings to determine project scope
- Help create project schedules and deadlines
- Conduct research
- Edit documents for accuracy and clarity
- Incorporate feedback and revisions
- Collaborate with graphic designers during layout
- Present proposals to potential investors and business partners
Education and experience
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in journalism, english, mass communications, or a related field.
Required skills and qualifications
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to adhere to brand voice, tone, and style guidelines
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- Solid background in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Strong interpersonal and presentation skills
- Ability to work on tight deadlines
Preferred qualifications
- 8+ years of prior relevant experience
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills
Typical work environment
Proposal writers work in an office environment where they spend their time working alongside other writers to identify opportunities, research details, and draft proposals. The majority of a proposal writer’s time is spent at a desk, with the rest of their work consisting of presenting proposals to supervisors for approval.
Typical hours
The work hours for a proposal writer are typically from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, in an office setting. However, longer or different hours may, at times, be necessary.
Available certifications
Experience is often more important in the field of proposal writing than certification. If you are hoping to up your chances in getting hired, here are a few programs you can explore:
- The Association for Proposal Management Professional Certification (APMP). The APMP offers four different levels of certification for those who wish to dedicate themselves to “the process of winning business through proposals, bids, tenders, and presentations” – Foundation, Practitioner, Capture Practitioner, and Professional. Through this certification, you show employers that you know how to use the best practices for proposal and bid management in order to succeed. To take the exam, you will need at least one year of experience in proposal writing, verified by a reference of your choice.
- Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC). Technical communication is a broad field that covers communicating about technical or specialized topics, communicating using technological means, and providing instructions on how to do a technical task. By gaining CPTC certification, you verify that you are able to communicate effectively in writing. This certification is available at three levels – Foundation, Practitioner, and Expert – each with its own requirements.
Career path
Becoming a full-time proposal writer often begins by earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism, english, mass communications, or a related field of study. Next, a candidate for this position is encouraged to earn certification with the Association of Record for Bid, Proposal, Business Development, Capture and Graphics Professionals (APMP).
Employers will want to see proven experience in proposal writing. Writing proposals as part of an internship, college coursework, or volunteer work for a nonprofit organization is a great way to assemble the portfolio required to fill these positions. Many proposal writers will work as freelancers to build their own client bases and strengthen their bona fides in their respective industries.
US, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook
SOC Code: 27-3042
| 2020 Employment | 52,300 |
| Projected Employment in 2030 | 58,300 |
| Projected 2020-2030 Percentage Shift | 12% increase |
| Projected 2020-2030 Numeric Shift | 6,100 increase |
Position trends
Private industries ebb and flow with the market, and federal agencies grow and shrink with their annual budgets. Strong research skills will remain crucial for proposal writers to become “instant experts” in the sector they’re currently working — and to be versatile enough to move between sectors when available funding funds dry up.
Speaking of versatility, learning cross-disciplinary skills will help proposal writers stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Working knowledge of graphic design and publishing platforms like Adobe InDesign can also improve proposal writers’ abilities to collaborate with their creative teams.