Lessons in Bid Writing

After completing a year in bidding, we interviewed two of our Bid Writers, Sam Harden and Hope Hibbard, to discuss their time working at Market Infra.

Q: Before you started, did you have any preconceptions about what a bid writing role would be like?

Sam: I had some limited ideas of what bidding would be like – I knew it involved writing, talking to technical experts, and refining answers. But bidding was a new area for me, so I went in with only some general preconceptions.

Hope: To be honest, no, because the bidding industry was completely new to me. I didn’t really know what to expect, I just knew the skills I had were a great match to the skills listed on the job advertisement.

Q: What do you enjoy doing the most in your role?

Sam: I really enjoy learning about how clients operate, their technical abilities and their innovations, then distilling the information into concise, accurate answers. I also enjoy creating a good graphic – it’s a very satisfying process putting one together.

Hope: I think my favourite part of my role (aside from the writing) is the client engagement. Throughout the bids I have worked on, I have established great working relationships, and it’s always nice to revisit these when the client returns for further bid support.

Q: What is your least favourite part of the role?

Sam: The ever-present deadlines can add a certain degree of stress to a bid. But with a good schedule and help from the team around you, I find those stresses can be minimised!

Hope: I wouldn’t say I have a least favourite, but there is a lot of ‘leg work’ that goes on behind the scenes to get our work to the highest quality possible. I think sometimes these processes can be overlooked from an outside perspective.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve encountered since you started at MI?

Sam: The challenges presented by big bids can be intense. The biggest challenge can sometimes be taking everything in – when there’s lots of technical input, it can be challenging to make sure everything is captured (and knowing which bits are extraneous).

Hope: When you start a new role in a new sector, understanding the jargon is always a challenge. Since we work within several sectors, there is always more to know! However, as you learn what they mean, everything becomes much clearer.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about working for MI?

Sam: I’m working with an absolutely lovely team. I feel like there would always be someone to help me out if I needed it, and I always feel supported in my own professional development. The people around you can really make the difference.

Hope: At Market Infra, we have a collaborative team dynamic which means everyone is supported by each other. This could be by reviewing, proofing, or providing general feedback on a piece of work. This has, and continues to be extremely valuable, and from this I have been able to learn a lot. I also think the quality of our work is reflective of this.

Q. Now you’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly of bidding, how do your preconceptions differ from the reality of the role?

Sam: Obviously, you know going into the industry that sometimes it can be difficult getting hold of the right people when building a technical response. But its only until you experience it that it really hits home how important having clear communication and transparent schedules can be in ensuring full SME engagement.

Hope: As mentioned, I came into bidding with an open mind, so I didn’t have any preconceptions. However, It is easy to underestimate the importance of forward planning for a bid when you are still finding your feet in the bidding world.

Q. What advice would you give anyone who wants to start a career in bid writing?

Sam: Don’t worry if it feels a little overwhelming at first, especially when you’re on those first storyboards or talking with technical staff. The best way to deal with that is to be honest, ask questions if you don’t understand, and make the most of the experienced members of the team around you. We’ve all been there!

Hope: To read past bids and see where you could improve for future bids you work on.

Q. Looking back, what lessons have you learned that you can share with others leaving university?

Sam: More generally, don’t worry when leaving university if you’re not sure what path you want to follow. It’s important to do something (which can pretty much be anything) but follow your nose and see what you enjoy. There’s no set timescale or a ‘normal’ route – you can always go back and change your mind.

Hope: I think its important to research your career options extensively, including looking into the sectors you may have not heard of before (I used university career services to help me). You may find something that is a good match with your skillset.

Q. Having been in the work winning environment for a year now, can you see yourself staying in a career in bidding?

Sam: Absolutely – there are a lot of ways to specialise and focus in on specific sectors in this industry. I look forward to refining my bidding skills as time goes on and building up that repertoire of technical knowledge that comes with time.

Hope: Yes, and I think the great thing about bidding is that you can also find your specialist areas, so there’s always room for progression!