How To Put Freelance Work On Resume in 2023 (with Samples)

By Reid - September 2, 2022

self-employed resume

With the fast growth of freelance work in today’s world, knowing how to list it on your resume correctly is essential. Here are some tips on how the self-employed write their resumes.

Questions Answered

Should you add self-employment to your resume?
How to list contract work on a resume
Self-employed job description example
Freelance resume sample doc (Self-employed resume sample)
Can you put your own business on your resume?

Freelance work is growing at a crazy pace.

Over a third of the US, workforce has done freelance work at some point in their career, and it currently contributes $1.4 trillion to the US economy (WebsiteBuilder.org).

With most of us working these side gigs, it’s crucial to document it within your resume correctly. But how?

Should you add self-employment to a resume?

You should constantly update your Self employed resume with relevant work experience (self-employment or freelance) related to the job you are applying for!

Each role has an essential place within your work history, and showing the right skills and achievements is critical to beating the competition.

You worked hard, so display that experience proudly by adding those freelance gigs!

how to put freelance work on resume (Self Employed Resume)

Job Title

The job title should reflect the work you performed during your freelance gigs. Make sure to add the word “freelancer” or “contract” to paint them a better picture.
Example: Project Manager (Contract) | Chicago, IL | October 2019 - December 2019

Summary of Services

The summary should be a blurb explaining your work as a freelancer. Keep the information relevant to the job you are applying to.
Example: Performed contract work for the nation's leading provider of XYZ widgets, providing technical, financial, and business management advice.

Client/Project Results

Use bullet points to highlight noteworthy projects and results from your work. They will help keep your resume organized and display reasons why you should be hired.
- Example:
  - Led a team of 35 developers, analysts, and Q/A testers
  - Managed a new onboarding training project for three months. Improved quality by 43% and cut costs by 23%
  - Managed the “Bring It Down” project, which created three new avenues of revenue
  - Managed budgets of up to $9 million across each team

Key Skills

Listing your critical skills gained throughout your freelancing career will help ATS (applicant tracking systems) and recruiters match/find your resume using keywords around the skills they seek.
This should be placed in the “Key Skills” or “Skills” section of your Self employed resume.
- Example:
  - Program Management
  - Employee Training
  - Tactical Strategy Planning
  - Business Process Improvement

Related:

Freelance Job Description Example

Combine everything mentioned above, and we have an example of a freelance work description.

Project Manager (Contract) | Chicago, IL | October 2019 - December 2019

Performed contract work for the nation's leading provider of XYZ widgets, providing technical, financial, and business management advice.

Led a team of 35 developers, analysts, and Q/A testers
Managed a new onboarding training project for three months. Improved quality by 43% and cut costs by 23%
Managed the “Bring It Down” project, which created three new avenues of revenue
Managed budgets of up to $9 million across each team

Self-Employed Resume Example

freelancer resume example

Note: TheBalanceCareers has a few great templates for freelance resumes that would be worth checking out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is my job title if I am Self-employed?

If you are self-employed, you may not have a traditional job title. Instead, you might describe yourself by your work or the services you offer.

For example, you might refer to yourself as a freelancer, independent contractor, consultant, or small business owner.

Alternatively, you could use a job title that reflects your specific work, such as a writer, designer, or developer.

Can you put your own business on a resume?

Yes, you can put your own business or startup experience on a resume (similar to the other work experience).

Look to include the company name, the dates you ran the business, and any relevant experience generated from the work you performed.

Wrapping Up | How to put Self-employed on resume

Whether it’s a two-month gig or a 12-month contract, the relevant freelance experience you gain is vital to add to your self-employed resume, LinkedIn profile, and other online accounts.

Many recruiters will look for empty gaps and utilize the “Ctrl F” function to find related keywords to the role they are filling.

Suppose your freelance work is added and matches those keywords, the odds of moving forward to an interview jump significantly. Please don’t give away the farm, but enough to pique their interest. If it’s relevant, add it to your resume.

Good luck out there!

Title: How to Put Self-Employed on Resume (with Examples)

Category: theFreelancer

Tags: Freelance resume, How to list freelance work on resume, Self-employed resume, Self-employed resume sample, Writing a freelance resume, Self-employed resume sample

Author: Reid is a contributor to theJub. He's an employment and marketing enthusiast who studied business before taking on various recruiting, management, and marketing roles. More from the author. | Author Profile