How To Write Freelance On Your Resume: A Comprehensive Guide to Highlighting Your Skills

Freelancing has exploded in popularity, transforming the way people work and earn a living. However, translating your freelance experience into a compelling resume can be a challenge. You need to showcase your skills, demonstrate your value, and make potential employers or clients take notice. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to writing freelance experience on your resume effectively. We’ll cover everything from formatting to action verbs, ensuring your resume shines.

Understanding the Importance of Highlighting Freelance Work

Many job seekers overlook the significance of effectively presenting their freelance work. This is a mistake. Freelance experience is a goldmine of skills and accomplishments that employers highly value. It demonstrates:

• Adaptability: Navigating different clients, projects, and industries.
• Self-Discipline: Managing your time, deadlines, and workload independently.
• Problem-Solving: Finding solutions to unique challenges.
• Business Acumen: Handling finances, client communication, and project management.

Ignoring this experience leaves a significant gap in your professional story. A well-crafted resume that showcases your freelance journey can significantly increase your chances of landing your desired role or project.

Formatting Your Freelance Experience: Where to Put It and How

The way you format your freelance experience depends on the type of role you’re targeting and the nature of your freelance work. Here are a few options:

Dedicated “Freelance” Section

This is the most straightforward approach. Create a dedicated section titled “Freelance Experience,” “Independent Projects,” or something similar. This works well if your freelance work is substantial and forms the core of your professional experience. Within this section, list each project or client as a separate entry.

Integrating Freelance Experience with Other Roles

If your freelance work is supplemental to your traditional employment, you can integrate it into your existing work history. List your freelance projects within the relevant timeframes, alongside your full-time positions. This approach is suitable when your freelance work complements your overall career path.

The “Projects” Section

If you have a diverse portfolio of freelance projects that don’t fit neatly into a time-based format, consider creating a “Projects” section. Here, you can showcase individual projects, highlighting your contributions and results. This is particularly useful for creative fields like design, writing, and development.

Crafting Compelling Bullet Points: Action Verbs and Results

The key to effectively portraying your freelance work lies in your bullet points. Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and quantify your results whenever possible. Instead of simply stating “Wrote articles,” try “Authored 50+ blog posts, increasing website traffic by 20%.”

Here are some examples of powerful action verbs to use:

• Managed: Led, Directed, Oversaw
• Developed: Created, Designed, Implemented
• Increased: Boosted, Improved, Enhanced
• Reduced: Streamlined, Optimized, Cut
• Collaborated: Partnered, Coordinated, Communicated

Focus on the impact of your work. What did you achieve? How did your contributions benefit your clients or projects? Quantify your results whenever possible using numbers, percentages, and specific metrics.

Tailoring Your Resume: Matching Freelance Skills to Job Requirements

One of the most crucial aspects of writing a resume is tailoring it to the specific job or project you’re applying for. Review the job description carefully and identify the key skills and requirements. Then, carefully select the freelance projects and bullet points that best demonstrate your ability to meet those needs. This requires some strategic thinking.

For instance, if the job description emphasizes project management skills, focus on projects where you successfully managed timelines, budgets, and client communication. If the role requires strong writing skills, highlight projects where you produced high-quality content that met or exceeded client expectations.

Dealing with Gaps in Employment: Freelance as a Bridge

Freelance work can effectively fill gaps in your employment history. If you have periods of unemployment, highlighting your freelance projects can demonstrate that you were actively engaged in professional activities and continued to develop your skills. This shows initiative and a proactive approach to career development.

Freelance Resume Examples: Putting It All Together

Let’s look at a couple of examples to illustrate how to present freelance experience on your resume.

Example 1: Freelance Writer

Freelance Writer | Self-Employed | 2020 - Present

• Authored website copy for 10+ clients, resulting in a 15% average increase in lead generation.
• Developed and implemented content marketing strategies, driving a 20% increase in organic traffic for a SaaS company.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines and client expectations.
• Specialized in writing blog posts, articles, and social media content.

Example 2: Freelance Web Developer

Freelance Web Developer | Self-Employed | 2018 - 2022

• Designed and developed responsive websites for small businesses, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Collaborated with clients to define project requirements and ensure client satisfaction.
• Managed project budgets and timelines, delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Implemented SEO best practices, resulting in improved search engine rankings for client websites.

Showcasing Your Freelance Portfolio: Linking to Your Work

Don’t just tell potential employers about your work; show them! Include links to your online portfolio, website, or relevant project examples. This allows them to see your work firsthand and assess your skills more effectively.

Consider creating a dedicated portfolio website or using platforms like Behance or Dribbble to showcase your best work. Make sure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and highlights your key accomplishments.

Keywords: Optimizing Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. To increase your chances of getting past these systems, incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your resume. These keywords should be naturally integrated into your descriptions of your freelance work.

For example, if the job description mentions “SEO optimization,” be sure to include that term in your bullet points if you have experience in that area. This helps the ATS identify your resume as a potential match for the role.

The Importance of a Strong Cover Letter

Your resume is a snapshot of your skills and experience, but your cover letter allows you to tell your story more completely. Use your cover letter to elaborate on your freelance experience, explain why you’re a good fit for the specific role, and highlight your key accomplishments.

Tailor your cover letter to each job application, demonstrating your genuine interest in the opportunity and your understanding of the company’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Work on Your Resume

What if my freelance experience is very diverse?

If your freelance work covers a wide range of skills and industries, focus on the skills and experiences most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Tailor your resume to highlight those aspects, while still providing a general overview of your freelance experience.

Can I include testimonials from clients?

While you can’t directly include client testimonials on your resume, you can reference them in your cover letter or portfolio. For example, you can say, “As highlighted in client testimonials, I consistently exceeded expectations…”

How do I handle confidential projects?

If you worked on confidential projects, you may not be able to provide specific details. In these cases, focus on the skills you used and the type of work you performed, without disclosing sensitive information. You can also provide a general overview of the industry or type of project.

What if I don’t have a formal portfolio?

If you don’t have a formal portfolio, consider creating a simple website or using platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your work. You can also include links to specific projects or examples of your work in your resume.

How do I address rates and payment?

Your resume isn’t the place to discuss your rates or payment terms. These are typically discussed during the interview process. Focus on showcasing your skills, experience, and accomplishments in your resume.

Conclusion: Crafting a Winning Freelance Resume

Writing freelance experience on your resume requires careful planning and execution. By understanding the importance of highlighting your freelance work, formatting it effectively, using strong action verbs, tailoring your resume to each job, and showcasing your portfolio, you can create a compelling resume that grabs the attention of potential employers or clients. Remember to emphasize your accomplishments, quantify your results, and demonstrate the value you bring to the table. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream job or project and achieving your career goals.