Some experts would argue that a resume is just obsolete when it comes to self-employment. They believe that a portfolio is a better argument to get a job offer. However, in the modern world, having a resume with all your working experience and skills listed there is never a superfluous thing to have. But how to list freelance work on a resume? How can a freelancer benefit from having a resume? Let us get all this straightened out.
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Why does a freelancer need a resume?
Although there are many cases when an employer doesn’t ask you to provide a CV, there are still situations when you need to work on your resume and send a CV in order to land some of the freelance jobs top offer. Not to miss out on this opportunity, it is always better to have an in-depth resume at hand. Even if you do not use your freelance resume for each potential client, it is still better to be prepared and have one ready, in case you need it.
The only reason why lovers of any-time jobs do not want to create a CV is because formulating a sample of freelance resume job description can be a challenge. Most CV formats are designed for the “traditional” use, and it can be difficult to fit a freelancer’s career into the structure of a standard CV.
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You are good as a freelancer and have a lot of orders. And so far, no one has asked you to provide a CV. That’s just great! But it doesn’t mean that no one will request your CV in the future. Now is the time to update a resume and add your freelance projects before someone asks about it. You will not have to spend several days under pressure to create this precious document. It’s better to have it ready-made at hand and remember how to list freelance work on a resume for multiple employers.
Here are some common scenarios when a freelancer, looking for some type of freelance jobs may need a CV:
- You are applying for a project at a large company. In such cases, freelancers are asked to provide a resume. A large company is also likely to use the Candidate Tracking System (ATS) to select the most fitting CV.
- You apply for work through an agency. If you are looking for work through third parties, such as agencies or independent human resource managers, they can ask for your CV to find you the best fitting options.
- If you are returning to the “traditional” office work, your resume remains the foundation of the search for traditional employment. If you have been freelancing for a long time and looking for an in-house position, creating a CV covering all your experience can be difficult, but it should be done.
- You are applying for a professional license or certificate. In some fields, you may need to upload a resume in order to obtain the needed document. Even if you are not directly asked about the CV, it is better to send it.
- A client may also request a CV. All customers are different. Many will be happy to review the portfolio. However, there are also those who insist on having a CV. And it is just a pity to skip a project just because you do not provide the client with the information the one requested.
It is important to remember that a resume does not replace a portfolio; a CV rather complements it. So be sure to add a link to your portfolio in your CV. If you have how it should look like, you can always check the freelance resume job description sample.
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How to list freelance work on a resume?
Self-employers usually don’t create resumes because it can be difficult to figure out how to include freelance work in a CV. Here are some common questions that freelancers have when creating a CV:
- What position to indicate?
- Should a list of freelance customers be specified by name or as a separate work place?
- How many details about freelance projects should be provided?
- Should a link to a website or an online portfolio be provided?
- How to list freelance experience if it is combined with the main job? Should both jobs be included?
- How should a CV be formatted?
Let’s dig deeper into all these questions so that you have an idea of a freelance resume sample to a job description.
1. Position
Since you are a freelancer, your clients do not provide you with a specific position. It is up to you to decide. What’s important here is to list your field of responsibility, tasks you worked on, and the problems you have solved.
2. Freelancer customer list
Should you list your customers by name? If you had many customers, do you need to list each of them separately? There are no rules. If you have done a lot of work as a freelancer, you don’t have to list each individual client you have worked for. It’s better to emphasize the projects you have done to famous companies and brands. When indicating a client, make sure that you have a contact person in this company who can become your good reference source.
3. Details to provide
Limit yourself to a one-sentence description for each freelance project on your list. Use keywords and terms that highlight your skills and experience. Focus on achievements.
4. Portfolio
As a professional freelancer, you most likely have an online portfolio or website that you can share in your resume. You may also wish to include links to your accounts on social networks such as LinkedIn for quick contact with you. That is always a good idea.
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Secrets of adding self-employment experience to a CV
When creating a resume, freelancers face the same difficulties. As a freelancer, you may think that you do not need a CV as it is and that having a portfolio is enough in order to get a job. However, it doesn’t matter whether you want to work as a freelancer or to get an in-office job offer, it is career advice to update your freelance CV.
In case you still have any questions, we will guide you on how to list self-employment on a resume in the most effective way to impress an employer with your professional skills and experience.
Freelance Resume Example
Olivia Todd
1 Main Street | New Cityland, CA 91010
Home: (123) 456-7890 | Cell: (123) 456-7890
Creative Freelance Graphic Designer with over five years’ experience in developing engaging and innovative digital and print designs for clients in a broad range of industries. Highly adept at visual strategy, layout development, branding, and print and new media advertising. Demonstrated success working in collaborative environments and providing leadership to design teams to conceptualize and execute effective marketing collateral. Seeking to help clients achieve business development and business growth goals through forward-thinking graphic designs and strategies.
Core Qualifications
- Animation, Illustration, and Design
- Graphic Arts Technology
- Digital and Traditional Photography
- Website Development and Management
- Digital Media
- Marketing and Advertising
- Project Management
- Staff Development and Leadership
Professional Experience
GRAPHIC DESIGNER (CONTRACT)
6/1/2012 - CURRENT
ORANGE COUNTY AUTO TRADER
NEW CITYLAND, CA
- Create innovative design packages to elevate and differentiate branding and marketing and advertising initiatives.
- Meet with client to determine marketing and design vision, scopes of work, and budgets and deliverable timeframes.
- Format designs and media for use in print and web applications; deliver production-ready graphics in HTML and CSS.
- Paginate four-color and black and white layouts, rescaled and cropped images using Photoshop, and compile client data into PDF formats; edited documents and layouts prior publication and submission to printer.
- Took and manipulated images for use on website to promote company offerings online.
- Use Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to edit files, footers and headers, captions, format text, insert images, manage file size, and export press-quality PDF files.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER (CONTRACT)
8/1/2010 - 5/1/2012
LIBERTY GRAPHICS
NEW CITYLAND, CA
- Coordinated with 15-member team to develop engaging and innovative graphic designs for logos, flyers, posters, and page layouts; provided guidance and direction to junior graphic designers on complex and large-scale projects.
- Designed new, on-brand visual elements focusing on messaging and brand.
- Trained junior graphic designers on Adobe Creative Suite programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver.
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN
9/1/2009 - 12/1/2009
PACIFIC ISLAND SUN
NEW CITYLAND, CA
- Developed, revamped, and reformatted advertisements from local business for publication in weekly periodical.
- Formatted and color-corrected photographs for ad developer use.
- Created logo prototypes and processed publication-ready advertisements from clients.
Education
Bachelor of Arts: Graphic Design, Doeside Academy of Fine Arts, New Cityland, CA
Associate of Science: Graphic Design, Shore Heights Collegiate Institute of Liberal Arts, New Cityland, CA
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Freelance Design Marketing AssocationGraphic Artists GuildAmerican Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, After Effects, Dreamweaver)Web Development (HTML, CSS, WordPress)QuarkXPress