As a freelancer, you get an immense experience with so many different types of projects and work with so many different types of people. This is super valuable, not only to you but also to new potential clients.
List your freelance work as it was employment. Simply add the months you worked on the project, which the client was, and describe the project. And if you can then use storytelling to explain the situation before the project, how you solved the project and the results for your client.
This is very simply explained, and I would like to go into more depth on how to list it and why you should filter through your work if you have a lot. Remember your portfolio in all this as well.
List Your Freelancing As Employment
A freelance job is worth at least as much as an employed job, if not more.
I would argue that working as a freelancer on a project, you learn a lot more than working in an employed position in a company.
The reasons imply that you need to take care of everything and understand your client’s situation and the solution quickly. Oh, and yea, you need to figure everything out yourself. Everything is on you.
It’s, therefore, essential to list your freelance jobs as a freelancer when you build your CV. Simply highlight it with a small label or write: Freelancing: {job title}.
Showing your freelancing jobs not only does it show you have experience freelancing but also shows future employers and clients what you’ve worked with and how you’ve solved different cases.
I usually add my freelance work as the following template:
{TITLE OF THE JOB} [Freelancing]
{Period from} – {Period to}
{What was the issue I needed to solve, include a brief description of your client}
{How did I solve it, what methods did I use, and how did I work}
{What did my solution mean to the client? How did it change things for my client}
{Testimonial from the client}
This template is super simple and to the point, but it uses storytelling to take the reader through your journey with your client and how you solved any specific issue for them, leading them to a better result.
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Show Your Most Prominent Freelance Work
This only applies if you have a lot of freelance jobs. If you have less than 10, then you can skip this section.
I have been on many freelance jobs, and instead of adding every job to my CV, I vary it depending on who I send the CV to. If my next potential client needs to get something solved within WordPress, then I build my CV with WordPress freelance jobs I’ve been on.
This shows the client I have a lot of experience with this, and I can even try and narrow in the industry to be the same or close to the potential client’s industry.
For my LinkedIn, I can’t vary my CV, so here I simply show the projects I’m most proud of, and then I describe them. I don’t show all my projects.
But in the end, this is completely up to you. Some like to show all the jobs they’ve been on, others only show the most prominent work, and I believe in the latter.
If you have worked on quite a few jobs, then there are 100% some jobs you’re more proud of than others, and it’s those jobs you want potential clients to see and read, not the jobs which were just quickly done or you didn’t achieve the result you wished.
Showcase Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is where you can be visual and go more in-depth with your CV. I would recommend you to go all out here, you have no limitations, and you can display any images during the progress of your project, but also visuals explaining your methods.
Make a collection of all your clients you wish to show their projects, add a testimonial from them as well to create some social proof, and then make it as visual and beautiful as possible.
Lastly, you just need to link your CV to your portfolio. Either as an extension of your CV or add before the section about your experience as a freelancer.
You can also for each freelance job link to the portfolio where you’re going more in-depth with that specific project, and they can read more.
There are a lot of options to how you can do this, and you just need to choose the one that fits your work and workflow the best and stick to it. Otherwise, experiment if you’re in doubt. It’s the best way.
FAQ
How do you put freelance on a resume?
Add it like it’s been a short job you’ve done. It’s a bit the same as when you see people show their investments on their CVs. Your freelance experience is an immense experience you’ve created, and you have to show it.
Simply add it with your client’s name, a little about the project, and the period you worked on the project.
Can I mention freelance work in my resume?
Absolutely yes! You have to mention it. I would say that experience through a freelance job is often worth more than experience through a job.
As a freelancer, you have to take care of everything alone.
What is another word for freelance on the resume?
You could use Seld-employed if you don’t like the word freelancer, but in the end, they mean the same. Another word could be a consultant if your role were to consult and not execute.
How do I add freelance work to my resume on LinkedIn?
Add it as was it a job, where your client is the workplace, add the period you worked there and for the employment type you just choose, freelancer. Remember to describe the project you worked on and what methods you used to solve the project.
