Are you underselling yourself by not including your freelance work on your CV? The short answer is YES! So, here are some tips to get you started.
As a freelancer, you might have the exact skills that employers want. However, you have no idea how to show off your past freelance projects on your CV. The employment pool is very competitive, and everyone wants to stand out. Your freelance work is one of the things that will help you spruce up your CV, especially if you have employment gaps.
Thankfully, including freelance work on your CV is not as tough as it sounds. Here’s how you can make the most out of your situation as a freelancer and use your skills to secure more jobs.
Tips on how to list freelance work on your CV
1. List your role in the freelance opportunity
I know what you are thinking, “What is my title?” Don’t avoid including freelance work on your CV because you are unsure what title best suits you. You can create one right there as you draft your CV. The title that you include on your CV should show the type of work you were doing during your self-employment. Use words like Freelancer, Consultant, and Contract in the title.
2. Include a company name
For your resume to flow and have a uniform format, include a company name for the freelance work on your CV. This way, your freelance work resembles the other jobs in your employment history. However, this depends on whether the freelance business is an establishment.
3. Add the start and end date of the freelance opportunity
Listing the period that you worked as a freelancer can help hiring managers and potential clients understand your experience in the industry. The start and end date will make your CV more convincing as it will show your repeat and long-term clients.
4. Summarize your services
Once you list your job title, take this time to explain the work you performed as a freelancer. With a paragraph, you can articulate your services and help the hiring manager know the skills you applied to your job. If you worked for multiple clients during the period, try to mention the services you performed and the industries that your clients were in.
For example:
Freelance SEO Optimization Specialist, XYZ Limited (June 2018 - September 2019)
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Wrote SEO Optimized website content for two clients in the fashion and technology industries, leading to an average increase of 80% in website traffic.
5. Highlight projects or clients
Which specific projects have you worked on as a freelancer? Take this opportunity to highlight your notable projects and clients. Call attention to the achievements and marketable skills you used to perform these jobs.
Sample A of freelance work on your CV
Content Creator (contract), Nairobi, KE | 2018 to present
Writing, editing, updating, and reviewing content for company websites, blogs and marketing materials. Researching key SEO terms and including them in content to increase content exposure. Liaising with the marketing team to maintain consistency between content published and marketing campaigns. Key projects include the following:
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Increased content engagement for a cervical cancer campaign by developing content that created awareness of the struggles of people suffering from cervical cancer for website X.
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Assisted in launching a biotechnology company to its social media audience by creating content that matched its marketing campaign.
Sample B of freelance work on your CV
Freelance Logo Creator and Graphic Designer, XYZ Limited(June 2018 - September 2019)
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Developed 36 graphic design pieces monthly for the client’s website and social media pages, which created over 800,000 impressions during a 3-month campaign. Here is a 5-star review on my Indeed Profile (insert link).
Conclusion
When presenting your work history and skills, it’s good to know how to include freelance work on your CV. By showcasing your freelancing ability by following the best practices in this article, you can create a strong CV that showcases your experience in different industries and your knowledge to work in a specific niche. Let us know how these tips have helped you in the comments below.
