Most often job seekers find themselves hesitant to include their self-employment or freelance experience in a resume. It is important to be aware of how valuable these assets are when they appear on your CV.
Applicants fear that experiences of these types will be dismissed by employers. But they can actually set you apart from other candidates and get you shortlisted for the interview stage. Freelance and self-employment are also great to explain away any employment gaps.
Top 5 Tips to Put Self-Employment and Freelance Work on your Resume
We have five ways here to showcase your experience on a resume most effectively. Learn how to put self-employment and freelance work on your resume or CV.
Mention your job with a proper title
Treat your experience similarly to any formal professional role. Use a title for the work that you have done as a self-employed individual. Terms like “Consultant”, “Contract” or “Freelancer” will be appropriate additions to your chosen title.
A career as a freelancer often allows you to have a varied opportunities, unlike traditional employees. This enables you to develop a wide range of skills and acquire knowledge that many others will lack. You might have done projects that are not entirely relevant to the role you apply for. But most abilities you have gained from these experiences are transferable. So be sure to mention your title instead of worrying about how recruiters will react to it.
Highlight your skills
It is undeniable that a full-time professional with a permanent role can boast about no gaps on their resume. But being self-employed is not without its own redeeming qualities which bring you centerstage.
As previously referred, freelancers are able to develop transferable skills. You can deviate your know-how to other roles quite easily. They can help you in everything from finding clients and building relationships to creating a website or even handle financial affairs.
The responsibilities a self-employed professional has to handle by themselves force them to learn a lot. Relying on your own assessments and capabilities to earn money is a huge experience that is worth emphasizing. Even if you have worked on an independent project briefly it is still a good idea to recognize it. It will demonstrate your achievements and potential for teamwork and management. Which is a must-have for pursuing a career in any field.
Provide evidence
If you have been self-employed for a long period, you can’t always have relevant or current references. This is why you must pay attention to this aspect while working freelance. Keep track of the tangible proofs of your work so you can include them on a resume when needed.
For example, if you have freelanced as a writer, then include links to blogs, articles, and other content you have written. If you provide a service, then share your website link or favorable reviews from clients.
You can also add a concise summary of the services you have offered during your self-employed career. List the roles you have had along with the date of employment for each. A few sentences can be used to describe them. This can work extremely well for those candidates who have experience in multiple fields.
Assistance from professional cv writing service UK can prove most useful for crafting such a CV. Experienced resume writers know exactly how to put self-employment and freelance work on your resume and present your abilities most favorably. With the right format and keywords, your resume will attract potential employers and land you an interview.
Make it professional
Just because you have a job history that is different from others, it doesn’t mean your CV will be too. There is no need to change the format in any way and make yourself seem any less professional.
It is vital to have a consistent and clear layout for your resume. If your professional details are vague or too descriptive, the hiring manager is likely to lose interest soon. They have hundreds of candidates to sieve through and a below-par document does not hold their attention for long. Therefore, display a balanced overview of your career that has relevant and necessary elements for the applied position.
When it comes to adding clients and projects to your CV then be selective about them. Your choices will depend on the role you are applying for. But apart from the most relevant references, it is important to mention any impressive clients or your most successful projects. Even if they are not directly related to your field. When adding these details, use concise and bold bullet points to highlight the skills and achievements connected to them. It is a good idea to place them underneath each project or client as you list them.
Refrain from adding false information
When appearing as a self-employed professional on your resume, you might be tempted to exaggerate some points. It is usually rather difficult for recruiters to identify false narratives in a freelancer’s CV. But keep in mind that such a statement can cost you your good reputation. Anything overboard that you mention in your resume will be the focal point when its interview time. So, it is important to emphasize only those qualities and achievements which are true.
Conclusion
The misconception that individuals with self-employed experience will be looked down upon is fast fading. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran looking for a change, executive cv services UK provide the best solution and support you need to attract the attention of any recruiter. Writers are adept at crafting resumes and are up to date with the trends and preferences of the current industry.
The industry is evolving at a rapid pace and the workplace environment is drastically different now. With the introduction of remote work in the fray, your skills as a freelancer are valued even more by businesses. It is only a matter of how you present those abilities on a resume that sets you apart from the rest of the candidates and truly convinces the recruiters.