How to Add Freelance Work to Your Resume

Freelancers play a powerful role in today’s job market, where competition is increasingly tougher. All freelancers, such as freelance writing, design, development, consulting, etc., should give your resume an edge compared to candidates who do not have any freelancing experience. However, the challenge lies in properly arranging creativity, skills, accomplishments, and the experience acquired throughout the time spent with freelance work as one writes his/her resume creating that perfect, attention-grabbing document. This is the helper on how to put freelance work in your resume so that your chances at your dream job can become much better.

Why Freelance Work Deserves Inclusion on Your Resume

Freelancing lets you develop your skills for all kinds of projects, which can benefit you when it comes time to show that you have engaged in independent work. These are many of the traits that prospective employers want, these days when they hire anyone to come to work for them full-time. Some reasons why freelance work is good on your resume:

1. It shows a range of skills: Freelancers usually need to wear several hats, primarily including project management and client communication. Those types of very broad range skills are always attractive to employers. 
2. Shows self-discipline and motivation: Standard time management to readable and effective deadlines and working solely is an important asset for most employees. 
3. Proof of Relevant Work Experience: Any freelance activity can be counted as an experience on the job for a position to which you apply. 
4. Fill Gaps in Employment: Freelance work fills the void when full-time employment does not fill up a period of work history and will go a long way toward validating time as being productive and being spent under the assumption that you were growing professionally.

The above is the freelancer work experience for the resume, and I will redirect you to some points you need to know.

Choose the Right Section for Your Freelance Work

The first aspect to consider when adding freelance work to your resume is its placement. It can either fit into an existing section with some modification or be given an independent heading on its own. Here are the choices:

Option 1: Add Freelance Work to Your Work Experience Section

For instance, if your freelancing experience adds value to the target role, you can highlight it in the overall work experience section. This is quite appropriate if the freelance positions incur the same type of work you would like your next job to be like. 

Example: Freelance Graphic Designer
January 2020 – Present

• Developed branding assets and marketing materials for small businesses.
• Collaborated with clients to create visual identities for websites and print media.
• Managed all phases of the design process, from concept through delivery.

Option 2: Create a Separate Freelance Section

This is a must if you are doing quite a bit of freelance work that warrants its section. Freelance Experience or Freelance Projects. Doing so is especially helpful if your freelance work spans so many industries or roles that it cannot fit into your main line of work.

Example: Freelance Work
Freelance Writer, January 2019 Present

• The candidate has worked with a wide range of clients in writing blog posts, product descriptions, and web content. 
• Content written from an SEO perspective has resulted in a 30% increase in client traffic to websites. 
• Frequent writing projects were maintained along with deadlines and client satisfaction.

Tailor Your Freelance Experience to the Job Description

When you add freelance work to your CV, ensure that it is customized to the available job you are applying for. Read the job description carefully, look at what are the most crucial skills and qualifications the employer is seeking, and highlight how your freelancing matches that need. In this way, you can prove that freelance experience is very relevant and directly related to the case.

If you are applying for a position as a project manager, better emphasize the organizational and leadership skills you developed while managing multiple clients and projects. If you are applying for a position in design, then emphasize creativity and technical skills.

Focus on Achievements, Not Just Job Duties

Instead of listing your responsibilities, stress your accomplishments in detail. Provide examples and quantifiable results that will bring that success to life and make the experience unique.

For example, instead of saying:

• Worked with clients to improve their websites
  Say:
• Redesigned websites for five clients, resulting in an average 40% increase in site traffic within three months.

Quantifying your achievements gives employers a clearer idea of your impact and results.

Showcase a Portfolio of Your Freelance Work

As is the practice, freelancers maintain a portfolio of the work done for past clients, and including a link to your online portfolio allows potential employers to see for themselves how well you work. A portfolio that has been methodically designed can prove to be an edge, especially in creative fields, including writing, design, and web development.

Example:
Portfolio: [www.yourportfolio.com]

When linking to your portfolio, make sure to include a selection of your best and most relevant work. For non-creative roles, you can provide work samples such as case studies, reports, or project summaries that highlight the value you’ve added to your freelance projects.

Include Client Testimonials or References

If you’ve had clients who were particularly pleased with your work, consider adding brief testimonials or references to your resume. This can help establish credibility and provide social proof of your skills and professionalism.

Example:
“Jane’s work on our marketing campaigns was instrumental in increasing our reach by 50%. She has a strong understanding of branding and design.” – Mark Taylor, Founder of XYZ Company.

References from clients who can speak to your ability to deliver results can give you a competitive edge.

Use Relevant Keywords

Many companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes based on keywords. If you’re applying for a job in a field like writing, marketing, or design, make sure to include relevant industry keywords in your resume. These keywords should reflect the skills and experiences outlined in the job description.

For example, if you’re a freelance content writer applying for a digital marketing job, use keywords like “SEO,” “content marketing,” “website optimization,” and “blog writing” in your resume.

Be Transparent About Your Freelance Role

Employers may sometimes be wary of hiring someone with a history of freelance work, thinking that they might not be a good fit for a full-time, structured job. Be transparent about the nature of your freelance work. If you had long-term relationships with clients or worked as part of a team, highlight this to show that you can thrive in collaborative environments.

Example:

• Collaborated with a team of developers and designers on a long-term project to build an e-commerce website for a retail client.

Include Soft Skills Gained During Freelance Work

Soft skills that freelancers often learn include time management, communication, and problem-solving. These are assets in any job, so they should be on your resume. Employers value candidates who can balance multiple activities, meet deadlines, and communicate well with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

Example:

• Managed client relationships, ensuring clear communication and expectations throughout project timelines.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills by troubleshooting issues and providing solutions within tight deadlines.

Conclusion

Freelancing has an exceptionally high probability of getting you that job. This, in itself, presents another way with which to showcase all your abilities, accomplishments, and adaptability. It tells your potential employers that you can work optimally in many work environments. You may put your freelance work under the experience section or create another section for it. Anyhow, incorporate an entry or two concerning freelance works which will be tailored to the job description, and highlight your achievements with pertinent keywords for ATS. So in the end, your freelance work becomes one of the remarkable features that set you apart from a highly competitive working marketplace when done properly.