How to Write a Freelancing Resume (Examples & Guide)

How do you list freelance work on a resume? It’s a problem.

You’ve got great experience that’s not from day jobs. Sometimes it’s your best or only work. Do it wrong, and a freelance resume looks like a giant resume gap. Do it right, and you’ll prove you’re applicant #1.

Don’t fret.

This guide will show you:

• How to list freelance work on your resume.
• Where to list freelance projects on a resume for best effect.
• Freelance resume samples better than 9 out of 10 others.
• Why adding a cover letter to your freelance resume will boost your chances of getting hired.

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Wondering how to put freelance on a resume for other jobs? Making a consultant resume or writer resume? Try these guides:

Guides to help you list freelance work on a resume:

• Career Change Resume
• How to Show Promotions & Multiple Positions on Your Resume
• How to Explain Gaps in Employment on Your Resume

Freelance Resume Guides for Business:

• Consultant Resume
• Business Resume
• Former Business Owner Resume
• Accounting Resume

Freelancing Resumes for Creative Jobs:

• Writer Resume
• Freelance Writer Resume
• Technical Writer Resume
• Photographer Resume
• Interpreter Resume
• Translator Resume
• Artist Resume
• Makeup Artist Resume
• Model Resume

Tech and IT Freelance Resume Guides:

• Web Developer Resume
• Web Designer Resume
• UX Designer Resume & UI Developer Resume
• Videographer Resume
• Video Editor Resume
• IT Resume
• Examples of Resumes That Get Jobs

Need to know how to put freelance work on resumes?

That’s next.

1. How to List Freelance Work on Resumes

To show freelance work on a resume:

1. List your freelance position on your resume as if it were a job.
2. Understand the job offer you’re applying to. Know the required skills.
3. Think when you used those skills doing freelance work.
4. Tailor your resume—find your biggest achievements from freelancing that fit.
5. Add the achievements to your resume bullet points.
6. Use the best resume format and resume fonts.
7. Save your resume as a PDF unless the job ad forbids them.

Consider this—

A freelance resume doesn’t have to be that different from a regular professional resume. For instance, if you’re hunting a consultant job, were you a freelance consultant? If you’re trying for a writer job, were you a freelance writer?

You can show either as full jobs. Do it like the first of our freelance resume examples:

Freelance Resume Examples [Experience]

See these sample freelancer resume experience sections.

(They also make great how to list temp jobs on resume examples!)

Pow. The employer would have to have to be squirrely to pass that up.

But yank out those achievements, and you get the next of our freelance resume examples:

That freelancing resume example won’t get you hired.

It’s not clear if you actually did anything or just binge-watched a lot of Netflix. So—

Make sure to prove your skills with accomplishments.

Pro Tip: Add metrics to your freelance resume to show you did good work—and plenty of it. Make $ and % and other numbers your best friends.

Don’t use uninspiring language in your freelancer resume. See our guide: 240 Resume Action Words & Power Words to Make Your Resume Shine

2. How to Put Freelance Projects on a Resume

You’ve done a zillion projects! How do you list them so employers notice them? Put them in a special “Projects” section in your freelancer resume.

Important:

Only list the ones that prove your key skills. And only list what space allows in one or two pages on your resume. So if you’re writing a freelance artist resume, list art projects.

See the next two sample freelance resume examples:

Freelance Resume Examples [Other Sections]

The next of our artist freelancing resume examples is beside the point:

You seem self-motivated. That’s great. But are you a good artist?

The next of our freelancer resume samples does it better:

That’s Banksy-level. That freelancing resume example will hit the gallery owner where she lives.

Pro Tip: Got freelance experience that doesn’t prove your key skills? Leave it off your freelance resume. The only reason to list freelance work on resumes is if it proves you’re a good candidate.

Should you put hobbies on a freelancer resume? See our guide: +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)

3. How to Put Freelance Work in a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Here’s a shocker:

That dream employer? (We’ll call her Sharon.) She won’t read your freelance resume. She’ll skim.

Grab her fast before she vanishes. How?

By showing her you’re a warrior without a W-2.

Got freelance work achievements that’ll peel her eyelids back? Add them to your resume summary or resume objective.

These two freelancing resume examples show the way.

Freelance Resume Examples [Resume Summaries]

What’s wrong with the first of these freelance resumes for part-time jobs?

That’s not horrifyingly bad, but it won’t get you on the A-list.

So, do like the next of our freelancing resume examples. It’s for a freelance writer resume.

Standout. The employer just forgot the other applicants. Those past accomplishments electrified her.

Here’s another freelancer resume example. This one’s for a freelance web developer:

A resume for freelancers like that will put you on the roster.

Pro Tip: How long should a resume be for freelancers? One page—maybe two. Got four pages of eye-popping freelance projects? Save most for your portfolio.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, our online resume builder will score your resume and our ATS resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Need more line-level tips to write a freelancing resume objective or summary? See our guides:+20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips) andHow To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See

4. How to List Freelance Skills in a Resume

Let’s not beat around the bush. Fail to prove your skills, and your freelancing resume experience won’t count.

To make employers stop yawning:

1. Scour the job ad for skills they want.
2. Scrub your past for times you used those as a freelancer.
3. List them in your freelancer resume bullet points.

The freelance resume examples below show how.

Freelance Resume Examples [Skills]

Pretend Sharon listed these skills in the online job posting:

Required Skills: 1) traffic growth, 2) keyword research, 3) competitive analysis, 4) inbound links

Of course add them to your freelance skills list. Then do this:

Do that, and you’ll have medical insurance fast.

Not sure what professional skills to list on your resume? Find them in our list of job-specific resume guides up top.

Then list some transferable skills and use them as your resume keywords.

Remember, focus on what’s in the job posting.

Pro Tip: Are freelance resume achievements really “proof” of skills? They won’t hold up in court, but they’ll stand up enough to get the interview.

What mix of soft skills and hard skills for a resume should you include? See our guide: Soft Skills vs Hard Skills for a Job: What Employers Look for

5. What About a Freelance Cover Letter?

Are you supposed to send a cover letter with a freelance resume?

Yes. More than with any other kind of resume. Almost half of all employers crave them. But—

You must explain freelance IT work, consulting, or writing on your cover letter.

To stand out:

1. Use the hiring official’s name.
2. Prove you know the job’s needs.
3. Explain why you’re the perfect applicant.

This short example freelance cover letter will make employers gnaw their lips:

That freelance cover letter goes great with a freelance resume. Why? It shows your freelance IT work and skills built new opportunities for clients.

Pro Tip: You should end your cover letter with some kind of offer. Try, “I’d be glad to talk to you about how I expanded our custom software to cut daily disruptions by 25%."

Not sure how to start a cover letter for your freelancer resume? See our guide: How To Write A Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (+12 Examples)

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Here’s a recap of how to list freelance work on a resume:

• Start with a freelance resume summary. Win the employer’s trust by showing how your freelance work helped clients.
• Tailor your freelancing resume to the job. Show times you used job-matching skills toward reaching client goals.
• Add a “Freelance Projects” section to your resume. In it, put your freelance writer, architect, consulting, IT, or artist jobs.
• Write a freelance cover letter. Add your best freelance accomplishments that show you’ve got the skills to do the job.

Do you send freelance resumes to job postings and hear crickets? Are employers flat-out ignoring your freelancing resume? Frustrating! Give us a shout in the comments. We’d be happy to discuss.

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