Including your freelance work on your CV can significantly increase your credibility, regardless of whether you operate as a freelancer full time, part time or in between employment.
It demonstrates that you have experience working with actual clients, meeting deadlines, producing outcomes and developing abilities that are directly relevant to any field of work.
Additionally freelancing exhibits initiative, flexibility and independence qualities that employers highly respect. Highlighting your experience working as a freelancer can help you stand out and create a more comprehensive profile.
Why Include Freelance Work on a Resume?
It’s not just “side gigs” anymore in today’s ever shifting job economy, freelance work is real, credible work experience. If you freelance full-time or part time or even freelance in between jobs, listing freelance work can help to bolster your credibility. It demonstrates you have worked with real clients, deadlines, results and garnered skills that directly pertain to any professional role.
Freelancing also shows that you are self reliant, adaptable and proactive all skills in demand by employers. Showcasing your freelance experience could make you stand out and give you a richer, more diverse profile.
How to Add Freelance Work to Your Resume
1. Include Freelance Work in the “Experience” Section
From a side gig to a full fledged job, freelancing has evolved. The gig economy has grown over the past ten years and employers are beginning to accept freelancing as a valid kind of professional expertise. Adding it to your “Experience” section not only covers job gaps but also demonstrates your abilities, initiative and flexibility.
Let’s examine how freelancing has changed in relation to resumes:
Early 2010s – Freelancing Was Understated
Freelancers were hesitation to include freelancing jobs on their resumes in the early 2010s. Freelance labor was frequently seen by employers as casual or less legitimate than established positions. Because of this, a lot of experts buried it under “Other Experience” or left it out.
Mid-2010s – Rise of Platforms & Visibility
Freelancers started creating organized portfolios as a result of the growth of websites like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. Resumes began to list freelance positions like “Freelance Writer” or “Freelance Designer,” though frequently with little information.
Late 2010s – Freelance Becomes a Career
Freelance work acquired respectability as creative fields adopted project based frameworks and remote work became more widely accepted. Similar to traditional occupations, people began adding client based accomplishments, tools used and quantifiable results in the Experience area.
2020–Present – Freelancing as Core Experience
Both remote employment and freelancing took off after 2020. After making the switch to full time freelancing, many professionals are now pleased to include it in the “Professional Experience” section.
Titles of jobs
Names of clients or platforms
Project highlights
Skills and tools used
Measurable achievements
2. Use a Client-Based or Project-Based Format
As the popularity of freelancing grew over time, so did the demand for professional, unambiguous CV representations of it. The client based or project based format is among the most successful that have developed. This approach provides recruiting managers with a clear image of your experience, adaptability, and outcomes by highlighting specific work you have completed for certain clients or on noteworthy initiatives.
Let’s examine the evolution of this format and its efficacy:
Early Days – General Descriptions Without Details
Many freelancers used to just label “Freelancer” with broad descriptions like “Did content writing for various clients” or “Provided graphic design services.” This strategy was ineffective since it failed to identify the types of clients, industries or outcomes attained.
Mid-2010s – Need for Credibility and Differentiation
Professionals realized that ambiguous statements were insufficient as the freelance industry became increasingly competitive. To differentiate themselves, they began segmenting their freelance work by client or project, providing a brief synopsis of the particular abilities employed and the results attained for each.
Employers benefited from this:
Check out the breadth and depth of experience
Recognize the size and extent of projects
More readily identify transferable skills
2020s – Client-Based Format Becomes the Norm
Today, the client/project-based style is a favored and professional way to showcase freelance experience, especially in light of the 2020 rise in remote employment. It is frequently utilized in domains like design, web development, marketing, writing, and consulting.
Example: Project Based Format:
Freelance Web Developer
Self-Employed | Jan 2020 – Present
Project: E-Commerce Website for Urban Threads (2022)
- created a fashion brand’s Shopify website with mobile responsiveness and linked payment channels.
- 40% more sales were made online in the first three months
Project: Portfolio Website for Photographer Sarah Lee (2023)
created a simple, uncluttered website to display more than 200 photos.
Page speed and SEO optimization for quicker loading
Example – Client-Based Format:
Freelance Content Writer:
-Remote | 2021 – Present
Client: TechNova Solutions
- authored more than fifty blog entries and product descriptions about cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- contributed to a 60% rise in website traffic during a six-month period.
Client: GreenBloom Wellness
produced content for social media and weekly email newsletters.
created a launch campaign content plan that brought in over 1,200 new members.
3. Keep the Formatting Consistent
The significance of consistent layout became more evident as resumes changed from being straightforward paper papers to interactive, digital profiles. In the era of freelance and portfolio style resumes, what once appeared to be a small aesthetic touch has become an essential component of professional presentation.
Let’s explore how formatting evolved become a crucial component of resume writing, especially for independent contractors:
Early Resume Days – Simplicity Over Structure
Resumes were often typed on paper in the pre digital age using conventional typefaces, bold headings and bullet points. Particularly for freelancers or creatives, consistency was not tightly maintained and the emphasis was on job titles and dates. Many resumes appeared uneven or unpolished as a result.
2020s – Digital Portfolios and ATS Requirements
Nowadays, consistency is more crucial than ever since the majority of resumes pass via applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems may become confused by inconsistent formatting missing keywords or misreading some areas. Additionally a lot of freelancers distribute their resumes online, so neat, aligned formatting is crucial for a polished appearance.
Best Practices for Freelancers:
Use uniform headings (e.g., all roles in bold, same size)
Align dates and locations consistently
Stick to one font and one color scheme
Format all freelance projects the same way (Project name → Client → Role → Date → Results)
Use consistent bullet styles for listing responsibilities or achievements
https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-list-freelance-work-on-resumes
4. Mention Freelance Platforms (Optional but Useful)
The sites that facilitate freelancing, such as Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com and Toptal have significantly influenced professions since it has become a popular method of employment. It used to be considered optional or even disrespectful to mention these platforms on your CV, but attitudes have evolved over time.
Let’s look at how freelance platforms have changed throughout time on resumes:
Early 2010s – Platform Work Was Kept Quiet
Many independent contractors were reluctant to bring up sites like Fiverr or Upwork in the beginning. These websites which were frequently linked to low budget performances were still expanding. Including them on a resume was once thought to indicate that you lacked professional experience or weren’t working with “real” clients.
The following ambiguous wording were common on resumes at the time: “Worked with various clients on short-term freelance projects.”
Mid-2010s – Platforms Gain Popularity, but Not Respect
Platforms gained popularity as more professionals started using them to start their own businesses or go freelance, but reputation still trailed behind. Many freelancers had prosperous careers on platforms, but they opted to just showcase their client work, omitting the source.
Late 2010s – Reputation Improves with Verified Reviews
By now platforms have added features like verified reviews, earnings milestones, customer ratings, and badges (like “Top Rated Seller”). These gave freelancers’ work more validity and social evidence. Astute professionals started showcasing their platform profiles and statistics on their portfolios and resumes.
For instance:
- Upwork’s top-rated graphic designer with over 100 completed jobs and an average rating of five stars
- SEO writing is the area of expertise for this Level 2 Fiverr seller.
2020s – Mentioning Platforms Becomes a Strategic Advantage
Platforms are now a recognized component of the freelancing economy. Bringing them up can:
Build credibility, particularly if your clientele and evaluations are positive.
Show that you can adjust to working remotely and internationally.
Be consistent because sustained effort on a platform indicates dependability.
Assist potential employers in viewing your profile and portfolio.
Although it’s still optional, many independent contractors now view it as a strength.
Example Resume Entry:
Freelance Content Writer
Fiverr & Upwork | Remote | Jan 2018 – Present
200+ writing assignments completed with a rating of 4.9 out of 5
focused on creating product descriptions, blog posts, and SEO content.
obtained the title of “Top Rated” on Upwork in 2022.
Oversaw long-term agreements with US, UK, and Australian clients
Conclusion:
Freelance employment is now a must have for any CV; it’s a clever method to highlight your abilities, flexibility and successes. You give your freelance work the same weight as regular jobs by listing it in the Experience section. You can clearly showcase your adaptability and outcomes by using a client or project based format.
Consistent formatting guarantees that your resume seems clean and business like which facilitates recruiters’ comprehension of your experience.
Additionally, if appropriate, bringing up freelance platforms demonstrates your capacity to succeed in a cutthroat, international industry and lends credibility. When combined these tactics might help you make the most of your past experience working as a freelancer.
FAQs
Should I include freelance work in the “Experience” section of my resume?
Yes Freelance work is real, valuable experience. If it shows your skills, responsibilities and results treat it like any other job. Listing it in your Experience section gives it the professional weight it deserves.
What’s better listing freelance work by client or by project?
Either works well, but a client-based or project-based format helps break down your experience clearly. Choose the one that best showcases your skills and achievements. For example, list high-profile clients or impactful projects that relate to the job you’re applying for.
Should I mention platforms like Upwork or Fiverr?
You can it’s optional but useful. If you’ve earned good ratings, reached “Top Rated” or similar status, or completed many projects, mentioning platforms adds credibility. Just make sure it supports your professional image.
Can I include freelance work even if I did it part-time?
Yes Freelance work, even part-time or alongside a full-time job, still counts. Just be honest about the timeline and make sure your role and achievements are clearly described.