There are many articles out there to help you write a resume but very few discuss how to write a freelance resume. Freelancing is on the rise and so are the number of freelancers looking for work, so your resume needs to be on point.
Your freelance resume is part of the information required to help you land your next project. Unlike professionals that work on a full-time basis, freelancers must update their resume and portfolio frequently to best present their latest achievements. A freelance resume is more about End-products than working experiences.
Here are 6 solid tips on how to write a freelance resume and land your next project.
Choose the right format
There are several different styles of resumes that you can choose from.
Your resume can be chronological, functional, combination or targeted. If you are freelancing on a full-time basis, you might want to consider only the Functional or Targeted format.
A functional resume focuses on your skills and industry expertise, – it does not necessarily follow your work history. This is ideal for freelancers because bagging projects and freelance work from clients mostly depends on the value they can deliver. Using a functional resume can help you show that.
However, writing a targeted resume is perhaps a best bet for a freelancer because a targeted resume is completely customized and specific to a task/project, thus emphasizing on the specific aspects of the work expertise requested for the project.
For example, if you are seeking to bag a freelance project in graphic design, you might choose to concentrate the entire page of your resume on a specific style or completed project in line with the project requested by the client. Doing so will help you show how lingual you are at the project, which can help advance your chances of getting the project. It establishes quick trust.
Remember that the yardstick for hiring freelancers is their functional skill sets and expertise. The stability of their working career is not considered a necessity when hiring freelancers.
Classify relevant experience
As mentioned above, unlike regular resumes, listing your latest experience might not be relevant to your new client. Always remember the nature of the project that you are hired to do and mention the experience that is relevant to the specific project.
Instead of listing your work experience chronologically, you might want to identify the skills, functions or achievements that are important in the execution of this new project.
If, for example, you are applying to help a company develop a digital marketing strategy in the fashion industry, you might want to create a resume that has 3 distinct sub-sections under the Professional Experience Section, namely:
- Consulting experience
- Digital Marketing experience
- Achievements
Make sure that you talk about your specific accomplishments as a digital marketer in the fashion industry.
List your technical and soft skills
Including skills might have more relevance in a freelance resume than in a regular one.
Companies don’t have the time for you to develop specific skills or train you until you reach a certain level of industry perfection. So, understanding the skills required for the project is fundamental before you submit the resume.
Be sure to list the technical skills and the soft skills that will enable you to deliver your project successfully. List different languages you are fluent in (if necessary, to the project), and highlight your dexterity in operating software and hardware to flaunt your technical abilities.
Your freelance resume should show that you can handle several projects at the same time. So, make sure that your resume is a reflection of that.
Add Education and Courses
Be sure to list any University you attended, your degrees, specialized courses, certifications and training.
This section has to give confidence to the company that you have the required knowledge for the execution of the project. Something as basic as outlining your education degrees and relevant certifications in your resume can significantly elevate your resume to perfection.
Keep updating your social media and online links
Probably the best and most popular social media venue is LinkedIn. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and professional.
As a freelancer, you might have to update your profile a lot more often than a regular employee because your social media existence and involvement in professional platforms act as your brand identity. They do the talking for you, which is why it needs to reflect the professionalism that best represents you.
For creative freelancers, having a personal website to showcase your designs makes a lot of sense. It quickly and easily demonstrates your style, your design skills and experience. It gives a potential client first-hand of what they’d be signing up for if they hire you.
So, here is a word of advice: Include the link to your website or portfolio on your resume.
Target the Cover Letter
You have a few seconds to capture the recruiter’s eye. The cover letter is key.
Explain why you’re suitable to execute the project in question. Communicate aspects of your professional life that a resume in its limited capacity fails to do.
Tell them the perks of hiring you. Show them your interest in the particular project and why you would be able to do a better job than any other freelancer.
Do this, and you’ll increase the likelihood of a shortlist with ease.
Conclusion
A freelance resume will need a lot more updates and customization to apply for different projects. Keep in mind that when companies hire for a specific project, they expect you to have all the experience, knowledge and aptitudes to execute the project with minimum direction. So, make sure that your freelance resume is a perfect reflection of this.
