Freelance Resume—Sample & 25+ Writing Tips

Can’t tell if freelance… or just unemployed?

While freelancing has its perks, it also has its share of bumps in the road that can challenge even the most qualified freelancers out there.

Times when projects pile up and money keeps coming in is one of the most rewarding feelings ever. But then there comes a time when you just sit there… waiting for something to come up.

Well, it’s time to take matters into your own hands and set off on a gig hunt!

This freelance resume guide will help you win over clients like a boss.

In this guide:

• A freelance resume sample better than most.
• How to write a freelance resume that will get you hired.
• How to add freelance work to a resume.
• Expert tips from career experts to boost your chances of getting an interview.

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Looking for a specific career resume sample? See these guides:

• Business Owner Resume Sample
• Independent Contractor Resume Sample
• Freelance Writer Resume Sample
• Journalist Resume Sample
• Photographer Resume Sample
• Web Designer Resume Sample
• Videographer Resume Sample
• Technical Writer Resume Sample
• Graphic Design Resume Sample
• Makeup Artist Resume Sample
• Artist Resume Sample
• 3D Artist Resume Sample
• Video Editor Resume Sample
• Music Resume Sample
• Java Developer Resume Sample
• Project Coordinator Resume Sample
• Social Media Resume Sample
• Event Planner Resume Sample
• Filmmaker Resume Sample
• Social Media Manager Resume Sample
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

Freelance Resume Sample

There—a freelance resume sample that’s definitely worth your attention. 

To write your own, follow this resume writing 101 guide:

1. Follow the Freelance Resume Formatting Rules

How to start a resume? What’s the proper resume formatting? Which font to choose?

In just a moment, you will find out how to format your resume so that it looks good and includes all the necessary information.

You might be thinking: “But why is it so important?”

Well—

Believe it or not, but recruiters spend only about 7 seconds to review a single resume.

If the formatting’s lousy...

You’re out.

Just like that.

Freelance resume (Graphic Designer, Writer, Photographer, Artist): Formatting

• Choose a professional resume font that’s easy to read: Arial, Helvetica, Cambria, Calibri, or anything similar.
• Make sure your resume margins are set to 1 inch on all four sides.
• Your resume shouldn’t exceed one page, unless you have more than 15 years of relevant experience.
• Add white space for clarity.
• Include the following resume sections: Header, Summary, Work History, Education, Skills, Additional Sections.
• Depending on your career, add: Experience, a Client section, Niche, Works, Publications, etc.
• Your education and work history sections should be organized in a reverse chronological resume order.

And that’s basically it!

Now all you need to do is remember to save your resume as a PDF file to make sure it retains its formatting.

2. Start Your Freelance Resume With a Career Summary

As a freelancer, whether you like it or not, you have to be able to sell yourself.

You know your business better than anyone else, so give your future client a little sneak peek of your background and expertise.

Your resume professional summary is just that—a summary of YOU.

So, right below your resume header, make sure to write a short paragraph about the things that you do and the clients you worked with.

Take a look at these resume profile examples:

Freelance Graphic Designer Resume

Driven and reliable graphic designer with over 10+ years of experience working professionally as a freelancer. Produced detailed visuals and illustrations while creating designs specific to client requests and desires. Done more than 50+ full company branding projects. Designed packaging for a luxurious cosmetic company. In 2019 received the D&AD Impact Award.

Graphic designer with 10 years of experience producing visuals and graphics to client specifications. Rebranded companies, and designed packaging for a cosmetic company. 

Freelance Writer Resume

Goal-driven content writer with 7+ years of experience creating various web content for clients. Created, edited and optimized blog posts, articles, social media posts, product descriptions, brochures, newsletters for clients according to specifications. Can write up to 25 pieces of content weekly using SEO keywords drawn from Google Analytics. Implemented an e-mail campaign that resulted in a $5K increase in revenue for one client.

Writer with extensive experience writing various web contents using SEO keywords. Proofread emails, blog articles, marketing copy, and content for websites. Managed high-volume weekly workload.

See the difference?

The first examples shine with numbers, accomplishments, and metrics that not only show the candidates have experience, but better yet: prove it. 

Showing quantifiable achievements on your resume is crucial. 

You know why?

Because studies show that failing to show quantifiable results accounts for 34% of the most common resume mistakes that cost candidates their jobs.

To make your life easier, use this quick bullet-point recipe for writing a great professional summary:

• Strong resume power adjective
• Your profession
• Years of experience
• A list of your accomplishments and skills (with numbers!)

See?

Not that complicated.

Expert Hint: According to a study, there are about 3.5 billion people in the global workforce and 1.1 billion are freelancers... That’s almost 35%! With a competition this big, you’ll have to up your resume and cover letter writing game to get noticed by clients.

3. Write the Perfect Freelance Resume Skills and Experience Sections

Career success relies on happy customers.

And happy customers mean booming business. 

When showing your work experience on your resume, make sure to show off your most notable results. 

But there is one very important thing to remember—

Targeting your resume to the client or employer you are trying to impress.

That means: tailor your resume to fit your future stakeholder’s needs and personal preferences by only listing your experiences and works that are similar or somewhat relevant to the job you’re after.

So, if you’re a graphic designer and your goal is to win over a client who’s looking for a contractor to create print materials, don’t list all your social media graphic successes, unless you can make it work somehow.

Here’s what a freelancer’s work history section should look like:

How to Add Freelance Work to Resume

Experience

Freelance Social Media Manager

Self-employed

June 2016–present

• Developed, documented, and implemented social media strategies to increase brand awareness of several cosmetic and fashion brands.
• Wrote, edited, and proofread new content and copy across social media platforms and print formats.
• Increased fan base of PopChia by 373% in 2 years by running contests, creating ads and running fan-gating promotions.
• Increased Sugarpuff's Pinterest following by 54% 

Key Accomplishment: Generated $150,000 in sales via Facebook and Instagram campaigns (Bubberry). 

Social Media Coordinator

SoCience

Charlotte, NC

May 2015–June 2016

• Managed the overall social strategy and online brand presence for 3 clients.
• Managed all social media platforms and digital advertising to increase brand outreach, engagement, and productivity.
• Boosted followers from 300 to 5k for main client.
• Expanded Facebook site for one of the clients and increased followers by 20%.

Freelancer

• Developed social media strategies to increase brand awareness of beauty brands.
• Wrote and edited content for social media and print formats.
• Ran contests, created ads and fan-gating promotions.
• Increased one client’s Pinterest follower base.

As a freelancer, you know that time is money and money equals numbers, so throw them in your job description section to make more impact.

Plus, if you’re trying to get in on a job at a large firm, make sure to use an ATS resume template and sprinkle your resume with the resume keywords that can be found in the job advertisement. Those will help your resume pass the initial ATS scan. 

You can use these phrases in your resume’s skills section as well. Especially the hard / technical skills that are required. 

Here’s a list of freelance skills that are currently in demand:

Freelance Resume Skills

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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4. Include an Education Section to Prove Your Qualifications

You’ve worked years for your success and that’s something that you can, and should, be really proud of. 

But did you know that putting an education section on your resume can also help you win that job?

Education gives your future employers a look into your background, so include it, if you can.

Here’s an example of what an education section on a resume should look like:

Freelance Artist Resume: Education

Education

BFA in Illustration

Ringling College of Art and Design

2017

Your degree, school name, and graduation year should be enough, but if you have some more academic accomplishments that you would like to include, do just that: GPA (only if it’s higher than 3.7), awards, publications, honors, scholarships… play any card you need.

5. Spice Up Your Freelance Resume With Additional Information

In order to sign that contract, you’ll have to give some more information about your work and yourself as a person.

Show your professional expertise. Show that you are a persona with versatile interests. 

For example, you might be after a gig in the outdoor industry, and it so happens that you’re an outdoor sporty. You’d want to include that info on your resume. 

Anything from niches and clients to volunteering experience can go on your resume.

Here’s a list of categories that you may want to include:

Freelance Photographer Resume

Certifications

• Certified Drone Photographer (PPA)

Niches

• Wedding photography
• Business headshots
• Couple photography

Languages

• French—limited working proficiency

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

For a freelance resume that gets jobs:

• Use the freelance resume format up top. It’s clean, professional and modern-looking.
• Quantify your achievements, instead of just describing your work. 
• Tailor your freelance resume to a specific job by using special keywords and phrases.
• Jazz your resume up with additional sections that paint a better picture of you and your expertise.
• Attach a cover letter, where you expand on what makes you the perfect freelance professional for the job. 

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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.