Today’s employers can easily be divided into two categories: those who understand and appreciate self-employment and those who don’t. While it may be difficult to think that there are still employers who give self-employment the side-eye, you have to be prepared for anything when hunting for a job, especially if you haven’t been in the game for a while.

Regardless of how your potential employer sees self-employment, if you know how to add it to your resume, it can be an incredible advantage. After all, it shows you can think by yourself and can be proactive without waiting for a reward.

Therefore, today we put together a list of tips on including your self-employment in the resume and making it look good.

1. Make It Look Like a Real Job

Yes, we know being self-employed is a real job. But remember what we said earlier? For those employers who still think working from home is only for lazy and unmotivated people (not true, by the way), you should make your self-employment look as legit as possible.

Start by giving yourself a fitting job title that clearly describes your tasks and responsibilities. Also, don’t hesitate to add Freelance, Consultant, or Independent Contractor at the end for clarity.

Next, list your company name or the name you used to represent your personal brand as a freelancer or independent collaborator. Craft a concise blurb outlining the context and scope of your work to provide more insight into the tasks you were entrusted with.

As you detail your accomplishments, focus on providing quantifiable metrics. This will make a stronger impression on potential employers. For example, state how much your revenue has increased or which performance targets you achieved while being self-employed.

Quick tip: Keep your description concise and engaging, and make sure you’re not looking like a job hopper. If potential employees mistake your clients for former employers, you may have a hard time getting hired.

2. Make Sure Your Resume Looks Professional

While there isn’t one specific format to use for your resume, you must make sure it looks good in the eyes of the possible employer. You can do this by keeping the information well-organized and easy to browse and read. Also, you need to know how to use the white space to add balance to the whole thing.

Use a Resume Builder

If you’re not sure how to design the perfect resume that will catch everyone’s eye, use a builder like ResumeBuild. This type of tool will provide you with several templates and can help you overcome writer’s block by offering samples and pre-written examples.

It’s also a great way to keep your resume design professional and well-balanced, regardless of how much experience you have.

3. Things to Avoid

Of course, there are plenty of things that shouldn’t be included in your resume, but from a self-employed person’s perspective, there are a few terms and phrases that are best left out.

Here are a few examples:

  • Avoid words like “unemployed” or “jobless.” These terms can create a negative impression. Instead, emphasize your self-employment experience by using titles like “freelance,” “consultant,” or “entrepreneur.”
  • Refrain from phrases like “jack of all trades” or “master of none.” Specificity and expertise are preferred. Highlight your core skills and areas of expertise more directly.
  • Try not to use general clichés such as “team player,” “detail-oriented,” or “hard worker.” Instead, provide concrete examples that demonstrate the qualities you wish to showcase. Moreover, eliminate weak adjectives like “good,” “competent,” or “adequate.” Replace them with stronger words such as “skilled,” “proficient,” or “exceptional” to portray confidence.

Lastly, keep away from overusing personal pronouns such as ‘I,’ ‘me,’ or ‘my.’ Although it’s important to emphasize your accomplishments and skills, avoid excessive focus on yourself in favor of highlighting your value proposition for potential clients.

Key Takeaway

Today’s key takeaway is that you should be proud of your self-employment and show it in your resume so potential employers can see your skills. Being a freelancer or an entrepreneur is not easy, and whether it is a success or not, it will still teach you a couple of life-altering skills.