10 Tips on Writing a Freelance CV

by Taiwo Davis

Job hunting is probably one of the most daunting tasks. From the application and screening processes and nerve-racking interviews through to the selection verdict, it really doesn’t get any easier. Not every freelance job requires you to submit a CV. However, many high-paying jobs do, especially in the fields of copywriting, web design and development, programming and software development and content marketing. Nevertheless, writing a freelance CV remains a crucial part of your freelance career.

As a freelancer, you should have a standard CV with emphasis on your skills, past clients, results achieved on specific projects, your education background, and a couple of other details. What you include in your CV and how you put it can make the whole difference for you during the interview selection process. Remember you’re not the only applicant so you want to make it topnotch.

Here are some key tips to keep in mind when preparing a professional resume to distinguish you among many.

1. Keep it brief  

As a freelancer, it’s very likely that you probably have a pretty hefty portfolio of clients and experience. But you actually do not have to include every single detail on your CV. Keep your resume to one page or two pages at most as you do not want the reader to lose interest or become overwhelmed by too much information. Keeping things brief will make you stand out from the crowd. That way, it is easier for the client to move you further to the selection process. If you’re considered for the role, the hiring manager will request further information from you.

2. Be business-minded

Applying for a freelance job requires a different style of CV presentation from that adopted in permanent in-house job application. When applying for the latter, employers are seeking to gain insight into you as a person in order to assess your suitability for the role.

While for freelance jobs, the hiring manager is less concerned about your personality. Instead, they are interested in you as a service – how skilled you are at your craft, your past achievements with previous clients and so on. So to land that gig, you want to focus majorly on what you can offer as a full service rather than your own personal attributes.

3. Put yourself in the client’s shoes

This simple trick is one you should adopt in writing a freelance CV. Trying to imagine the situation from the clients’ perspective is sure going to help you grasp exactly what it is they are looking for. Think about what you’d want in an applicant’s CV if you were on a hunt for an incredible freelancer.

4. Dare to stand out

Recruiters get bored – perhaps pissed too, when they keep perusing resumes they have seen a million times. This is one of the major disqualifiers for candidates. Students don’t get the same test scores because each delivered a different level of input. It’s the reason a student tops the class while another in the same class takes the last position at the end of the academic session.

In the same vein, as a job seeker, you should prepare your CV well enough for a job application, knowing fully well that there are a bunch of other freelancers applying for the same role. Take the time to think outside the box and you’ll create a lasting impression that will get you through to the selection stage.

5. Do not exaggerate any detail 

It can be tempting to manipulate the truth a little, especially when the job is your dream job and you’re desperate to make a mind-blowing first impression. Here’s our device – don’t!

The downside to this is that, if you eventually get the job, you’d have only succeeded in piling pressure on yourself. Further down the line, the client is disappointed because you really cannot deliver on something you previously claimed you could. In simple terms, just be honest.

6. Organise your experience chronologically

Displaying your experience in chronological order is a standard pattern for writing a freelance CV. Presenting in date order, from earliest to most recent will ensure the recruiter is able to better understand your progression and establish your current level professionally. Skillset, styles and expertise develop and evolve over time, and you want the potential employer to be impressed by how far and well you have moved in your career.

7. Share your social media accounts, especially LinkedIn

Providing links to your social media accounts is a good way to demonstrate openness and transparency to the recruiter or client. It’s a show of honesty and authenticity which are generally attractive attributes in an employee. Additionally, directing the potential client to your social platforms is a good way to show that you are up to date with the digital industry and able to manage an active online presence.

8. Link to your portfolio 

Just as you link to social media profiles, it’s also advisable to include a link to your online portfolio. Because your CV needs to be short and concise, there isn’t much room to show off your works and abilities. Enclosing a link to your portfolio site will allow further opportunity to showcase your skills to your client list.

9. Provide references

Even though the content of a freelance CV is somewhat different from that of a professional seeking in-house and permanent positions, the function is fundamentally the same. Eventually, all the recruiter or client wants to see is that you’re skilled, diligent, experienced and trustworthy. Providing them with at least two references is another great way to demonstrate openness and transparency.

10. Proofread your CV

You already know the importance of proofreading and self-editing your work. Check for grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes as well as inconsistent formatting. Do not only use an automated spell-checker. Make sure you do an actual read-through. Failure to do this is a sure way to get yourself to the rejection pile so you’ll be doing yourself and your career a lot of good by learning to always proofread your CV.

A CV helps recruiters and hiring managers screen potential job applicants and narrow down their selections. To increase your chances of getting hired for a freelance role, you’ll need to more deliberate about it – part of this deliberateness is in writing a good freelance CV.