How to Include Freelance Work on a Resume: Complete Guide

The Freelance Resume Challenge

You've spent months or years building something on your own. You've juggled clients, delivered projects, and essentially run a business. Now you're staring at a resume template wondering: how do I make all this work look as impressive as it actually is?

I get it. When I graduated and couldn't land a "real job" right away, I took on freelance writing projects to pay bills. A year later, I had to figure out how to translate that experience into something traditional employers would value. Spoiler: it worked, and I'm going to show you exactly how.

The truth is, freelance work can actually be more impressive than a traditional employment history—if you present it correctly. You've demonstrated entrepreneurial thinking, self-discipline, client management, and the ability to deliver without a boss looking over your shoulder. Those are exactly the skills employers want. For comprehensive strategies on translating your experience, our ultimate experience translation guide covers the complete framework.

This guide walks you through everything: how to format freelance work, what to emphasize, how to handle gaps, and how to address the concerns hiring managers might have.

Why Employers Value Freelance Experience

Before we dive into the how, let's establish why freelance work isn't the liability you might fear it is. Modern employers increasingly recognize the value freelancers bring:

Self-management skills are proven. Anyone can show up when a boss tells them to. Freelancers who've built successful practices have demonstrated they can manage their own time, set priorities, and deliver without external accountability structures.

Client relationship abilities translate directly. Managing client expectations, communicating project status, handling difficult conversations—these skills apply directly to internal stakeholders, customers, and cross-functional teams.

Diverse experience accelerates learning. Freelancers often work across multiple industries, project types, and company sizes. This breadth of experience creates adaptable problem-solvers who can hit the ground running.

Entrepreneurial thinking drives innovation. Companies want people who think like owners. Freelancers have literally been owners—they understand revenue, cost management, and the importance of delivering value.

The key is helping employers see these connections through how you present your experience. For more role-specific templates, check our resume examples by role.

Formatting Options for Freelance Work

You have several ways to present freelance experience on your resume. The best choice depends on your situation, target role, and how much of your recent history is freelance-based. Freelance work sits in a broader category of project-based experience—if you're also including open source contributions, personal builds, or pro bono work, see our complete side projects formatting guide for the full framework on legitimizing non-traditional experience.

Option 1: Business Name Format

If you operated under a business name (even an informal one), use it as your "employer":

Bright Ideas Creative | Freelance Graphic Designer | 2021-Present

• Designed brand identities and marketing materials for 35+ small business clients
• Increased average client revenue by 23% through strategic visual rebranding
• Managed projects from concept to delivery with budgets ranging $2K-$25K
• Built referral network generating 60% of new business without paid advertising

This format works well when you want to emphasize the business aspect of your freelance work. It positions you as a business owner, not just someone who took odd jobs.

Option 2: Role-First Format

If you didn't operate under a specific business name, lead with your professional title:

Freelance Web Developer | Self-Employed | 2020-Present

• Developed custom WordPress and React applications for 28 clients across e-commerce, healthcare, and education sectors
• Maintained 4.9/5.0 rating on Upwork with 100% job success score
• Delivered projects averaging $8K in scope with consistent on-time, on-budget performance
• Built ongoing relationships with 8 clients providing recurring maintenance and development work

This format emphasizes your professional identity and is easier for ATS systems to parse.

Option 3: Consulting Format

For professional services or B2B work, "consulting" often carries more weight than "freelance":

Independent Marketing Consultant | 2019-Present

• Consulted for 15 mid-market companies on digital marketing strategy and execution
• Generated $2.3M in attributed revenue for clients through SEO and content marketing initiatives
• Led marketing team training and process development for three scaling startups
• Developed marketing playbooks adopted company-wide by two enterprise clients

The consulting frame works particularly well for strategic roles in large companies, where "freelance" might sound too informal, but "consulting" signals high-level expertise.

What to Include in Your Freelance Experience Section

Regardless of which format you choose, your freelance experience should follow the same principles as any other job description—just with attention to the unique value freelance work provides.

Quantify Everything Possible

Numbers transform vague claims into credible achievements. Track down metrics for:

Highlight Client Outcomes

Your value isn't in the tasks you completed—it's in the results clients achieved because of your work:

Weak: "Wrote blog posts for various clients" Strong: "Created content strategy that increased client organic traffic by 156% over 6 months"

Weak: "Developed websites" Strong: "Built e-commerce platform generating $45K monthly revenue within first quarter of launch"

Show Range and Depth

Freelance work often provides exposure that traditional employment can't match. Showcase this diversity:

• Industries served (tech, healthcare, retail, finance)
• Project types completed (strategy, execution, training)
• Company sizes worked with (startups, SMBs, enterprise)
• Geographic scope (local, national, international clients)

Include Relevant Platform Credentials

If you've built a strong reputation on freelance platforms, include these metrics. A 100% job success score on Upwork or top-rated status on Fiverr demonstrates consistent quality that hiring managers understand:

• Upwork: Job Success Score, Top Rated status, earnings tier
• Fiverr: Seller level, completion rate, on-time delivery percentage
• Toptal: Screening acceptance (top 3% is impressive)
• Industry-specific platforms: Relevant achievements and ratings

Creating a Professional Business Identity

If you're still actively freelancing or recently transitioning, consider creating a more professional frame for your work—even retroactively. You don't need an LLC or formal business registration to present yourself professionally.

Naming Your Freelance Practice

A professional name adds credibility:

• Your Name + Specialty: "Sarah Jenkins Writing" or "Jenkins Content Services"
• Descriptive names: "Clarity Copywriting" or "Code & Craft Development"
• Consulting frame: "SJ Marketing Consulting"

Developing Your Freelance Narrative

Frame your freelance period as intentional, not accidental. Even if you started freelancing because you needed income, you can honestly position it as:

• Building diverse experience across industries
• Developing entrepreneurial and client management skills
• Testing different work arrangements to find best fit
• Creating flexibility while pursuing other goals (education, family, projects)

The key is being authentic while presenting the most strategic frame for your target audience.

Handling the Transition to Full-Time

If you're targeting traditional employment after freelancing, address the obvious question: why are you making this change? Your resume and cover letter should work together on this narrative.

Good Reasons to Highlight

Reasons to Reframe or Avoid

Showing You Can Work in Teams

One common concern about hiring freelancers is whether they can adapt to team environments. Proactively address this:

• Mention collaborative projects with other freelancers
• Highlight embedded roles where you worked alongside client teams
• Reference cross-functional stakeholder management
• Include any team leadership or mentoring experience

Resume Examples for Different Freelance Situations

Short-Term Freelance Between Jobs

If you freelanced briefly between traditional positions, integrate it cleanly without making it look like a gap filler:

Freelance Marketing Consultant | January 2024-June 2024

• Completed strategic projects for 4 clients during career transition
• Developed social media strategy increasing client engagement by 78%
• Created content marketing framework now used by two ongoing clients

This shows productive use of time while being honest about the transitional nature.

Long-Term Freelance Career

If freelancing has been your primary career for years, structure it like you would multiple jobs, potentially breaking it into phases:

Senior Freelance Developer | Self-Employed | 2020-Present [Current focus and achievements]

Web Development Consultant | Self-Employed | 2017-2020 [Earlier work and growth trajectory]

This shows career progression even within self-employment.

Side Hustle While Employed

If you freelanced alongside a day job, you can include it in a separate section or integrate with your main experience.

Selected Freelance Projects | 2019-Present

• Built 12 WordPress sites for local businesses while maintaining full-time development role
• Generated $25K annual side income through evening and weekend projects
• Developed expertise in e-commerce platforms not used in primary role

Skills Section for Freelancers

Your skills section should emphasize both technical abilities and the soft skills that freelancing develops:

Technical Skills

List the specific tools, platforms, and technologies you've used in freelance work. Be specific:

Business and Soft Skills

Freelancing develops skills that traditional employees may lack. Highlight these:

Addressing Common Concerns

"Why are you leaving freelancing?"

Frame this positively in your summary or objective:

Experienced freelance developer with 5+ years serving 40+ clients, now seeking to apply full-stack expertise within a collaborative engineering team focused on scaling consumer products.

"Can you work within a structure?"

Demonstrate structure in how you describe your freelance work:

• "Implemented project management system reducing delivery variance by 30%"
• "Maintained consistent client communication cadence with weekly updates and monthly reviews"
• "Followed established style guides and brand standards across 25+ client projects"

"Are you just here until your next freelance gig?"

Express genuine interest in the transition:

• Research the company thoroughly and connect your experience to their needs
• Explain what specifically attracts you to this role over continuing freelance work
• Mention long-term career goals that align with company trajectory

Optimizing for ATS Systems

Freelance resumes can confuse ATS systems if formatted unconventionally. Follow these guidelines:

Use standard job titles that describe your function, not creative titles you may have used for marketing purposes. "Freelance Software Engineer" parses better than "Code Wizard."

Include traditional employment structure with clear company name, title, and date ranges. Even "Self-Employed" as a company name is better than no company at all.

Front-load relevant keywords from job descriptions into your freelance project descriptions.

Avoid tables and complex formatting that might confuse ATS parsing. For guidance on crafting your professional headline and branding, these principles apply to how you present yourself on the resume summary too.

Building Your Freelance Portfolio

If you have permission, link to a portfolio showcasing your best freelance work. Even without an elaborate website, you can:

• Create a simple portfolio page linking to projects
• Use platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or GitHub
• Include case studies in your LinkedIn featured section
• Reference specific projects in your cover letter

Just ensure you have client permission before sharing proprietary work publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I list freelance work on my resume?

Yes, absolutely. Freelance work demonstrates initiative, client management skills, and relevant experience. The key is presenting it professionally with a business-like format and quantified achievements that clearly communicate value.

How do I list self-employment on a resume?

Create a professional structure: use a business name or "Self-Employed" as the company, include a clear job title describing your function, add dates, and focus on quantified achievements and client outcomes rather than just listing tasks performed.

Will employers see freelance work as a red flag?

Not if you present it strategically. Employers increasingly value the entrepreneurial skills, self-motivation, and diverse experience freelancing provides. The key is framing it as intentional career development rather than a fallback option.

How do I explain gaps filled with freelance work?

Position freelance work as a deliberate choice to gain diverse experience, develop specific skills, or pursue entrepreneurial goals. Be prepared to explain what you learned and how it prepares you for the role you're seeking.

Should I list all my freelance clients?

No. Select 3-5 of your most impressive or relevant clients. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity. You can mention total client count ("served 40+ clients") without listing everyone individually.

How far back should I go with freelance work?

Follow the standard resume rule: 10-15 years maximum for most roles. However, if you have highly relevant freelance experience from earlier, you can include a "Selected Earlier Experience" section highlighting key projects.

Final Thoughts

Your freelance experience isn't a liability—it's a differentiator. You've done something most employees never attempt: built something from scratch, managed client relationships, delivered without safety nets, and developed true self-reliance.

The secret to presenting freelance work effectively is treating it with the same professionalism you'd apply to any corporate role. Use proper formatting, quantify your achievements, highlight client outcomes, and frame your experience in terms employers understand.

Whether you're transitioning to traditional employment or continuing to freelance while keeping options open, a well-crafted resume ensures your experience gets the recognition it deserves. Don't undersell yourself—your freelance journey probably taught you more than five years of traditional employment would have.

Now go build a resume that shows the world what you've actually accomplished.