If you are a freelancer, you may have questioned how to highlight your abilities and projects on your resume or portfolio. You may also be wondering whether freelancing counts as work experience in the eyes of employers or clients.
Yes, freelancing counts as work experience and you can list it on your CV or portfolio. Here are some amazing reasons why:
Freelancing demonstrates your skills and abilities
Since freelancing is a type of self-employment, you are in charge of controlling your time and money, and producing high-quality work. Employers and clients search for potential employees or collaborators who have these key talents and competencies. You can show that you have these skills and abilities and that you can use them in a variety of projects and sectors by working as a freelancer.
Freelancing shows your initiative and passion
Additionally, working as a freelancer demonstrates your entrepreneurial spirit, drive, and enthusiasm for your profession. You don’t need someone to instruct you on what to do or how to do it. You are managing your own professional development and pursuing your own interests and objectives. Additionally, you have the ability to overcome obstacles and adapt to changing circumstances. People value and respect each of these characteristics.
Freelancing helps you build a portfolio and a network
You can develop a network of contacts and a portfolio of your work by working as a freelancer. A portfolio is a selection of your prior work that demonstrates your abilities, sense of style, and accomplishments. A network is a collection of people who are familiar with you and your work and who can suggest new opportunities or offer criticism and support. Whether you want to continue working as a freelancer or explore other choices, building a portfolio and a network are crucial for career advancement.
How to include freelancing on your resume or portfolio
Now that you know why freelancing counts as work experience, here are some tips on how to include it on your resume or portfolio:
- Create a separate section for your freelance work. You can label it as “Freelance Work”, “Freelance Projects”, “Independent Contractor”, or something similar. This will help you highlight your freelance work and distinguish it from other types of work experience.
- List your freelance work in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent project. For each project, include the name of the client or company, the title or description of the project, the dates or duration of the project, and the main skills or tools used. You can also include a link to the project if it is available online.
- Use bullet points to describe your achievements and responsibilities for each project. Focus on the results and outcomes of your work, rather than the tasks or processes.
- Use numbers, percentages, or other metrics to quantify your impact whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “Wrote blog posts for a travel website”, say “Wrote 10 blog posts for a travel website that increased traffic by 25% and generated 50 leads per month”.
- Use keywords that match the job or project you are applying for. Keywords are words or phrases that describe the skills, qualifications, or requirements for a specific job or project. You can find keywords in the job or project description, or by researching the industry or niche you are targeting. Using keywords will help you tailor your resume or portfolio to the specific opportunity and make it more relevant and appealing.
- Proofread and edit your resume or portfolio. Make sure there are no spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting errors in your resume or portfolio. Errors can make you look unprofessional and careless, and can hurt your chances of getting hired or hired again. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to check and improve your writing
To sum it up, freelancing is a valid and valuable form of work experience that you should include on your resume or portfolio. Freelancing demonstrates your skills and abilities, shows your initiative and passion, and helps you build a portfolio and a network. To include freelancing on your resume or portfolio, create a separate section for your freelance work, list your projects in reverse chronological order, describe your achievements and responsibilities using bullet points and metrics, use keywords that match the opportunity you are applying for, and proofread and edit your resume or portfolio.
Start Freelancing with Awign!
Awign is the biggest platform for gig work in India! We help businesses execute their core functions by connecting them with a mobile and distributed workforce of gig workers across the country. We make everything super easy for our gig partners! You can find and apply for gigs, get trained and paid, all through our app.
All you need to do is download the Awign app, sign up with your phone number and fill out the dream application form. Then you can choose from multiple gigs to work on and start earning! You can pick the gigs that suit your location, availability, and skills. Plus, you get to enjoy the ultimate flexibility and convenience.
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