Self-Employed Resume Example
Starting a career as a self-employed gives you the chance to gain experience in managing client relationships and developing marketing strategies. For a successful self-employed application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your self-employed applications.
A self-employed resume requires a slightly different approach from a traditional resume. Instead of focusing solely on job titles and dates, you’ll need to emphasize your entrepreneurial mindset, your ability to manage multiple tasks, and your track record of achieving results. Whether you’ve been a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner, your resume should demonstrate how your self-employment experience has equipped you with skills such as problem-solving, time management, client relations, and the ability to adapt to new situations.
Let’s dive into how you can create a resume that truly reflects the skills, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit that make you a standout self-employed professional.
Key sections for a self-employed resume
A successful self-employed resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. For junior candidates with little work experience, other sections of the resume take on more prominence and might be placed before the work experience section. These could include education, skills, projects, hobbies and volunteer work.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
Your self-employed resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Samantha Reyes
samantha.reyes@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
linkedin․com/in/samantha–reyes123
Resume Objective
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for self-employed roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for self-employed roles.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why self-employed roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for self-employed roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your self-employed resume summary.
Self-motivated and results-driven professional with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Freelance Consultant. Proven track record in providing strategic business solutions, optimizing operational efficiency, and driving growth for diverse clients. Adept at project management, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Strong analytical skills combined with excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. Demonstrated expertise in delivering tailored consulting services that enhance business performance and achieve client objectives
Professional with a background in business and experience in consulting. Worked on helping businesses with various needs and improving how they operate. Involved in managing projects, looking at markets, and talking to different people. Good at analyzing things and communicating with others. Provided consulting services to help businesses perform better and meet their goals
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your self-employed resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for self-employed roles. Whether your skills include financial analysis proficiency, communication proficiency or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for self-employed jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a self-employed.
Showcasing hard skills on your self-employed resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your self-employed job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the self-employed role. Aim to include four or five key hard skills. If you have space, explain how and where you've used that skill to create successful outcomes in your career. These skills will demonstrate your credentials and show how you meet the job description.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a self-employed resume are listed below.
- Project management expertise
- Financial analysis proficiency
- SEO and SEM
Soft skills on your self-employed resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a self-employed job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
An effective self-employed resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Time management skills
- Self-motivation
- Communication proficiency
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to self-employed roles.
If you're applying for self-employed positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your SEO and SEM or financial analysis proficiency.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), 2017 - 2020
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional self-employed certifications, licenses or qualifications. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a self-employed. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for self-employed roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a self-employed resume:
- Project Management Professional (PMP), 2022
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), 2022
- Google Analytics Certified, 2022
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a self-employed. Include any relevant jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. Start with your current or most recent roles and work back through previous roles. For each job, list your title, the name of the company, its location and the dates you worked there.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Freelance Consultant, January 2022 - Present
Innovate Solutions LLC, Austin
- Successfully delivered over 50 client projects, increasing client revenue by an average of 25% through strategic consulting and innovative solutions
- Spearheaded cross-functional teams to implement process improvements, reducing operational costs by 30% and increasing efficiency across multiple industries
- Developed comprehensive market entry strategies for startups, resulting in 10 successful product launches and securing $2M in venture capital funding
Freelance Consultant, January 2022 - Present
Innovate Solutions LLC, Austin
- Managed various projects for diverse clients, ensuring high satisfaction and positive outcomes
- Led teams to enhance processes, achieving significant improvements in operations
- Created strategies for market entry, supporting successful product launches and business growth
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Expert Tip:
If you have limited formal experience, highlight other achievements, like completing training programs, certifications, or successful personal projects. (1) Present this information in a clear and concise format with easy-to-read sections and plenty of white space. (2)
Additional Information
As well as the main sections of a self-employed resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Interests
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. Your hobbies and interests are useful for a self-employed resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
This section can be valuable for a self-employed resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. List your volunteer job title, the organization you volunteered for, its location and the dates of your involvement, alongside a brief explanation of your responsibilities in the role.
References
References aren't a standard self-employed resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a self-employed resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Managed
- Developed
- Created
- Negotiated
- Implemented
- Marketed
- Designed
- Strategized
- Executed
- Facilitated
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example resume for self-employed applications
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example self-employed resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
•
samantha.reyes@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/samantha–reyes123
Self-motivated and results-driven professional with a Bachelor of Business Administration and extensive experience as a Freelance Consultant. Proven track record in delivering strategic solutions, optimizing business processes, and driving growth for diverse clients. Skilled in project management, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Adept at identifying opportunities, mitigating risks, and implementing innovative strategies to achieve organizational objectives. Strong communication and leadership abilities, with a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence.
Freelance Consultant
2020
-2022
Innovative Insights Consulting (Long Beach)
- Increased client revenue by 30% through strategic business development and market analysis
- Successfully managed 15+ projects simultaneously, delivering all on time and within budget
- Developed and implemented customized training programs, boosting team productivity by 25%
Project management expertise
Financial analysis proficiency
SEO and SEM
Time management skills
Self-motivation
Communication proficiency
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a self-employed resume
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Include any relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role, for maximum readability.
- Keep your self-employed resume as brief as possible. Aim for one page for an entry-level role, and two pages for more senior jobs.
- Use strong verbs to help show the actions you've taken in different self-employed roles (e.g. executed, facilitated, managed).
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms when you can use simple, straightforward language to say the same thing.
- Don't list personal details such as your age, gender or a photo, unless these are necessary for the role. They can lead to hiring bias.
- Don't use passive language - steer away from phrases like 'I was asked to' and use action words instead.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't lie or exaggerate the details of your self-employed career or education, as this can backfire later in the recruitment process.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. When you're writing your self-employed resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
FAQs for a self-employed resume
Now that you know how to write a professional self-employed resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Firstly, think about whether you want to write a full, formal cover letter or whether a brief email to introduce yourself and draw attention to your resume will suffice.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to self-employed roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
For an experienced self-employed application, the objective of your resume is to showcase the many achievements in your career to date. Your self-employed resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. Your self-employed resume could also include optional sections that demonstrate your experience levels and reputation in your industry. These could include, for example, awards, achievements and successful projects.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your self-employed applications. A well-constructed resume headline can help your resume rank highly with ATS screening tools by referencing some of the key information from the job description. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Freelance Professional Seeking Opportunities
- Independent Business Owner and Consultant
- Experienced Independent Business Consultant
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Key points for your self-employed resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
