Gig work and freelancing have been around for decades, but these roles gained more attention during the coronavirus pandemic when many employees were laid off and looking for work. Other people choose this type of career because they enjoy the flexibility and variety of assignments. These positions can offer a wealth of experience and be a valuable addition to your resume, especially if you are looking to shift back into a full-time role with an organization.
Here are a few options for including freelance or gig work as you update your resume.
Break It Down by Major Projects or Employers
If you have spent several months working on a project or for a single employer, create separate entries on your resume. This gives you ample room to highlight your key contributions and accomplishments while there. Focus on your results and how what you did makes you a good fit with the type of job you are seeking next.
Make sure you note that the position was a contract or freelance role so that a potential employer doesn’t raise a red flag wondering why you were only there short-term. Use a job title that describes what you did as well, rather than just saying “Contract Worker” or “Freelancer.” The entry on your resume may look like this:
ABC Company, City, State Year
Content Marketing Specialist (Contract)
Consolidate Everything into One Entry
If you have done multiple small jobs or short-term roles, you may want to streamline your resume by creating just one entry. Here, you can touch upon various projects you have done, or be more general about the type of work performed. Still include any metrics or major accomplishments that you have.
If you have registered a name for your business, use that, otherwise you can say that you’re self-employed. For instance, your resume might say:
- Doe Consulting, LLC, City, State Year
Freelance Bookkeeper
- Accomplishment
Or
Freelance Bookkeeper, City, State Year
- Accomplishment
Remember that you don’t have to include everything you have ever done. Emphasize those roles and achievements that are most relevant to future jobs and show key skills that employers are looking for.
If you are able to list the names of specific employers, that can add more credibility to your experience and make you stand out against other candidates. You can show that you have worked for employers that are in the same industry or similar to the ones you are applying to. If you can’t disclose that information, use some general descriptions when describing projects, such as saying it was for a major grocery store chain, a private healthcare practice, or a startup technology company.
Don’t underestimate the value of your experience, even if it was a side job or you weren’t considered a full-time employee of the company. Your work was still important and made a difference to the business, and you still gained relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. Use this to show that you can transition from the gig economy into a corporate role.
Not sure how to highlight your freelance experience or gig work on your resume? Contact Grammar Chic today for help with your resume updating.
