How to List Freelance Work on Your Resume: A Guide for Self-Employed Professionals

Freelancing gave you freedom. Now it might be giving you a resume headache.

How do you list 15 different clients over 3 years? What job title do you use? Will employers think you couldn’t hold down a “real job”?

These concerns are common among freelancers transitioning to traditional employment. The good news: freelance experience is valuable, and there are proven ways to present it professionally.

Why Freelance Experience Matters to Employers

Before we talk format, know this: some hiring managers still view freelancing with skepticism. They worry about:

• Commitment to staying long-term
• Ability to work within a team structure
• Following processes vs. doing things your own way

Your resume needs to counter these concerns. But freelancing also demonstrates qualities employers value:

Freelance Reality	Professional Translation
Finding your own clients	Business development, sales skills
Managing multiple projects	Prioritization, time management
Working without supervision	Self-direction, accountability
Handling your own finances	Budget management, organization
Meeting diverse client needs	Adaptability, communication
Building repeat business	Relationship management, quality delivery

Frame your experience to highlight these strengths.

Job Title: What to Call Yourself

“Self-Employed” tells recruiters nothing. Use a professional title that describes what you actually did.

Recommended Formats:

Option 1: Freelance [Job Title]

• Freelance Graphic Designer
• Freelance Software Developer
• Freelance Marketing Consultant

Option 2: [Job Title], Independent Contractor

• Web Developer, Independent Contractor
• Content Writer, Independent Contractor
• Bookkeeper, Independent Contractor

Option 3: [Job Title] Consultant

• Marketing Consultant
• HR Consultant
• Financial Consultant

Avoid:

• Self-Employed (too vague)
• Entrepreneur (implies you’re building a business, not seeking employment)
• CEO of [Your Name] LLC (sounds pretentious for solo work)
• Freelancer (not descriptive enough)

Choose a title that matches the roles you’re targeting. If you did web development and you’re applying for web developer positions, call yourself a Freelance Web Developer.

Company Name: Business vs. Your Name

You have options for how to list your “employer.”

If You Have a Business Name:

Freelance Marketing Consultant
Bright Ideas Marketing | 2022-2026

If You Worked Under Your Own Name:

Freelance Graphic Designer
Self-Employed | 2021-2026

Alternative: Client-Focused Format

Freelance Web Developer
Multiple Clients including [Notable Client Name] | 2020-2026

The key is consistency with the rest of your resume format.

How to Structure Multiple Clients

This is where freelance resumes get tricky. You might have worked with dozens of clients over several years. Listing each one creates a cluttered, confusing resume.

Option 1: Consolidated Entry (Recommended)

Group all freelance work under one entry with bullet points highlighting your best work.

Freelance Content Writer
Self-Employed | 2021-2026

• Created blog posts, whitepapers, and web copy for 30+ clients across tech, healthcare, and finance industries
• Maintained 95% client retention rate through consistent quality and deadline adherence
• Grew monthly revenue from $2,000 to $8,000 through referrals and repeat business
• Notable clients: [Company A], [Company B], [Company C]

Best for: Long freelance periods, many small clients, or when specific projects aren’t individually impressive.

Option 2: Highlight Key Clients

If you worked with recognizable companies or had significant engagements, call them out.

Freelance UX Designer
Independent Contractor | 2022-2026

Key Engagements:

Tech Startup (6-month contract)
• Redesigned mobile app interface, improving user retention by 25%
• Created design system used across 3 product lines
• Collaborated with engineering team of 8 through agile sprints

E-commerce Company (12-month retainer)
• Led UX research including 50+ user interviews
• Designed checkout flow that reduced cart abandonment by 18%
• Delivered 200+ screens across web and mobile platforms

Best for: Substantial engagements, well-known clients, or when specific results are impressive.

Option 3: Functional Grouping

Organize by type of work rather than by client.

Freelance Marketing Consultant
Self-Employed | 2020-2026

Content Marketing
• Wrote 200+ blog posts for B2B technology clients
• Developed content strategies generating 50,000+ monthly page views
• Created email sequences with 35% average open rate

Social Media Management
• Managed accounts with combined 100,000+ followers
• Grew client Instagram presence by average of 200% annually
• Created and scheduled 500+ posts using Hootsuite and Buffer

Paid Advertising
• Managed $50,000+ in monthly ad spend across Google and Facebook
• Achieved average ROAS of 4.2x across e-commerce clients
• Built and optimized campaigns for lead generation and sales

Best for: Diverse service offerings, demonstrating range of skills, or targeting roles that need specific skill proof.

Quantifying Freelance Work

Numbers make freelance work credible. Vague claims don’t.

What to Quantify:

Metric Type	Examples
Volume	“50+ clients,” “200+ projects,” “1,000+ articles”
Revenue	“$100K+ in contracts,” “grew revenue 300%”
Results	“increased client traffic 50%,” “reduced costs by $20K”
Scope	“managed $50K monthly ad budget,” “led teams of 5-10”
Retention	“80% repeat client rate,” “average engagement 18 months”

Before and After:

Weak: “Did web development for various clients”

Strong: “Delivered 40+ web development projects for clients across e-commerce, SaaS, and professional services, with average project value of $8,000 and 85% referral rate”

Weak: “Wrote content for businesses”

Strong: “Created 300+ pieces of content for 25 B2B clients, including whitepapers, case studies, and blog posts that generated 2M+ page views collectively”

Struggling to quantify your work? ReviseCV’s AI optimizer helps you transform vague freelance descriptions into achievement-focused bullet points with specific metrics.

Addressing Employment Gaps

Sometimes freelancing fills gaps between traditional roles. Sometimes it creates perceived instability. Here’s how to handle both scenarios.

If Freelancing Filled a Gap:

Frame it as intentional, not as “couldn’t find a job.”

“After leaving [Previous Company], pursued freelance consulting to broaden industry experience before targeting senior roles.”

If You Had Gaps During Freelancing:

Slow freelance periods happen. Use years instead of months for dates to minimize visible gaps.

Freelance Designer | 2021-2024  (Not: March 2021 - November 2024)

If You’re Transitioning Back to Full-Time:

Address it in your cover letter or summary:

“After 4 successful years of independent consulting, seeking full-time opportunity to apply diverse client experience within a collaborative team environment.”

What If Your Freelancing Was a Side Hustle?

If you freelanced while employed full-time, you can list both. Just be strategic.

Option 1: Separate Entry

List freelance work as its own position if it’s substantial enough.

Marketing Manager
ABC Company | 2020-2026 | Full-time

Freelance Content Writer
Self-Employed | 2022-Present | Part-time

• Maintained freelance practice alongside full-time role
• Wrote for 10+ clients including [Notable Names]
• Generated $15,000+ in annual additional income

Option 2: Skills Section

If freelance work was minimal, mention the skills without a separate entry.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance copywriting for small businesses (2023-Present)

Be Careful About:

• Confidentiality: Don’t reveal you freelanced for competitors
• Non-competes: Make sure side work didn’t violate agreements
• Time commitment: Don’t make it seem like you were distracted from your main job

Common Freelance Resume Mistakes

Mistake #1: Listing Every Single Client

Unless you’re creating a portfolio, your resume shouldn’t name 30 clients. Consolidate and highlight the best.

Mistake #2: Using “Self-Employed” as Your Title

This tells recruiters nothing about what you do. Use a descriptive job title.

Mistake #3: No Quantification

Freelance work without numbers looks like you’re hiding something. Quantify scope, results, and volume.

Mistake #4: Making It Look Like Job Hopping

If you list each short client engagement separately, it looks like you can’t hold a job. Consolidate under one entry.

Mistake #5: Not Addressing the Transition

If you’re moving from freelance to full-time, explain why. Employers want to know you’re committed to staying.

ATS Considerations for Freelance Resumes

Applicant Tracking Systems may not handle freelance resumes well. Optimize accordingly.

Do:

• Use standard job titles that ATS recognizes
• Include keywords from target job descriptions
• List specific tools and technologies
• Use consistent formatting

Don’t:

• Use creative titles ATS won’t understand
• Rely on client names to convey your skills
• Assume “freelance” implies certain abilities

Pro Tip: ReviseCV’s Resume Score shows how your freelance resume matches specific job postings. See which keywords you’re missing and get suggestions for ATS optimization.

Sample Freelance Resume Entry

Here’s a strong example of how to present freelance experience:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance Digital Marketing Consultant
[Your Business Name] | Remote | 2021-2026

Provided strategic marketing services to 35+ clients ranging from startups
to mid-market companies across technology, healthcare, and professional
services industries.

Key Achievements:
• Generated $400K+ in contract revenue over 5 years with 80% from referrals
• Managed paid advertising budgets totaling $1.2M with average ROAS of 3.8x
• Developed content strategies that increased client organic traffic by
  average of 65% within 6 months
• Built and optimized email marketing systems generating $2M+ in attributed
  client revenue

Notable Clients: [Tech Company], [Healthcare Brand], [Professional Services Firm]

Tools & Platforms: Google Ads, Meta Ads, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Analytics,
SEMrush, Ahrefs

Key Takeaways

1. Use a professional job title. “Self-Employed” doesn’t cut it.
2. Consolidate multiple clients. One strong entry beats 20 fragmented ones.
3. Quantify everything. Numbers make freelance work credible.
4. Highlight transferable skills. Freelancing developed valuable professional abilities.
5. Address the transition. If you’re seeking full-time work, explain why.
6. Optimize for ATS. Freelance resumes need keyword attention too.

Ready to Present Your Freelance Experience?

Freelancing demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and business acumen. Make sure your resume shows that.

Tailor your freelance resume → for your target role and get a version that positions your independent experience as a strength.

Need both resume and cover letter addressing your transition? The Application Kit creates both, tailored to explain your freelance background effectively.