What to Put on Your Resume When You’ve Been Freelancing or Consulting
Freelancing and consulting can give you some of the richest professional experiences, but when it comes time to write your resume, you might be left wondering: how do I present all of this in a clear, professional way?
You’re not alone. Many job seekers who have worked for themselves worry that hiring managers won’t value their experience, or that their resume will look disorganized. But here’s the truth: freelance and consulting work count, and when framed the right way, it can help you stand out.
In this post, we’ll show you exactly what to put on your resume when you’ve been freelancing or consulting, so your skills, results, and professionalism shine through.
Start with a Professional Title That Reflects Your Work
Don’t leave hiring managers guessing. Create a title that sums up your role. It can be broad or specialized depending on your niche.
Examples:
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Marketing Consultant | Brand Strategy & Social Media
- Virtual Assistant & Project Coordinator
This helps recruiters immediately understand your focus, and it sets the tone for what’s to come.
Use a Business Name If You Have One
If you operated under a business name, include it like you would any employer:
- Company Name: ProTouch Creative Studio
- Role: Freelance Web Designer
- Dates: January 2020 – Present
If you didn’t use a business name, list your role as “Self-Employed” or “Independent Consultant” with your area of expertise. You can check this guide from Indeed for more examples of how to do this effectively.
Group Your Work by Projects or Clients
Instead of listing every short-term gig separately (which can feel overwhelming), you can group your work by category or client type. You can also showcase highlights from your most relevant or long-term clients.
Example:
Freelance Content Strategist | 2018–Present
- Delivered freelance services to 5+ clients, including SaaS startups, e-commerce brands, and coaching businesses.
- Developed content plans that increased organic traffic by 80% for a fitness coach.
- Led SEO audits and keyword research for 10+ small businesses.
- Research, developed, and posted 50+ blog posts optimized for search and user experience.
This format keeps things organized and emphasizes impact over task lists.
Learn more: How to Structure Your Resume in 5 Steps
Focus on Results, Not Just Responsibilities
Just like any resume experience, what matters most is what you accomplished. Use bullet points to highlight results, metrics, and the value you provided.
Instead of this:
- Wrote social media content.
- Managed client emails.
Try this:
- Created Instagram content for a wellness coach that grew followers by 45% in 3 months.
- Developed and implemented email workflows that improved lead conversion by 20%.
Have you done this but still not received any interviews? Check out this blog: Applying for Everything and Hearing Nothing? Let’s Talk Resume Strategy
Include Tools, Systems, and Skills
Freelancers wear many hats. This is your chance to show how agile and tech-savvy you are. Use your skills section (or include these in bullet points) to list the tools and platforms you used.
Examples:
- Tools: Canva, Asana, Trello, HubSpot, WordPress, Google Analytics
- Skills: Email marketing, project management, client onboarding, sales copywriting
Don’t Forget the Professional Summary
Your summary should include your years of experience, areas of expertise, and the kind of roles or industries you’ve worked in. Tailor it to the job you’re applying for.
Example: Marketing consultant with 6+ years of experience helping service-based businesses attract and convert leads through SEO, email marketing, and content strategy. Proven track record of launching systems that streamline communication and boost engagement by 100%.
Bonus Tips
- Use consistent formatting across all experiences to make it easy to read.
- Include LinkedIn or portfolio links to give context to your work.
- Add testimonials or client feedback if relevant, especially for higher-level roles.
Freelancing Is Real Work, Own It
Freelancing and consulting are not red flags on a resume. They’re proof of adaptability, initiative, and a broad skill set. With the proper structure and storytelling, your freelance background can position you as a top candidate.
At ProTouch Careers, we help job seekers turn freelance experience into polished, keyword-optimized resumes that pass both ATS systems and human eyes. Want feedback on your current resume?
Start with a free resume review, or explore our resume writing packages to take the next step.
Let your freelance experience work for you, and help employers see the value you bring.
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