how to write a resume for self employed

• Resume Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Resume Examples Nurse Student Internship Teacher Accountant View all
• Resume Builder
• Cover Letter Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Cover Letter Examples Nursing Administrative Assistant Internship Graduate Teacher View all
• Cover Letter Builder
• Resume Examples
• Self-employed

Self-employed resume examples & templates

Depending on your personal circumstances, the trials and tribulations of self-employment might be a welcome relief or a logistical necessity. Either way, a self-employed resume is a powerful tool in pinning down lucrative client jobs.

One of the beauties of being self-employed is that there are a variety of ways to communicate your skills and services. However, the truth is that many clients simply know what to expect when it comes to reading a good, old-fashioned resume. When this is all that’s standing between you and sealing the deal, you want to make sure your resume sells you as the right person for the contract in question.

Resume.io has helped millions of people write job-winning resumes. Their online resume builders, resume templates, and resume examples can help you craft a resume that will draw new clients to you like magnets . We’ve compiled this step-by-step guide to help you land your next self-employed contract. This resume guide and the corresponding self-employed resume example will cover the following topics:

What does a self-employed professional do?

• How to write a self-employed resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a self-employed resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

Being self-employed is a way for professionals to operate independently of an organization hiring them. This can work in a number of ways logistically and can be attractive due to the control it offers over your location, projects, or schedule. A self-employed professional may operate in almost any industry.

Organizations of all kinds may find it attractive to take on a team member on a project basis due to the temporary necessity of a specific skill set. For that reason, self-employed individuals can find themselves in demand across a range of industries and professions. Whether you’re a graphic designer, construction worker, or trusty accountant, there is money to be made.

How many people are self-employed?

With the exception of a dip during the pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number  of self-employed professionals has been steadily rising over the last 10 years.

How to write a self-employed resume

When writing your self-employed resume, you should consider who you are writing it for. Perhaps you are applying for a particular project or signing up for a freelance platform to put yourself forward for a range of services. Whatever the case, it’s important to regularly update your self-employed resume so that it accurately shows off your most up-to-date and relevant experience.

The very first step is understanding how to communicate that through the fundamental sections of your self-employed resume. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Make it to the top 25%

On average 75% of resumes don’t even make it in front of contracting personnel. Why? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are the algorithms responsible for rejecting resumes deemed irrelevant. 

That means if you want your resume in the top 25% that makes it in front of human eyes, you need to include the keywords that the ATS is programmed to filter. These keywords are usually based on the language used in the job ad. If you’re applying for a gig digitally - let’s face it, that’s probably 99% of you -  this is worth keeping in mind, even if you are self-employed.

Depending on your sector, you might find it beneficial to look at some other resume samples for inspiration. The resume sample content throughout this guide as well as our real estate agent resume example, web developer resume example, or freelance writer resume example could be good starting points.

Choosing the best resume format for a self-employed professional 

Deciding which resume format to use for your self-employed resume is essential when preparing to craft it. Points to take into consideration include your occupation, the type of project you’re applying for, and the industry of the organization looking for collaborators. Ultimately you need a resume format that makes it clear to see you’re the right fit.

The reverse chronological format means the client can see at a glance what you have been working on most recently. This can be a great option for you to cherry-pick the best projects you want to showcase to a potential client. 

On the other hand, a functional resume format can be a great way to draw the client’s attention to specific skills. Let’s face it, often the person in charge of contracting you is not the same person who understands nuanced explanations of why your work is good. Whatever you choose, make sure your resume format is not easier for you to write than it is for the target reader to understand.

Resume header

A clear resume header is a sure-fire way to make sure your professional profile stands out on your self-employed resume. You want your name and job title to be clearly visible at the top of your resume. Make sure your job title matches the language the prospective client has used if you are responding to a job listing. You should also include your contact details and a link to your website or portfolio, if applicable.

Seeing is believing

It’s wise to make sure you have a simple link that will lead clients to your portfolio, website, or client testimonials. You can include this link in your resume header.

Resume summary example

In a nutshell, why should this client work with you? This is the question you should answer in this short introductory section known as the resume summary. Depending on your occupation, this condensed presentation of your professional profile could look quite different. 

Mention the most pertinent career highlights and skills in this section so you can hook in the client and tell them in no uncertain terms that your resume is worth reading. Another way to make your self-employed resume summary stand out from the crowd - in the best way possible - is to write with passion. Strong action verbs are a great way to leave a lasting impression and avoid sounding like a cookie-cutter version of every other applicant. Check out the resume sample content below if you need some ideas. 

Dynamic and creative professional with expertise in designing marketing strategies that drive brand recognition for diverse clients. Cultivate productive relationships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment with requirements.

Employment history sample

The employment history section of a “regular” resume can seem pretty straightforward compared to a self-employed resume. Perhaps you have a mix of full-time employment history, as well as projects you’ve carried out since becoming self-employed. It may take a little creativity to communicate this mix of experiences clearly.

There are two key approaches for adding self-employed work to your resume. The first is to add the entirety of your self-employed activity as a single entry on your list of previous contracts. Each entry of your employment history should include a job title, the name of the organization (this could be independent contractor, or perhaps the name of your sole proprietorship, or perhaps simply “freelance”), the location, and finally, the dates worked. Underneath each entry, you can enter several bullet points of your most important responsibilities and role highlights. Check out our project manager resume example and sales representative resume example for ideas on what to include.

If you find this too restrictive in explaining the variety of work carried out during your time being self-employed, the second option is to break down your previous employment into a section that communicates your previous projects. You can still include your previous full-time roles as “normal” subheadings and corresponding bullet points. 

However, you will add a separate subheading with the name of your client for each project you want to include. Include the role you carried out for them, as well as the location and dates of the specific project or client contract duration only. Just make it clear in the bullet points underneath that you were contracted as a self-employed professional.

Freelancer at Self Employed, Sequim, WA January 2012 - Present

• Bagels R Us: Doubled customer base in only two weeks by creating outdoor signage and redesigning business logo.
• Maple Horse Riding: Grew client revenue by 25% by designing branded apparel, including working with third-party vendor.
• Crosswell Biggs Gifts: Triggered 50% increase in Facebook page likes and relaunched Instagram account.
• MK Jewelry: Developed new concept for company website focused on showcasing custom jewelry pieces.
• Kenning & Co.: Built entire marketing strategy fors tart-up business, defined brand, and created all collateral.
• Endora Tech: Devised digital campaigns to reach key target audiences across B2B and B2C channels.

CV skills example

Your excellent skills are likely what have propelled you through your career as a self-employed professional. Depending on the format you have chosen for your CV, the skills section could be the focus. So take a moment to really think about which skills are most relevant.

If you are responding to a project posting, you may already have a good idea of the key skills the client is looking for. Make sure you match the language and word choice they have used. While you shouldn’t neglect to include the main hard skills - i.e. the technical competencies - that the client is looking for, don’t forget about your soft skills. Soft skills talk about the way you carry out your work. As you will know all too well from client interactions, they are just as important in people wanting to work with you again.

• Client Relationship Management
• Social Media Engagement
• Brand Development
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Marketing Strategies
• Digital Advertising
• Project Management
• Vendor Management

Self-employed resume education example

In many sectors, your past education won’t be nearly as important as the proof of quality work. On the other hand, certain sectors like accountancy and architecture often rely on official accredited training even if they are self-employed. Regardless of your occupation, there are clients and industries that will want to know about your formal education background.

With your most recent qualification at the top of your self-employed resume education section, list the title of your qualification and the name of the institution where you received it alongside the dates of the course and its location. If you have a postgraduate qualification or higher, there’s no need to include your high school accreditations.

Master of Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 2016 - June 2018

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA September 2008 - June 2012

Resume layout and design

You know that communication is key, and it’s no different when it comes to optics. Visual communication plays a big part in how clients perceive you, so it’s unwise to overlook the layout and design of your self-employed resume. 

Take time to match your resume’s aesthetics with the tone of its content. If you found a financial advisor whose resume was glitter unicorn-themed, would you trust them with your life savings? Well, probably not.

If you want to relieve some of the pressure about making a great first impression, consider checking out our range of professionally designed resume templates. Not only will you lose less time formatting and designing, but there’s a range of options depending on the visual tone you want to hit for your next client application.

Key takeaways for a self-employed resume

• Keep the reader in mind when planning and amending your resume’s content.
• Don’t be afraid to adapt the format of your self-employed resume depending on who will read it.
• Match the language of your prospective client for the best results with the ATS and the human reading your resume.
• Use your creativity when choosing the clearest approach to display your previous professional experience.
• Make a first impression that counts by thinking through your resume’s visual presentation.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

How to Put Self-Employment on a Resume (With Examples)

By Katie Duncan Posted on February 27, 2024

The employment landscape is shifting, with more and more people choosing self-employment as their career path. 

Whether you’ve ventured into freelancing or running your own small business, your self-employment experience holds immense value and deserves a place on your resume. 

However, effectively showcasing this experience can sometimes take work. 

We’re here to break down the basics of including self-employment experience on your resume, including what to add and how to format it. 

Let’s go!

How to put self-employment on a resume

Formatting your self-employed experience is similar to listing any other job on your resume.

Think of how you would format traditional work experience on your resume. You’d probably include clear job titles, company names, dates of employment, and bullet-pointed descriptions of duties and achievements . Your self-employed ventures should follow a similar format as your other experiences. 

What to include

When incorporating self-employment into your resume, it’s important to provide comprehensive information to give potential employers a clear understanding of your experience and skills. 

Here’s what you should include:

• Business name : Begin by stating the name of your business, if it has a formal name. 
• Your role/title : Specify your role or title within the business. This could be founder, owner, CEO, consultant, freelancer, or any other relevant designation that accurately reflects your position.
• Key responsibilities : Using bullet points , outline your primary responsibilities and duties during your self-employment. This could include managing operations, client acquisition, project management, financial oversight, marketing, or any other tasks relevant to your role.
• Achievements and milestones : Highlight significant achievements and milestones attained during your self-employment. Your achievements may include successful project completions, revenue growth, client satisfaction metrics, awards or recognitions received, or any other accomplishments demonstrating your effectiveness and impact.
• Duration of self-employment : Indicate the duration of your self-employment, including the start and end dates. If your self-employment is ongoing, put Present as the end date.

This consistency ensures uniformity in your resume presentation and makes it easier for hiring managers to quickly understand and evaluate your self-employment experience alongside your other work history.

Self-employment resume examples

Here are three self-employment scenarios and how you might format your resume for each. 

Freelance writer resume example 

Freelance Writer, May 2019 – Present

Austin, Texas

• Produced over 100 articles, blog posts, and website copy pieces for clients across technology, finance, health, and lifestyle industries, increasing website traffic by up to 50%.
• Met and exceeded client expectations on 95% of projects, resulting in long-term contracts and repeat business.
• Published articles in 5 reputable online publications, expanding personal brand visibility and credibility within the industry.

Contract sales representative resume example

Contract Sales Representative, March 2017 – May 2021

InsureCo | Omaha, Nebraska

• Managed a portfolio of insurance products and services, generating over $500,000 in annual revenue through sales and upselling to existing clients.
• Conducted prospecting and lead generation activities, resulting in a 20% increase in client base within the first six months of contract.
• Developed and implemented customized insurance solutions tailored to individual client needs, resulting in a 90% client satisfaction rate.
• Collaborated with internal teams to resolve client inquiries, address concerns, and streamline sales processes, contributing to a 15% improvement in customer service ratings.

Company founder and CEO resume example

Founder & CEO, November 2013 – December 2018

PaperTag Clothing Co | Dallas, Texas

• Conceptualized, launched, and managed a successful clothing line specializing in [specific niche or style], generating over $200,000 in annual revenue.
• Oversaw all aspects of the business, including design, production, marketing, sales, and customer service, resulting in a streamlined and efficient operation.
• Developed and executed comprehensive marketing strategies, including social media campaigns, influencer collaborations, and pop-up events, resulting in a 50% increase in brand awareness and customer engagement.

Tips for including self-employment on your resume

Remember the following tips as you build your resume with self-employed job experiences.

1. Share quantifiable achievements and details.

When describing your self-employment experience on your resume, focus on quantifiable achievements and specific details to highlight your impact. 

For example, instead of simply stating “Managed client accounts,” you could quantify it by saying, “Increased client retention by 30% through implementation of personalized customer service strategies.” 

Of course, you don’t want to make up numbers here. Only include quantifiable data if it is accurate!

2. Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for.

Customize your resume for each job application by tailoring your self-employment experiences to align with the specific requirements and preferences of the position. 

Carefully review the job description and identify key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities the employer seeks. Then, strategically select and emphasize relevant experiences and achievements from your self-employment that demonstrate your ability to excel in the role. 

This tailored approach increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and showcases your genuine interest and fit for the position.

3. Showcase your transferable skills.

Even if your self-employment experience is in a completely different field from the job you’re applying for, you can use it to showcase relevant transferable skills .

These skills may include leadership, project management, problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. For instance, if you ran your own business, you likely developed strong leadership skills by managing employees. You probably honed your problem-solving abilities by navigating challenges that come with owning a business. You may be more detail-oriented than you ever were before.

Highlighting these transferable skills demonstrates your readiness and suitability for the new role.

4. Include a cover letter to address any concerns.

If you anticipate potential concerns or questions regarding your self-employment history, proactively address them in your cover letter . 

Use this opportunity to provide context and explain how your experience gave you the skills to succeed in the role. Address gaps in traditional employment or potential misconceptions about self-employment, emphasizing your professionalism, dedication, and readiness to transition into a new role. 

A well-crafted cover letter can help alleviate any doubts or reservations employers may have and strengthen your candidacy.

Embrace your self-employed experience on your resume

As we wrap up, remember this: your self-employment journey isn’t just a blip on your career radar—it’s a badge of honor showcasing your initiative, creativity, and resilience. Understanding how to put self-employment on your resume can turn your experience into a powerful narrative for your job application. Good luck!

Press Enter to search

How To List Self Employment on Your Resume [+ Examples]

A detailed guide from a senior recruiter on how to list self-employment on your resume with specific examples.

3 years ago   •   9 min read

“But self-employment isn’t a real job …”

Okay, so times are changing, and nobody really believes this anymore (we hope)! But there are still employers out there who don’t fully “get” self-employment. Was it a hidden employment gap? A glorified hobby? How much work did you really do, and for who? The best way to assuage those doubts isn’t to give in to them — it’s to counter them with a resume that explicitly answers all those questions.

The first rule of self-employment is that it 100% belongs on your resume. The second rule is to treat it like you would any other kind of employment.

A step by step guide to listing self employment on your resume

First things first: Here's a breakdown of how to add self employment to your resume.

• Give yourself a proper job title. Make sure it's descriptive and clear about what you actually did.
• Add 'Freelance,' 'Independent Contractor,' or 'Consultant' to the end of your job title.
• List a company name — Your Name Consulting (or similar) is fine.
• Include a short blurb to describe the context and scope of your work.
• Detail your accomplishments in bullet points.
• Use quantifiable metrics (including specific dollar amounts).
• Include a resume summary to explain the nature and relevance of your experience (optional).
• Run your resume through a free resume checker to identify potential areas for improvement.

An example of self-employment on your resume

Here's a template you can use for listing self employment on your resume:

MY NAME CONSULTING SERVICES Independent Consultant / Freelancer [Try to add keywords to job title, e.g. SEO Consultant] New York, NY, 2015 — Present Developed strategic insights for seven medium-large companies ($5M+/year) to improve SEO, web traffic and conversions. Revamped and implemented new websites for four companies. Selected Projects Search Engine Optimization project for American pet store - Analyzed data from 25000 monthly active users and used outputs to guide marketing and product strategies; increased average app engagement time by 2x and 30% decrease in drop off rate

And here's an example of what a work experience section might look like for someone who's been self-employed:

To view and download the entire self-employment resume template, go to our resume templates page.

When listing self employment on your resume, you should list your experience and accomplishments like you would any other kind of employment. This means that your bullet points should have action verbs, quantifiable achievements, and relevant skills. A good way to check if your resume is effective is to upload it to the tool below — it’ll let you know if your bullet points are strong enough and provide suggestions for improvements.

Tips for listing self employment on your resume

Here's a more detailed breakdown of things to keep in mind when listing self-employment on your resume.

Give yourself a job title, instead of calling it 'Self-Work'

The first step to making your self-employment look legit is to give yourself a proper job title. Generally avoid the word “self-work” here. Instead, think about what you actually did and give it a title in line with traditional employment — Photographer, Recruiter, Web Designer. Where possible, choose a job title that's aligned to the job that you are applying for (that might help you get past ATS ).

To make the context clear, you can add Freelance, Independent Contractor (if you worked with external clients), or Consultant (if you consulted external companies) to your title.

Choose your company name carefully

You have two options for listing a company name when you're an independent contractor or self employed:

Use your own name

You can even list your own name as a consulting firm if you didn’t operate with a business name — there’s no need to make one up after the fact. Listing a business name gives your work an air of legitimacy and makes it easier to group the projects you worked on while self-employed.

Use a company or client name

Alternatively, you can list the name of the company you worked with as long as you're careful to explain the nature of your working relationship. This can be as simple as listing "independent contractor" after your job title. Here's an example:

ABC Company , Columbus, OH Project Manager | Independent Contractor (June – November 2019)

Explain what you did in your bullet points

The biggest problem you’re likely to run into when transitioning from self-employment to traditional employment is recruiters who don’t fully understand what it is you did. Keep this short and relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a position in advertising, here's what a bullet point might look like:

Completed graphic design projects for companies as an independent contractor across the United States including product logos, social media graphics, and packaging design. Specialized in brand management and multimedia.

Use bullet points that are specific and tell recruiters where your skills lie.

Include dollar-amounts in your bullet points

To avoid recruiters thinking your self-employment was just a 'hobby', use specific dollar amounts to show the size of the contracts you worked with . For example, if you worked as a freelance web developer, you can say something like "Completed freelancer web development projects ranging from $5000-$18000..." This shows the significance of your work.

Using numbers on your resume is called quantifying your resume — see this step by step guide on how to quantify your resume .

Highlight specific projects from your contract work

An independent contractor resume isn't going to look exactly like a standard resume, and that's okay. Instead of a traditional work history, consider highlighting specific projects. Choose a handful of projects that highlight your most relevant skills or accomplishments and list those as you would any other work experience:

• List your accomplishments in bullet points
• Start with a strong action verb
• Focus on accomplishments
• Explain what you did and what the result was

If you worked with a single client long-term, group multiple projects under a single company heading. Or, if you worked on multiple short-term projects, you can group those together under the name of your consulting firm.

For more tips, see our guide on how to list contract and temporary work on a resume .

List self employment in your resume summary

A resume title is an easy way to tailor your resume and bypass ATS by including relevant keywords. Including a short summary directly below that allows you to quickly explain or contextualize information that might not be immediately obvious — perfect for people transitioning out of self-employment. This should provide a quick overview of your experience and 1-2 of your most impressive accomplishments, for example:

Writer with 8+ years’ experience seeking to write high-ranking, high-traffic articles for [Company] as an independent contractor. Current clients include [list high-profile or reputable companies]. Regular contributor to list [magazines, websites, or other publications]. Have written over 1000 published, high-ranking articles since 2012. Increased traffic for [specific project] by 500,000 in 18 months and reduced bounce rate by 50%.

Here are more resume summary examples you can draw from.

List technical skills and tailor it to the job you apply to

Depending on the position you’re applying for, a skills section is often a must. Any hard skills you’ve picked up while self-employed belong in this section, including things like programming languages, software programs, and technical competencies. Avoid listing soft skills like communication or flexibility — if you really want to highlight these, you can do that through your bullet point accomplishments .

If you’re not sure which skills to include on your resume, use the tool below to get a list of hard skills and keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Here are some more examples of how to format your resume skills section .

Include a projects section to highlight self employment

Even better than listing your skills is showing how you’ve used them in action. A projects section can be useful for anything that doesn’t quite belong with your work experience, like personal projects. This avoids blurring the line between your paid employment and side hobbies, while providing evidence of any skills you may have developed but haven’t used in a professional context.

This is an alternative you can consider, especially if you don't feel your self-employment is significant to be included in your work experience (e.g. it was a part-time job or a side-project)

Format projects in the same way as your work experience, listing accomplishments and providing a link if applicable.

Read more about how to list projects on your resume .

Self employment and independent contractor bullet point examples

If you're stuck on exactly what accomplishments to list under your self employment, here are a few examples to get you started:

Analyzed data from 25000 monthly active users and used outputs to guide marketing and product strategies; increased average app engagement time by 2x and 30% decrease in drop off rate

Drove redevelopment of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of in save/load time and 15% operation time

Identified steps to reduce return rates by resulting in an eventual $75k cost savings

Overhauled the obsolete legacy source code of two production applications, resulting in increased usability and reduced run time performance by 50%

Analyzed data from 25000 monthly active users and used outputs to guide marketing and product strategies; increased average app engagement time by 2x, 30% decrease in drop off rate, and 3x shares

Spearheaded a major pricing restructure by redirecting focus on consumer willingness to pay instead of product cost; implemented a three-tiered pricing model which increased average sale 35% and margin 12%

Led the transition to a paperless practice by implementing an electronic booking system and a faster, safer and more accurate business system; reduced cost of labor by 30% and office overhead by 10%

Additional sections you can add to highlight your self-employment experience

Other things that might belong on your resume and fall under self-employment include:

Certifications

If they’re significant (you don’t need to list every three-hour online course you’ve ever completed) and relevant to the position you’re applying for, you can list certifications in the education, projects, or additional section of your resume.

Publications

If you’ve been published in a journal, newspaper, or other reputable source, feel free to list these publications on your resume . Again, keep it to a small handful of the most relevant publications. A few strong examples can demonstrate your authority in your field and provide an additional ‘reference’ to back up your expertise.

If you work in a field like programming, writing, or design, it’s often standard to include a link to your portfolio. Make sure your portfolio examples are strong and relevant — your portfolio should be a selling point, not a distraction.

Community outreach

If you’re heavily involved in your professional community — through speaking at conferences, performing community outreach, or volunteering — you can list this on your resume provided it’s relevant and strengthens your candidacy.

Client references

Avoid including these directly on your resume, but think about who could be your references should the company you get hired by ask for them. Direct references are best — while things like testimonials have their place and are useful to collect, most hiring managers will want to speak directly to people who are familiar with your work.

What's the difference between self employment, consulting, freelance work, and independent contracting?

Consulting, freelance, and contract work are all different types of self employment.

Independent Contractors work for companies on a contractual basis. These can be long-term or short-term contracts, and may or may not have a firm end date. Independent contractors typically work on one project at a time and may do work similar to that of a regular employee, including working on-site, but are responsible for their own payroll, taxes, and specific working arrangements.

Freelancers often work on multiple projects for different clients at once. They tend to work remotely (from home or a shared work space) rather than from a client's office. Freelancers typically aren't bound by strict work agreements , leaving them free to take on as much or as little work as they choose — hence the name.

Consultants are usually experienced, high-ranking professionals with a background in their specific field. Instead of working directly for companies, they are hired to solve problems and provide big picture solutions, generally commanding high rates commensurate with their expertise.

Spread the word

How to make a career change at 30, how to get more connections on linkedin [+ linkedin templates], keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay updated with Resume Worded by signing up for our newsletter.

🎉 Awesome! Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

How to Include Self-Employment on Your Resume

3 key takeaways

• What self-employment is
• Best practices for creating a self-employed job description
• How to put self-employed on a resume using the free Teal AI Resume Builder

If you’ve ever worked as a contractor, a freelancer, or a small business owner, you are someone who has been self-employed.

Thanks to this experience, you know that even when you’re working for yourself, this absolutely counts as real work experience. Beyond what you’d learn in a more traditional job, you’re also growing in areas like time management, taking initiative, and problem-solving.

The key is learning how to take this valuable work history and translate it onto self-employed resumes to increase your chances of landing a job.

Sound like a tall order? Here’s what you need to know about the best method of how to put self-employed work on your resume (with self-employed resume examples included).

Including self-employed on resumes: Why it matters

"Self-employed" is a fairly broad term. At its most basic level, it means that you worked independently, for yourself (rather than, for example, working with one specific company). But the life of a self-employed professional can vary widely, looking like:

• Freelancing: With freelance work, your schedule is highly flexible, working with multiple clients (whom you choose) on short-term projects. 
• Sole proprietorship: Most freelancers are sole proprietors. In other cases, sole proprietors are considered business owners who can do things like hire employees.
• Contract work: An independent contractor generally has a working relationship with a single client on longer, fixed-term projects.
• Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs make money by starting and building a business.
• Partnership: A partnership is the next step up from a sole proprietorship. It’s a business owned by two or more people.
• Consulting: Consultants are often independent contractors—people who offer expert advice to private companies. 

While these are all types of self-employed experiences, many of these terms carry some overlap. If you don’t know which one best describes your work and employment history, fall back on “self-employed.”

Should you put self-employment on your resume?

Absolutely!

Including career-focused experiences—such as freelance writing on the side, contract work between full-time jobs, or even opening a small business—can help prove your flexibility and resourcefulness. (But remember, listing every job title or experience you’ve ever had might not be relevant. Hiring managers probably don’t care about that lemonade stand you had in middle school.)

Outside of more general job skills (like interpersonal skills), people who are self-employed also commonly specialize in a certain type of work. You can showcase any technical competencies or hard skills in the " About Me" section of your self-employed resume and beyond.

Practical guide: Listing self-employment on your resume

In many ways, adding self-employed work to your resume will look the same as adding any other job or work experience on your resume . You’ll want to include:

• A job title (that clearly signals you were self-employed)
• A company name
• The dates you started and ended each position or gig (dividing up certain freelance projects, for example)
• Bullet points with compelling descriptions of what you did
• A well-written resume summary
• Additional skills, certifications , or successes 

But figuring out what to put for the company name when self-employed can be tricky. One option is to include a header that says “Freelance” or “Contract” and list multiple independent contracting clients as subheaders under that:

• Freelance Writer 
• XYZ Company
• ABC Company

Another is to name your job title and the client or company on the same line, with further description underneath:

• ABC Company — Freelance Graphic Designer

If you have your own business, you can include your business name. Just make sure to denote that you’re an entrepreneur rather than an employee.

Finally, if you don’t have much space to include your self-employed experience, it’s okay not to name any companies at all. Simply say “Consultant” or “Freelancer” with a couple of brief sentences about your self-employed work experience, mentioning specific personal projects where you achieved results:

• Freelance Developer: Helped five clients design and maintain websites, lowering bounce rate to 30% and increasing conversion rate to 3%. Worked with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.

Write your self-employed resume with Teal

The Teal AI Resume Builder offers one tool to create, optimize, and manage your resume. You can build one from scratch or upload an existing resume (or your LinkedIn profile!) to get started. Then, use Resume Analysis and Matching Mode to bridge any gaps between your self-employed experience and each unique role you apply for.

Articulating your self-employed role: Creating a compelling job description

Once you’ve figured out a good header, the next step is writing a self-employed job description for a resume that explains exactly what you did as your own boss. 

This means adding relevant achievements (with metrics, wherever possible); using strong action verbs (achieved, exceeded, generated); and staying honest about what you did or didn’t do

But as you list self-employment experiences on a resume, you’ll want to specifically highlight any self-employed skills you acquired or honed during those experiences that you might not have gotten during a traditional 9-5. For example, did you:

• Improve your time management and organizational skills by working on multiple new client projects at once?
• Market yourself and your personal brand on social media to gain more clients?
• Adapt your work to fit the different guidelines of each company you worked with?

These are all great details that you should weave into a self-employed resume summary.

Should you put your small business on your resume? Sure! If you’ve ever started your own small business, this is a great detail to include on your resume—this is something that not everyone has done. Describe yourself as business owner, CEO, or manager, whichever one feels most appropriate for you as a self-employed professional. If you have a company website, you can add it as a bullet point along with your contact details.

Self-employed resume examples

Full-time self-employed sample resume.

Looking for a sample self-employed resume to impress a hiring manager? Take a look at the work experience section of this self-employed photographer resume . As one of the best resume templates, this self-employed resume example breaks down the job seeker's self-employed projects into bullet points:

Self Employed Photographer

01/2023 – 04/2023

Captured Moments Photography

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive marketing plan, resulting in a 30% increase in client inquiries and a 20% increase in bookings within the first year.
• Collaborated with industry professionals to organize and host a successful photography exhibition, attracting over 500 attendees and generating significant media coverage.
• Established a streamlined system for organizing and storing client images, improving efficiency by 25% and ensuring quick and easy access to files for future projects.

Photography Business Manager

09/2022 – 12/2022

• Created a visually stunning and user-friendly website to showcase portfolio and services, resulting in a 40% increase in website traffic and a 15% increase in client conversions.
• Developed a pricing structure that maximized profitability while remaining competitive in the market, leading to a 10% increase in average project revenue.
• Implemented a client payment tracking system, reducing late payments by 20% and improving cash flow management.

Photography Assistant

07/2022 – 09/2022

• Researched and invested in high-quality photography equipment and software, resulting in enhanced image quality and increased client satisfaction.
• Stayed up-to-date on industry trends and techniques, incorporating new styles and editing methods into work, resulting in a 15% increase in client referrals.
• Developed an efficient system for editing and retouching images, reducing editing time by 30% and ensuring timely delivery of final products to clients.

Part-time Self-employed sample resume

If your self-employment experience is more of a side project, here’s what this freelance work on your resume might look like for a freelance artist , who has a full-time job while also doing freelance work:

Freelance Artist

ArtistFreelance Solutions

• Collaborated with a team of designers and developers to create a series of digital illustrations for a popular mobile game, resulting in a 25% increase in downloads and a 15% increase in revenue.
• Managed a project to create a series of sculptures for a public art installation, completing the project on time and within budget, resulting in positive feedback from the community and local media.
• Created a series of logos and branding materials for a startup company, resulting in a 50% increase in brand recognition and a successful launch of their product.

3D Animator and Illustrator

ArtFreedom Freelance

• Developed a series of 3D models and animations for a virtual reality experience, resulting in a 40% increase in engagement and positive feedback from users.
• Collaborated with a team of artists and designers to create a series of illustrations and animations for a children's book, resulting in a successful launch and positive reviews from readers.
• Created a series of digital paintings for a client's website, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic and engagement.

Illustrator and Animator

FreelanceArtistry Solutions

• Collaborated with a team of artists and designers to create a series of storyboards for a video game, resulting in a successful launch and positive reviews from players.
• Created a series of illustrations and animations for a social media campaign, resulting in a 20% increase in engagement and positive feedback from followers.
• Developed a series of sculptures for a public art installation, resulting in positive feedback from the community and local media.

Self-employed entrepreneur sample resume

For a freelance event planner , a self-employed resume sample might look like this:

Freelance Event Planner

Nexus Networks

• Developed and executed a high-profile corporate gala, resulting in a 30% increase in attendance and a 25% increase in sponsorships, exceeding client expectations.
• Managed a team of 15 event staff and volunteers, ensuring seamless coordination and execution of all event logistics, resulting in a flawless attendee experience.
• Implemented a comprehensive marketing strategy, including social media campaigns and targeted email marketing, resulting in a 40% increase in event registrations.

Event Coordinator

Lyra Logistics

• Organized and executed a series of fundraising events for a non-profit organization, raising over $100,000 in donations and exceeding fundraising goals by 20%.
• Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers, achieving cost savings of 15% without compromising the quality of services and products.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive event timeline and budget, resulting in efficient resource allocation and cost control, saving the client 10% on overall event expenses.

Palladium Partners

• Created and executed a large-scale conference for a technology company, managing a budget of $500,000 and achieving a 15% cost savings through strategic vendor negotiations.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive safety plan, ensuring compliance with all regulations and guidelines, resulting in zero safety incidents during the event.
• Evaluated event success through attendee surveys and feedback, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rate and valuable insights for future event planning.

Additional ways to showcase your self-employment experience

Once you’ve finished describing the bulk of your self-employment work experience, you may want to consider adding additional sections to highlight any of the following:

• Certifications: Certifications you’ve earned can help add credibility.
• Publications: If you were interviewed or featured in an industry publication, this may be worth including on your self-employed resume.
• Awards: Extra space in your self-employment resume can be filled with any awards you may have won as a result of your self-employed skills. 

Mentioning specific projects can be helpful, too. For instance, maybe you worked on a huge website revamp or created a marketing strategy from the ground up. These are good projects to include on a self-employed resume. 

The significance of self-employment on your resume

Including freelance, consulting, or entrepreneurship work on your resume is a helpful way to give hiring managers a comprehensive view of your experience and soft skills.

And you don't need to hire a certified professional resume writer to create a standout resume. Once you learn how to list self-employment on a resume (like the self-employed resume samples shown above), it’s not so hard after all.

Make the process easier with Teal’s free AI Resume Builder. From your contact information to your resume summary all the way down to skills, the Resume Builder uses AI to help you quickly and accurately write a self-employment resume that helps you put your best foot forward for a hiring manager. (Hint: The Work Experience section is especially helpful if you’re looking to add multiple self-employment experiences.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are freelance and self-employed the same.

Yes—since freelancers work for multiple clients and control their own schedule, they are self-employed. Other types of self-employment include consulting, contract work, and entrepreneurship.

What should I put on my resume if I’m self-employed?

A good self-employment resume will include details of the clients you worked with, the type of work you did for each one, and the results your client saw as a result.

What do I put for my employer when self-employed?

State that you are self-employed (such as a freelancer or consultant). Then name a few of the clients you’ve worked with.

Hailey Hudson

Related articles.

How To List Microsoft Office Skills on Your Resume (+ Examples)

A Confidential Resume: How To Write One (+ Is It Risky?)

9 Tips for an Easy-To-Read Resume

7 Best Resume Writing Services (+ Which Are Worth It)

We help you find the career dream.

• Career Blog

Self-Employment on Your Resume: Sample and Tips for 2024

In today’s world, where job security is a distant dream, a lot of people have adopted self-employment as a way of life. Working as your own boss can bring enormous satisfaction and financial benefits, but it does come with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges for self-employed individuals is finding the right way to present their experience on their resume.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of including self-employment on a resume, along with a sample to help you get started.

Overview of self-employment on a resume

Self-employment offers a unique set of experiences and skill sets to potential employers. Many people hesitate to include self-employment on their resume, worrying that it might give the impression of instability or lack of focus. However, if presented effectively, self-employment on a resume can actually showcase an individual’s entrepreneurial spirit, ability to multitask, and versatility.

Importance of including self-employment on a resume

In today’s job market, employers appreciate individuals who have taken the initiative to work for themselves. Self-employment experience can demonstrate that an individual possesses qualities such as problem-solving skills, time-management capabilities, and financial acumen. Moreover, self-employment experience can set a candidate apart from others who have only worked traditional jobs.

Understanding Self-Employment

Being self-employed is often an attractive option for individuals who want the freedom to work on their own terms and control their income streams. Understanding what self-employment entails is crucial if you’re considering transitioning to this type of work or want to highlight your experience on your resume.

A. Definition and scope of self-employment

Self-employment refers to individuals who work for themselves instead of working for an employer. These individuals typically provide a product or service and are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and other business expenses. Self-employment can include a wide range of work, such as freelancing, consulting, owning a small business, and more.

B. Different types of self-employment

There are many different types of self-employment, each with their own unique characteristics. Some of the most common types of self-employment include:

• Freelancing: Working on a project-by-project basis for clients.
• Consulting: Providing specialized advice and services to clients for a fee.
• Small business ownership: Owning and operating a business with fewer than 500 employees.
• Gig work: Performing short-term jobs or tasks for various clients.
• Entrepreneurship: Starting and running a business from scratch.

While each type of self-employment comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, what they have in common is that individuals who pursue these career paths do so with a high level of independence and control over their work.

C. Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment

Self-employment can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with a unique set of challenges. Some of the advantages of self-employment include:

• Flexibility: The ability to set your own schedule and work from anywhere.
• Control: The power to make your own decisions and control your work environment.
• Unlimited earning potential: The opportunity to earn as much as you can based on your skills and work ethic.

However, self-employment also has some disadvantages to consider, such as:

• Lack of stability: A lack of consistent work or income can be stressful for some individuals.
• Increased responsibility: Being self-employed means you are responsible for everything from taxes to insurance to marketing.
• Limited benefits: Unlike traditional employment, self-employed individuals don’t typically receive benefits like healthcare, paid time off, or retirement plans.

Self-employment can be a viable option for those seeking greater independence and control over their careers, but it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before making the transition. Understanding the scope and nuances of self-employment will also help you integrate this experience effectively on your resume.

Why Self-Employment on a Resume Matters?

In this section, we will explore the reasons why self-employment is an important aspect to include on a resume for both employers as well as job seekers.

A. Employer’s Perspective on Self-Employment

From an employer’s perspective, self-employment on a resume can be seen as a valuable asset. It shows that a candidate possesses the entrepreneurial spirit and has the ability to take initiative and manage their own business. Employers are always on the lookout for candidates who possess these qualities, as they are essential to the success of any organization.

Moreover, self-employment experience can be particularly useful for small businesses, startups, and other organizations looking for candidates who are resourceful, resilient and able to wear many different hats. It also proves that the candidate is self-motivated, goal-oriented, and possesses excellent communication and problem-solving skills – all of which are crucial for any role in the modern job market.

B. Influence of Self-Employment on the Recruitment Process

Having self-employment experience on a resume can also play a crucial role in the recruitment process. According to various studies, recruiters and hiring managers take self-employment experience seriously, particularly if the candidate can demonstrate that their business was profitable, well-managed and achieved quantifiable outcomes.

In fact, in some cases, self-employment experience can be the deciding factor for being selected over other candidates. It shows that the candidate can take on various leadership and management responsibilities, has experience navigating different industries and has a strong work ethic.

C. Benefits of Including Self-Employment on a Resume

Including self-employment on a resume can have many benefits for the job seeker. It can help to distinguish them from other candidates, highlight valuable skills that may not be showcased in traditional employment settings and demonstrate a unique perspective that can be of great value to employers.

In addition, having self-employment experience can open up new opportunities for freelancing or consulting work, which has become increasingly popular in today’s gig economy. It also shows that the candidate is willing to take risks and is committed to developing their professional and personal brand.

Self-employment can be a valuable asset to include on a resume. It showcases an entrepreneurial spirit, highlights valuable skills and demonstrates initiative and resourcefulness. For employers, it provides crucial insights into a candidate’s leadership potential and ability to take on new challenges. For job seekers, it opens up new opportunities and can set them apart from the competition in a crowded job market.

How to list self-employment on a resume?

If you’re a self-employed worker inserting your work history on a resume can be daunting, but it’s crucial to show potential employers that you’re a dependable, skilled professional. Here are some tips on how to list your self-employment on your resume effectively.

A. Choosing the right format for your resume

Ensure that you choose the most appropriate format for your work experience. Use a functional, chronological or combination format depending on your type of work, skills and experience level. Consider what layout best highlights your accomplishments and will catch the attention of prospective employers.

B. Tips for highlighting self-employment on a resume

When listing your self-employment, make sure you emphasize your achievements and major-day-to-day responsibilities. List relevant accomplishments such as, “Developed and implemented a successful marketing campaign resulting in a 50% increase in annual profit.” Highlight the duties that show your transferable expertise, such as, “Comprehensive business management, including consulting, project management and accounting.” When listing your experience, make use of terms that are transferable, such as “managed and developed customer relationships,” and “oversaw project timelines and budgets.” Also ensure that you use active, descriptive verbs that communicate your work’s quantitative or qualitative impact, like “established, grew, increased or improved.”

C. Examples of incorporating self-employment on a resume

Here is an example of how to list self-employment on your resume:

Title:  Freelance Marketing and Social Media Consultant

Company:  Your name and contact information

Timeframe:  November 2017 – Present

Industry:  Marketing

Location:  Remote

A results-driven freelance consultant specializing in social media and digital marketing with over three years of expertise in crafting engaging content, developing brand identities and increasing online engagement, traffic and presence through well-planned campaigns. Proficient in managing multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision and delivering quality client satisfaction.

Key Accomplishments:

Developed and executed successful digital marketing campaigns for clients resulting in an average 40% increase in engagement rates.

Maintained profitable relationships with over 20 satisfied clients leading to repeat business and referrals through exceptional communication and customer service.

Major Responsibilities:

Created custom social media strategies, calendars and content for various platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Developed brand messaging, and improved website user experience and design leading to increased website traffic, sales and customer acquisition.

Managed and executed all aspects of social media campaigns, including analytics, reporting and budget management.

It’s crucial to always highlight your key self-employment accomplishments and responsibilities while putting them front and center on your resume. Using the appropriate format, active verbs and transferable skills will increase interest and get you ahead of the pack.

Key elements of self-employment on a resume

When you’ve worked as a self-employed individual, it’s important to highlight the key elements that will impress potential employers. Here are the four critical categories to make sure you include:

A. Role and job title

First and foremost, list the job title(s) you held while self-employed. If you had multiple roles, make sure to list each one separately. Be sure to use industry-standard job titles whenever possible, and avoid gimmicky or hard-to-understand titles.

B. Company name and duration

Include the name(s) of your company/companies and the duration of your self-employment. This will give potential employers a clear understanding of how long you were self-employed and the name(s) of the companies you worked for. If you had multiple businesses or projects, make sure to list them separately.

C. Industry experience and responsibilities

List your industry experience and responsibilities while self-employed. This means describing your primary duties – such as managing clients, planning projects, creating marketing materials, and so on – and the specific skills you used to perform them. Use job descriptions or online resources to ensure that your duties and skills align with industry standards.

D. Achievements and accomplishments

Finally, don’t forget to include your accomplishments and achievements while self-employed. Include metrics if possible – such as sales growth, client acquisition, or project completion rates – to demonstrate your value as a self-employed individual. This will show potential employers that you were able to achieve measurable results while working on your own.

By following these four key elements, you’ll be able to present yourself as a competent and valuable self-employed individual on your resume.

How to explain self-employment on a resume?

Self-employment can be an impressive addition to your resume, but it can also be tricky to explain to potential employers. Here are some tips for addressing gaps in employment history, explaining the reasons behind your self-employment, and framing your self-employment experience in a way that showcases your skills and achievements.

A. Addressing gaps in employment history

If you have gaps in your employment history due to self-employment, don’t try to hide them. Instead, be honest about your time spent running your own business. You can frame your self-employment as a period of professional and personal growth that has given you valuable skills and experience that you can now bring to a new role.

B. Explaining reasons behind self-employment

When explaining why you chose to become self-employed, make sure to emphasize your passion for your industry and your desire for greater flexibility and control over your career. You can also highlight any challenges you faced as a self-employed individual and how you overcame them to achieve success.

C. Techniques for framing self-employment experience

When framing your self-employment experience, focus on specific achievements and quantifiable results. Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities, and highlight any new skills or knowledge you gained as a result of your self-employment. You can also include any positive feedback or testimonials from clients or customers. Finally, make sure your self-employment experience is relevant to the position you are applying for, and tailor your resume accordingly.

By following these tips, you can successfully explain your self-employment experience on your resume and showcase your skills and achievements to potential employers.

Tips for Highlighting Self-Employment Skills

As a self-employed individual, identifying and showcasing transferable skills can often be a challenge. However, it is important to highlight these skills to potential employers to land a job. Here are a few tips to help you highlight your self-employment skills on your resume:

A. Identifying Transferable Skills

Self-employment provides ample opportunities to develop transferable skills that you can apply in multiple contexts. These may include project management, sales and marketing, budgeting, time management, communication, leadership, and problem-solving. Take some time to analyze your experience, projects, and responsibilities to identify these skills.

B. Integrating Self-Employment Skills with Job Requirements

Once you have identified your transferable skills, the next step is to showcase how they match the job requirements. Look at the job description, and tailor your resume to emphasize skills and experience that align with the position. Use the same language and keywords as the job posting to ensure that your resume stands out.

C. Demonstrating Self-Employment Skills through Quantifiable Outcomes

Employers always look for candidates who can deliver quantifiable results. Therefore, when highlighting your self-employment skills, use measurable outcomes to demonstrate your success. Use statistics, data, or any other quantitative measures to show how your skills have impacted your business. For example, if you managed a social media campaign, you could quantify your success by highlighting the increase in followers, click-through rates, or website traffic.

Showcasing your self-employment skills on your resume can be challenging but rewarding. By identifying transferable skills, integrating them with job requirements, and demonstrating quantifiable outcomes, you can stand out from the competition and land your dream job.

Overcoming Potential Challenges

When it comes to including self-employment on your resume, there are a few potential challenges you may face. Here are some strategies to overcome them:

A. Addressing Negative Connotations Around Self-Employment

Unfortunately, there are still some negative connotations associated with self-employment, such as the belief that it is less stable or reliable than traditional employment. To address these concerns, emphasize the following:

• The skills and experience you developed through self-employment that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you ran your own business, highlight your managerial, marketing, and customer relations skills.
• Any successes you achieved, such as winning contracts or achieving business growth.
• The initiative, resilience and adaptability required to succeed as your own boss.
• The fact that self-employment requires a high level of personal responsibility and accountability, which are traits many employers value.

B. Strategies for Minimizing Impact of Self-Employment Bias

Even if self-employment is becoming more accepted, some employers may still display a bias against job seekers who are or have been self-employed. Here are strategies to minimize any negative impact:

• Use industry-specific language and acronyms that show you’re knowledgeable about the sector and can speak its unique language.
• Emphasize your professional network and any industry contacts you’ve gained during self-employment that can vouch for your skills and reliability.
• Get certified, accredited, or take online classes to keep your skills current and your resume up-to-date.

C. Knowing When to Include and When Not to Include Self-Employment on a Resume

Deciding whether to include self-employment on your resume ultimately depends on each situation. Here are some factors to consider to help you make the decision:

• If the self-employment was in the same field as the job you’re applying for, highlight the skills and experience gained and how they relate to the role.
• If the self-employment was in a different field, consider leaving it out or briefly mentioning it as a supplemental activity for gaining experience in another area.
• Always be honest and transparent about your self-employment adventures. Hiring managers can check your work experience, so being upfront is always the best policy.

By employing these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to optimizing your resume for your next job opportunity while appropriately highlighting your self-employment achievements.

Sample self-employment resume

As a self-employed individual, crafting a resume that highlights your skills and experiences can be challenging. To help guide you in creating an effective self-employment resume, it can be helpful to analyze the structure of a sample resume and extract tips and techniques.

A. Analyzing the structure of sample resume

When analyzing the structure of a self-employment resume, it’s important to look at the layout, formatting, and overall organization. A well-structured self-employment resume should follow a similar format to traditional resumes. This means starting with a clear and concise objective or summary statement that highlights your key skills and experiences.

Next, include a skills section that lists your top skills and abilities related to your self-employment experience. Follow this with a detailed work history section that provides specific details about your self-employment experiences, including project descriptions, client relationships, and achievements.

B. Highlighting key elements of self-employment on the resume

When highlighting key elements of self-employment on a resume, it’s important to showcase your ability to work independently, manage projects, and build client relationships. Additionally, providing concrete examples of your achievements and contributions can help set you apart from other candidates.

It’s also important to address any gaps in your work history that may be a result of your self-employment. This can be done by providing a brief explanation for the time between traditional employment and starting your own business.

C. Extracting tips and techniques from the sample resume

By analyzing a sample self-employment resume, you can extract valuable tips and techniques for creating an effective resume. Some of these may include:

• Using clear and concise language to showcase your skills and experiences
• Providing detailed project descriptions that highlight your contributions and achievements
• Emphasizing your ability to work independently and manage projects effectively
• Addressing any potential gaps in your work history to provide context for your self-employment experience

Creating a strong self-employment resume requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of what sets you apart as a candidate. By analyzing a well-crafted sample resume and extracting valuable tips and techniques, you can create a winning self-employment resume that showcases your skills and experiences effectively.

Related Articles

• Intern Architect Resume: Sample for 2023
• Crafting a Strong Reference Letter for a Friend in 2023
• Kinesiologist: Job Description, Skills, Duties & Education
• Employers: What Are They? A Complete Guide for 2023
• Designer Resume: Sample & Writing Tips for 2023

Rate this article

0 / 5. Reviews: 0

More from ResumeHead

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Add Self Employment on...

How to Add Self Employment on Your Resume + Examples

11 min read · Updated on April 17, 2024

Learn the secrets to highlighting self employment on your resume.

Chances are that you already realize the importance of including relevant work experience in your resume. Employers always want to see that you have the experience they're looking for, after all. 

But what if your relevant experience includes freelance work or other forms of self-employment? 

Can you include self-employment in your resume? 

More importantly, how can you include that information in a way that entices employers to offer you an interview?

In this post, we will explore when and why you should include this type of experience and provide some tips and examples you can use to effectively highlight self-employment in your resume.

What is self-employment and why does it matter?

When most people think of self-employment, they envision a small business owner running a shop offering products and services to their community. While that is one type of self employment, it's important to recognize that people engage in this type of work in a variety of different ways. Self employment can include:

Independent contractors like construction workers, business consultants, and other service providers

Freelancers like writers, graphic artists, and others who engage multiple clients on a per-project basis

Entrepreneurs who own and operate formal business enterprises

Any type of work that you've done that didn't involve working as a formal employee of another company can be properly considered a form of self employment. In other words, if you're the boss and you define your duties, schedule, and project terms, chances are that you're self-employed.

Should you always include self employment in your resume?

Of course, it's important to recognize when you should include self employment on your resume. In most instances, this work experience can be an invaluable addition to any resume. When you work for yourself, you employ a wide range of skills that employers might be looking for in their new hires. It's also likely that your experience included many relevant achievements that you'll want to share with those employers.

Moreover, if you spent any serious time being self-employed, omitting that experience could leave a significant gap in your work history – a gap that you'll probably need to explain during an interview. To avoid that issue, it's wise to include self employment in your resume. Just make sure that you focus on relevant skills and achievements when you're detailing those jobs.

On the other hand, if you've done a little freelancing as a side gig throughout your career – and that work has no relevance for your current career goals, then you may want to leave that information off your resume. As a rule, irrelevant information is always a distraction. You'll need to decide whether your self-employment experience enhances your resume.

Tips to include self employment in your resume

It's important to ensure that you include this information in the most effective way possible. While you should add self employment to your work experience section, you may need to adjust your details to properly convey your qualifications. The following tips can help to guide you through that process.

1. Give yourself a job title that reflects the nature of your freelance work

Treat this work experience as other independent contractors and freelancers would on their resumes — give yourself a title that reflects the type of work you did during your time of self employment, and add the word "Contract," "Consultant," or "Freelancer" to that title.

You should also try to avoid using titles like Chief Executive Officer or other upper-echelon positions – unless you're applying for a higher-level management position. Use a title that accurately describes your work, but that also aligns as much as possible with the role you're seeking.

2. Consider adding a company name for consistency on your resume

Some people like to provide a company name so that the format looks like their other work, but that's entirely up to you. If you operate under a company name, then use it. If not, you can just describe the type of work you've done and reference the job title you've assigned to yourself.

3. Provide a summary of the services you offer

Below your job title and dates of employment, write a blurb that explains the type of work you performed as a freelancer. If you worked for multiple employers, you could mention how you did X, Y, and Z types of work for several clients in A, B, and C industries.

4. Use bullet points to highlight noteworthy projects or clients

If there are any specific projects you worked on that demonstrate your marketable skills and achievements, use bullet points to call attention to this relevant work. Try to focus on measurable achievements that highlight the type of value that you provided to each client.

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Self employment on resume: example

To help you better understand how one of these self-employment listings might look in your resume, we've included an example below. This example doesn't include any mention of specific clients, but you could add a brief mention of notable customers if you think that it might help to reinforce your qualifications.

Communications & PR Consultant (Contract), San Diego, CA | 2022 to Present

Offer communications and public relations support for clients in the pharmaceutical sector. Address clients' needs, from message development and media outreach to materials creation and planning. Manage media relations, medical meeting support, competitive intelligence, and materials development for OTC health and pharmaceutical clients. Key projects include:

Increased consumer awareness for cervical cancer by developing campaign materials, including banner ads, print collateral, and copy for the microsite, resulting in a documented 45% increase in consumer outreach.

Doubled coverage and blog backlinks for a client with an OTC treatment for acid reflux by developing a new blogger sweepstakes.

Researched, hired, and media trained new spokesperson to represent biotechnology company's new treatment for exercise-induced asthma.

Self employment on resume: skills

Of course, your work experience section is not the only place where your self-employment history can be highlighted. As you were working independently, you developed and used certain skills that are likely to be relevant to your career goals. Those skills should be highlighted within your skills section too. Below are some tips to help you emphasize those marketable skills to employers.

Include relevant hard skills

Your hard skills will include all the relevant abilities that you'll need to possess to qualify for your desired position. Before you create your skills section, review the job posting to identify any skills that the employer has listed as required qualifications for the job. Create a list that includes those exact terms. Now add to that list any additional technical abilities or job-related knowledge that you've acquired and used while self-employed.

Pro tip : Using the exact terms you find in the job posting can be critical for making sure that your resume contains the keywords that applicant tracking systems are looking for during any automated screening process. Check out our post, How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume – Tips for ATS 2024 for more details!

Don't forget your interpersonal abilities and other soft skills

In addition to those hard skills, you'll also want to include soft skills and interpersonal abilities. In fact, you could put yourself at a huge disadvantage if you fail to highlight your people skills. Many employers who see self employment on a resume may wrongly assume that the candidate lacks key interpersonal skills. Chances are that you've done most of your self-employed work on your own, so you'll need to highlight skills that demonstrate your ability to work with others.

To counter any concerns about your ability to be a team player, you can include bullet point achievements that describe your collaborative efforts with clients, vendors, or other contractors. These achievements can include things like:

Communicating regularly with clients, project liaisons, and other members of a team

Consistent use of communication platforms like Zoom, including an estimate of your time spent using those tools

Descriptions of how you used active listening, negotiation, and customer advocacy skills

Related post : 11 Best Communication Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

The goal, of course, is to highlight the many ways in which your self employment has involved regular collaboration and interaction with other people. The fact is that independent contractors and freelancers usually work as part of a team – even if they're just acting on instructions provided by their project contact. Your job is to translate that experience into a compelling story that proves you're a team player.

Other important soft skills that you may want to add to your resume can include:

Time management

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Problem-solving

For an explanation of these and other skills, and a more in-depth guide to soft skills and their importance, check out our post, Soft Skills Explained - and the Top 7 for Your Resume .

Self-employed resume summary example

In addition to your work experience and skills sections, self employment can also be mentioned in your resume summary. This section should be no more than three to five sentences in length and should include a concise summary of your experience, skills, and major quantifiable achievements. If you were a salesperson, this part of your resume would function as your elevator pitch – a brief but punchy statement designed to capture the reader's attention and inspire them to read the rest of the document.

For example:

Results-focused digital artist with five years of experience building and leading creative art agency from the ground up. Skilled at concept development, theme organization, and full-process campaign creation and implementation designed to increase target audience engagement. Serve as Consulting Lead on ABC Corp. design, development, and execution of mobile applications used by 2 million customers.

Self-employed resume template

Sometimes, it's easier to start with a basic template that you can use to guide you as you create your own resume. We've included a simple template below that you can use by simply inserting your own career details – including self-employment history – into the brackets for each section. Once you've completed that process, you can adjust this basic resume to tailor it to your individual career needs and the job you're seeking.

[Your Full name]

[Address] | [Phone number] | [Email address] | [Website] | [LinkedIn URL]]

[Resume headline] This should be a one-line headline that includes your desired job and some descriptive language that differentiates you from your competitors.

[Resume summary paragraph]

[List of relevant hard and soft skills] Use bullet points for each skill and format the entire section into two or three columns to optimize resume space and improve readability.

Professional Experience

[Company name, dates of employment]

[Job title]

• [Bullet point achievement #1, including real numbers to show value]
• [Bullet point achievement #2, including real numbers to show value]
• [Bullet point achievement #3, including real numbers to show value]
• [Bullet point achievement #4, including real numbers to show value]

Use this same template format to list as many jobs as you need to cover the last ten years of employment – including any self employment.

[Degree | Major, Name of college, Date you graduated]

You can also list coursework if you believe that it will enhance your qualifications or help the employer understand your area of competency.

Certifications

[List all relevant certifications, licenses, etc.]

For more advice about organizing your resume sections, read Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them .

Including self-employment on a resume can boost your chances of landing an interview!

Whether you've spent your career working for yourself or have had a combination of traditional and self-employed positions, including self-employment on your resume can be vital for job search success. That relevant work experience can help you highlight your skills and notable achievements that demonstrate your unique value proposition to employers. Good luck with your job search!

Want to make sure that the self-employment on your resume is truly highlighting your qualifications? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!

This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine and has been updated by Ken Chase.

Recommended reading:

17 Resume Tips to Get Seen and Hired Faster

11 Key Things to Put on Your Resume

What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

Self Employed Resume Samples [+ 3 Examples]

This page provides you with Self Employed resume samples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder . Below you'll find our how-to section that will guide you through each section of a Self Employed resume.

“You are self-employed! I don’t get why you would need to work on a resume!”

How many times have you heard your peers asking you this question? How often do you get frustrated at them because they just don’t understand?

Well, you have done the right thing, looking for the best self-employed resume sample on the web. Even professionals like you need a resume (actually, a standout resume!). It’s quite likely you just want to know your worth in today’s market or perhaps you want to send out a few resume to see if you could get a once-in-a-lifetime call that might change your mind regarding your future.

We have helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you probe the market and see if it’s worth staying in their position as a self-employed or if they actually want to take the leap. Let us inspire you, as well, with the most effective self-employed resume sample you could think of: we are ready to start building your future!

Also, check out our collection of 500+ resume samples .

You are or have been the mastermind behind the creation of your business: you do not know what fear feels like! You have an outstanding amount of talents, from conceptualizing organizational operations, budgets and branding to implementing them through careful feedback and research. You have had stellar ideas and you most likely have outstanding leadership and motivational skills...and don’t forget about your exceptional problem-solving skills!

As a business innovator, you have so many different and desirable strengths and your biggest challenge in creating a strong resume is to remain concise.

One of the first steps you should take is to format the resume so that your strengths are highlighted, along with your best achievements.

Ensure clear layouts are used to make sure the recruiters keep on scrolling down: white space and legible fonts make for easy reading and give the recruiters’ eyes a rest

Last but not least, make sure you save your resume as a .pdf.

We won’t have anything against you, Microsoft, but the Word formatting can sometimes be an issue whereas a .pdf is set in carbonite.

How to Write a Self Employed Resume?

To write a professional Self Employed resume, follow these steps:

• Select the right Self Employed resume template.
• Write a professional summary at the top explaining your Self Employed’s experience and achievements.
• Follow the STAR method while writing your Self Employed resume’s work experience. Show what you were responsible for and what you achieved as a Self Employed professional.
• List your top Self Employed skills in a separate skills section.

How to Write Your Self Employed Resume Header?

Write the perfect Self Employed resume header by:

• Adding your full name at the top of the header.
• Add a photo to your resume if you are applying for jobs outside of the US. For applying to jobs within the US, avoid adding photo to your resume header.
• Add your current Self Employed to the header to show relevance.
• Add your current city, your phone number and a professional email address.
• Finally, add a link to your portfolio to the Self Employed resume header. If there’s no portfolio link to add, consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile instead.
• Bad Self Employed Resume Example - Header Section

Deon 696 Rock Maple St. South Lyon, MI 48178 Marital Status: Married, email: [email protected]

• Good Self Employed Resume Example - Header Section

Deon Nguyen, Lyon, MI, Phone number: +1-555-555-5555, Link: linkedin/in/johndoe

Make sure to add a professional looking email address while writing your resume header. Let’s assume your name is John Doe - here is a formula you can use to create email addresses:

• [email protected] - [email protected]
• [email protected] - [email protected]
• [email protected] - [email protected]
• [email protected] - [email protected]
• [email protected] - [email protected]
• [email protected] - [email protected]

For a Self Employed email, we recommend you either go with a custom domain name ( [email protected] ) or select a very reputed email provider (Gmail or Outlook).

The Self Employed Resume Summary Section

Summaries don’t sound the most appealing or even necessary elements of a resume and yet they are needed. Most times recruiters don’t have the time to read every single detail of your resume and all they want is summaries. Make sure you captivate them with your most impressive business achievements and your excellent and unrivaled networking ability.

There are one or two tips from us to help you today:

DO (Summarize your employment)

• Keep the list of your skills short.
• Ensure you highlight one or two important skills above the others.
• Use numbers, percentages and figures to demonstrate measurable success

DON’T (Summarize your life)

• Try to be too funny, this is a professional resume
• Use a smart or pompous tone in the summary.
• Talk as if you are better than the recruiter.

Self Employed Resume Examples - Summary

• Owner - Self Employed Resume Sample - Summary

Highly motivated, articulate, creative and versatile sales professional with several years of technology sales management experience and an entrepreneurial flair. Especially skilled at building productive working relationships with clients and staff. Adept at developing effective tactics to execute long-term results in the most efficient means possible.

• Self Employed Resume Example - Summary

A highly resourceful general management and marketing communications professional with years of experience in strategic planning, improving operational efficiency, building and managing teams across multiple departments, financial management, and project management.

Work Experience

This section might get tricky - you have had a couple (or more!) of experiences working on your own business. The biggest mistake you could do is to say something like: “That business didn’t do that well, I should not include it”.

That is so wrong - as a self-employed, you have worn so many hats that it does not really matter if you have failed, because you will never really fail as long as you have learnt from something. We suggest you list any experience you have had, as an entrepreneur and even any previous one as an employee. Show your future employer your level of experience and be as detailed as possible!

Self Employed Resume Examples - Work Experience

• Owner, Self Employed Resume - Work Experience
• Guiding SMEs to break through growth barriers via Sales and Marketing strategies.
• Coaching business owners and professionals to boost revenue, attract new customers, and optimize marketing spending.
• Developing competitive business and pricing models. Create motivational workshops that increase collaboration and growth.
• Self Employed Resume - Work Experience

Self Employed

• Preparing individual and sole proprietorship tax returns.
• Prepare offer in compromise on behalf of the client to resolve tax debt.
• Building new and maintaining existing client relationships.
• Conduct research and analyze state and federal tax issues.

Here are tips to help with this part:

Do (Summarize your work history)

• Showcase why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
• Be concise and detailed
• Experience should be added where applicable.

DON’Ts (Summarize your relationship history)

• Bring your ego to the table.
• Have more than 3 references at the bottom of the work history.
• Fake references or work history is a no!

For more tips on writing the best work experience section for a self-employed like you, check out our detailed resume guide .

We get it, lots of successful self-employed professionals are dropout miracles. That does not have to apply to everyone though. Your education is very valuable and recruiters want to know what made you the professional you currently are. It’s very important to have even a brief section covering your education, where these points should be covered:

• Which learning institutes you attended and what you studied.
• The number of years you studied.
• The outcome of the education – i.e. qualifications.

It doesn’t matter if you’re only able to provide the most basic elements of your educational background, it still counts. Employers are often suspicious of people who leave their education out of a resume as it gets them wondering what they’re hiding. Even if it’s limited, it’s good to list and in truth, not everyone will have university degrees or education to list. If that’s the case, don’t worry, list what education you can.

Top Self-Employed Resume Skills

Recruiters aren’t going to spend hours and hours going through hundreds of resumes; they are going to use simple but effective methods to narrow their search down.

One of the simplest methods they will use is to opt for a keyword search, which is why the skills you list must be relevant to the job at hand. Remember, if you aren’t using relevant keywords you won’t get far!

We believe it’s fundamental that you add both hard and soft skills. These will make the difference and potentially get your name to the top of the list. Of course, if you start listing skills which aren’t really relevant to your job, we doubt you’ll get a callback, so think carefully before you list any skill!

Top Self Employed Resume Skills for 2022

• Microsoft Office
• Communication
• Strategic Planning
• Hyperion Planning, HFM, Essbase, SAP
• Budget Preparation & Implementation
• Reporting, IFRS and USGAAP
• Applications
• General: Business Development
• People Management

How Long Should my Self Employed Resume be?

Your Self Employed resume length should be less than one or two pages maximum. Unless you have more than 25 years of experience, any resume that’s more than two pages would appear to be too long and risk getting rejected.

On an average, for Self Employed, we see most resumes have a length of 2. And, that’s why we advise you to keep the resume length appropriate to not get rejected.

How to List Self Employed on a Resume?

In addition to the ones at top, these additional self-employed resume examples serve as an excellent examples of how to list self employed on a resume.

• How to List Self Employed on Resume Sample

• Cover Letter: yes or no?

If you want an advantage over other candidates, we strongly suggest you use a cover letter.

If you need help, we’ve got you covered !

Should I Add my Self-Employment to a Resume?

Yes, self-employment should be added to your resume. Apart from displaying your relevant work experience, adding self employment to your resume also ensures that there are no unexplained gaps in your work history.

How to List Self-Employment on Your Resume?

To list self employment on your resume, consider adding a job title for the period of self-employment and add relevant work experience under it. If you were a self-employed freelancer who worked for multiple clients - consider adding a line for each of your relevant client work under your work history.

What is your job title if you are self employed?

If you are self employed, your job title should be either "Self Employed" or "Freelance". You can also put a specific title e.g. "Editor" or "Freelance Editor".

How to write own business experience in resume?

If you ran your own business, list yourself as the Owner, CEO or Managing Director of the business under your work experience. List your relevant responsibilities in the form of a bullet list.

How to add your small business to your resume?

While adding your small business experience to resume, make sure you select on the most relevant roles and responsibilities. Most small business owners wear multiple hats, but listing specific responsibilities keeps your relevant to the job that you are applying for.

How to put independent contractor on resume?

To list yourself as an independent contractor on resume, create a separate entry under your work experience. Add “Independent Contractor” as title followed by the responsibilities in a bulleted list.

How to write entrepreneur experience on resume?

Create an entry in your work experience section with a title of Entrepreneur/CEO/Self Employed and list your duties below it. Make sure to display the impact of work done. Keep your responsibilities relevant to the job that you are applying for.

We really, really want you to get your dream job, and we’ve come up with some additional tips!

DO (make yourself look great)

• Include awards, they are always welcomed.
• Promotions or how you’ve climbed the ranks can show your quality.
• Create a brief list of hobbies, if they fit the job.
• Honesty goes a long way.
• Include a link to your LinkedIn page

DON’T (embarrass yourself)

• Avoid adding information which might be sensitive about other businesses or organizations.
• Avoid having a link to your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts!
• Sell yourself short.

We have given you tips for the best self-employed resume sample: now, if you are also looking for the best self-employed resume templates, you should check this masterpiece we have been working on ; many professionals like you have successfully used it to take their career to the next level.

Copyright © 2024 Workstory Inc.

Select Your Language:

How to List Self-Employment on a Resume

• Resume Writing Tips

Self-employment is a rising trend in the American workforce. FreshBooks says the number of self-employed Americans could triple up to 42 million by 2020. However, this significant rise does not guarantee success in career. There are still people who went back to their traditional work. Why? Because they see it as a risky path. So before they apply and go back, they ask: Should I include my self-employment on a resume? If yes, how?

Should You Put Self-Employment on a Resume?

The answer is yes. Definitely yes. You should put your self-employment on your resume. Putting this will help you patch up the gap in dates. This way, you avoid possible red flags for potential employers.

Also, any other forms of freelance work should be written on your resume. They are good add-ons which quite improve your resume. Especially during the interview, you can emphasize this career period. Employers love to hear the skills you used and gained when you were self-employed.

How to Put Self-Employed on Your Resume

A. give yourself a job title..

Treat self-employment just like your any other jobs before. Just like traditional work, you need a job title. Make sure that it is right and it reflects the nature of your job. Avoid writing “self-employed” or “self-work.” Use a functional job title like writer, artist, or web designer. Just remember to use the term that best suits your duties.

If it is your first time to write a resume and apply, don’t worry. Here are some terms you can add on your job title:

• Contractor (e.g., independent contractor)
• Consultant (e.g., legal consultant)
• Freelancer (e.g., freelancer designer)
• President, CEO, Company Owner

B. Create your company name.

Just like above you need a company name in every job position. This maintains the resume’s consistency. Again, consider the nature of your work. If you’re having difficulty, use any freelance business name generator. This will give you a bunch of available options.

If you are a freelancer, opt to list your client’s business names. Before you do this, make sure the company acknowledges you. Write the point of contact whom you’ve worked with. There’s a chance their human resources can’t verify your involvement.

C. Write inclusive dates.

The reason behind this tip is to avoid the employment gap on the resume. Patching this up is better than leaving your work history with gaps. These are clearly red flags to employers, especially if you don’t have a valid reason behind them.

Your self-employed years are evidence of your career progress. So, before writing your resume, check out our resume writing tips .

D. List your offered services and highlight notable projects and clients.

It is with great importance that you list the works you performed. In this part, be more specific. The employers need to see the specific services you rendered to your clients. Doing so will help employers see what you can offer to them.

Moreover, you highlight notable projects and clients on the inclusive dates. Use visual enhancers to highlight these such as bullet points. Use strong action words and power keywords.

Build Your Resume Effortlessly

This is it! The tips on writing self-employment on a resume will surely help you with your resume writing. Another way to improve your resume is to look for freelancer resume examples . You can compare yours with them.

Finally, Resume4Dummies is committed to giving you the best resume writing tips . Check them out now!

Recent Post

Administrative Assistant Job Description

Best Executive Resume Example Plus Tips to Highlight Your Achievements Like a Pro

Applying for the Job: The Written Work (aka Skills-Filled Resume)

Elevate your career in a click.

Be on top of the job search game. With our expert writers and easy process, you’ll get excellent results. Optimize your resume now!

Related Post

How to Knock That Second Interview Out of the Park

• 1-510-740-4155

• • Founded business from scratch, successfully growing it to a team of 10 employees
• • Generated average annual sales growth of 15%, making it a profitable venture
• • Developed online eCommerce platform, expanding customer reach globally
• • Implemented strategic marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in brand awareness
• • Worked with 100+ businesses, aiding to increase their customer reach
• • Helped increase clients' revenue by an average of 30% through targeted marketing strategies
• • Managed online ad campaigns with a monthly budget of over $10,000
• • Consistently recognised for achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate
• • Helped drive an average of 6% growth in monthly sales for the department
• • Suggested new merchandise displays, resulting in a 10% uptick in sales

5 Self Employed Business Owner Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

As a self employed business owner resume, it's imperative to highlight your entrepreneurial spirit. Showcase your ability to identify opportunities and transform them into a profitable enterprise. Emphasize your expertise in managing all aspects of the business, from financials to marketing. Demonstrate your skill in executing strategies that led to growth and sustainability.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

Formatting the layout of your self employed business owner resume: design, length, and more, detailing your relevant experience on your self employed business owner resume, highlighting your hard and soft skills on your self employed business owner resume, optimizing the education and certification sections of your self employed business owner resume, summary or objective: making your self employed business owner resume shine, how to include other relevant sections for your self employed business owner resume, key takeaways.

Self-employed business owners often struggle with articulating their varied responsibilities and achievements in a structured, corporate-friendly format on their resumes. Our guide can assist by providing industry-specific templates and actionable cues to help them effectively translate their entrepreneurial experiences into quantifiable accomplishments, making their skills more visible and appealing to potential employers.

Dive into this guide to discover how to craft a compelling self employed business owner resume:

• Explore top-tier self employed business owner resume samples, spotlighting industry-leading skills and experiences.
• Uncover over ten tailored strategies to make your self employed business owner resume resonate with the job description.
• Illuminate your unique value as a self employed business owner candidate, using your professional achievements as a guide.
• Debunk the myth that education doesn't matter, and learn how to leverage your academic and certification credentials effectively.

Recommended reads:

• Operations Associate resume
• Small Business Owner resume
• Cleaning Business Owner resume
• Online Business Owner resume
• Construction Business Owner resume

When it comes to the format of your self employed business owner resume , you've plenty of opportunities to get creative. But, as a general rule of thumb, there are four simple steps you could integrate into your resume layout.

• If you have plenty of experience, you'd like to showcase, invest in the reverse-chronological resume format . This format focuses on your latest experience items and skills you've learned during your relevant (and recent) jobs.
• Don't go over the two-page limit, when creating your professional self employed business owner resume. Curate within it mainly experience and skills that are relevant to the job.
• Make sure your self employed business owner resume header includes all of your valid contact information. You could also opt to display your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
• Submit or send out your self employed business owner resume as a PDF, so you won't lose its layout and design.

Upload your resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

While color can enhance your self employed business owner resume by emphasizing key details like headlines, job titles, and degrees, moderation is key. Stick to a primary and a secondary color to maintain professionalism and avoid a cluttered appearance.

Essential components for your self employed business owner resume:

• Header: Feature your name prominently. If you have a notable degree or certification, append it next to your name. Include contact details, a link to your portfolio, and a concise headline.
• Summary or Objective: Align your professional trajectory and standout achievements with the desired role.
• Experience: Craft concise bullet points, highlighting tangible successes and contributions.
• Skills: Showcase them throughout your resume and consider a dedicated sidebar for emphasis.
• Education & Certifications: Reinforce your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to the industry.

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Entrepreneurial Skills: Demonstrating ability to start, develop, and manage a business from the ground up, including defining vision, setting strategic direction, securing resources, and operational management.
• Financial Management: Showing expertise in managing business finances, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. Evidence of successful cost control and revenue generation is crucial.
• Sales and Marketing: Having solid experience in marketing strategies, sales techniques, and customer relationship management. Ability to grow a customer base and increase business visibility will be prioritized.
• Leadership: Displaying strong leadership qualities such as decision-making, team building, and conflict resolution. Recruiters like to see you've managed staff or teams effectively.
• Industry Knowledge: Possessing deep understanding of industry trends, competition, and regulatory environment. The ability to adapt and innovate based on market conditions is highly valued.
• Resume Icons
• Resume Margins

Showcase your credibility in the resume experience section. For an effective self employed business owner resume:

• Highlight measurable achievements.
• Scan the job advert for keywords and integrate them throughout your experience section.
• Emphasize your technical proficiencies and how you've applied them in various roles.
• Keep it simple: mention your responsibility, relevant skills, and the outcomes.
• Use this section to convey your unique value, soft skills, feedback received, and the type of company culture you thrive in.

Top professionals ensure their experience section offers a captivating look at their expertise. Check out our sample self employed business owner resumes for guidance.

• Launched and managed a successful e-commerce platform, resulting in a 150% increase in online sales within the first year.
• Implemented effective digital marketing strategies, including SEO and social media campaigns, leading to a 200% growth in website traffic.
• Collaborated with suppliers to negotiate favorable pricing terms, reducing costs by 20% and improving profit margins.
• Founded and operated a boutique coffee shop, overseeing all aspects of business operations and customer service.
• Developed a loyal customer base through personalized interactions and consistent delivery of high-quality products resulting in a 30% increase in annual revenue.
• Managed a team of 10 employees, providing training, scheduling, and performance evaluations to optimize productivity.
• Established a consulting firm specializing in process optimization for manufacturing companies, resulting in an average cost reduction of 15% for clients.
• Led cross-functional teams to implement lean manufacturing techniques, streamlining production processes and reducing lead time by 25%.
• Developed and delivered customized training programs to enhance employee skills, resulting in improved operational efficiency.
• Operated a freelance graphic design business, providing creative solutions to clients across various industries.
• Managed multiple design projects simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines and exceeding client expectations resulting in a 90% client retention rate.
• Collaborated with clients to understand their brand identity and marketing goals, translating them into visually appealing designs.
• Founded and currently manage a digital marketing agency, offering comprehensive online marketing solutions to businesses.
• Developed and executed data-driven strategies to improve clients' website conversion rates by an average of 30%.
• Led a team of specialists in SEO, PPC advertising, and social media marketing to drive client success and achieve tangible results.
• Established a home renovation company, overseeing all project phases from planning to execution resulting in a portfolio of successful home transformations.
• Managed subcontractors, ensuring timely completion of projects within budget resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rate.
• Implemented strategic marketing initiatives, targeting affluent neighborhoods resulting in a 40% increase in annual revenue.
• Founded and operated a pet grooming salon, providing exceptional grooming services to a diverse clientele.
• Developed customized grooming plans for each pet, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Implemented an online booking system and social media marketing campaigns, resulting in a 50% increase in new customer acquisition.
• Owned and managed a catering business, specializing in corporate events and private functions.
• Planned and executed high-profile events for clients, accommodating up to 500 guests, resulting in positive client testimonials and referrals.
• Negotiated contracts with suppliers, optimizing costs and ensuring high-quality ingredients resulting in a 20% increase in profit margin.
• Founded and operated a fitness studio, offering personalized training programs and group classes.
• Implemented innovative marketing strategies, resulting in a 75% increase in membership within the first year.
• Developed partnerships with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts, attracting a diverse clientele and increasing retention rates.
• Managed a small-scale farming operation, cultivating organic produce for local markets.
• Implemented sustainable farming practices, resulting in a significant reduction in resource consumption and environmental impact.
• Established relationships with local restaurants and farmers' markets, resulting in consistent sales and revenue growth.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include the number of employees you managed or hired to highlight your leadership and human resources capabilities.
• List the percentage by which you increased sales, revenue, or profit, showcasing your ability to drive business growth.
• Mention any cost-cutting measures you implemented, specifying the percentage of costs saved, to demonstrate your financial acumen and efficiency.
• Document quantifiable customer satisfaction metrics if available, to reflect your commitment to service excellence.
• Note down the number of new clients or accounts you secured, to evidence your strength in business development and relationship management.
• Add the total value of contracts or deals you closed, indicating your negotiation skills and the scale at which you can operate.
• Specify the number of projects you led or completed, outlining your project management skills and reliability.
• Cite any significant increases in website traffic or social media followers under your tenure, demonstrating your digital marketing prowess and ability to build brand recognition.

Lacking experience? Here's what to do.

Candidates with limited experience often fall into two categories:

• Recent graduates aiming for a self employed business owner role
• Professionals transitioning from a different field

Both can still land a job in the industry. Here's how to optimize the experience section of your self employed business owner resume:

• Highlight your strengths, especially if they align with the job requirements.
• Remove unrelated experiences. Your resume should tell a story that resonates with the self employed business owner role.
• Showcase your personality. Traits like ambition and diligence can make you an attractive candidate.
• Align your experience with the job requirements, ensuring your resume speaks directly to the role.
• Job Shadowing on Resume
• Can I Leave a Job I was Fired From Off my Resume

Highlight what sets your experience apart. Incorporate metrics, feedback, and the tangible value you've added to organizations. This specificity ensures your resume remains pertinent and memorable.

The skills section of your self employed business owner resume should showcase your capabilities that align with job requirements.

Your hard skills , or technical skills, demonstrate your proficiency with technological innovations and specific software. On the other hand, your soft skills illustrate how you'd excel in the workplace environment with personal attributes like resilience, negotiation, and organization.

For a well-rounded self employed business owner resume, it's essential to include both. Here's how to craft a standout skills section:

• Prioritize skills listed at the top of the job advert.
• Highlight unique skills you've honed over time.
• Choose soft skills that resonate with the company or department culture.
• Address essential job requirements by listing key skills for the self employed business owner role that haven't been mentioned elsewhere in your resume.

Check out our sample skill list for self employed business owner to get ideas on the most sought-after hard and soft skills in the industry.

Top skills for your self employed business owner resume

Business strategy planning

Financial management and accounting

Marketing and sales

Customer relationship management

Project management

Web development and SEO optimization

Human resources management

Supply chain management

Product or service knowledge

Legal compliance knowledge

Negotiation

Time management

Problem-solving

Communication

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Emotional intelligence

Self-motivation

When detailing your skills, align them with the job's requirements. Emphasize unique technical proficiencies and provide examples of your soft skills in action.

Your education and certification sections can be game-changers on your self employed business owner resume, showcasing your commitment to professional growth.

For the education section :

• Highlight advanced education, noting the institution and duration.
• If you're currently studying, mention your expected graduation date.
• Exclude degrees that don't align with the job's requirements.
• If relevant, delve into your academic journey, spotlighting significant achievements.

When listing degrees and certifications:

• Feature those directly relevant to the role.
• Highlight recent and significant knowledge or certifications at the top of your resume.
• Provide essential details like the issuing institution and dates for credibility.
• Avoid listing irrelevant degrees or certifications, such as your high school diploma or unrelated specializations.

Remember, even if you're tempted to omit your education or certifications, they can offer a competitive edge, signaling a long-term commitment to the industry.

Best certifications to list on your resume

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - NASBA
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) - SHRM
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - (ISC)²

If you have plenty of certifications, prioritize the most relevant and industry-recognized ones. Arrange them based on their relevance to the job at hand.

• Cum Laude on Resume
• Continuing Education on Resume

Start your resume with a strong summary or objective to grab the recruiter's attention.

• Use a resume objective if you're newer to the field. Share your career dreams and strengths.
• Opt for a resume summary if you have more experience. Highlight up to five of your top achievements.

Tailor your summary or objective for each job. Think about what the recruiter wants to see.

Resume summary and objective examples for a self employed business owner resume

• With 10 years of successful entrepreneurship in the culinary industry, I bring unparalleled passion for crafting unique dining experiences. My technical skills in restaurant management and financial planning have led to consistent revenue growth. Notably, I increased customer retention by 30% within my first year of business operation.
• As a seasoned construction business owner with over 15 years of experience, I've honed my skills in project management, budgeting, and client relations. A testament to my success is the sustained 20% year-over-year growth of my business, achieved through strategic planning and effective team leadership.
• With a 7-year career as a Software Engineer and a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship, I'm looking to apply my skills in a new direction. My background in tech combined with excellent leadership abilities will ensure a seamless transition into a business owner role.
• After 12 years as an accomplished Corporate Lawyer, I'm ready for a career shift into business ownership. My expertise in negotiation, contract law, and relationship management will be instrumental in driving business growth and achieving operational efficiency.
• Eager to combine my newly-acquired MBA degree with my innate leadership skills to establish a start-up in the fitness sector. I am confident that my strong organizational skills coupled with a knack for strategic planning can lead to significant growth and sustainability.
• Passionate about sustainable fashion, I aspire to leverage my recent degree in Environmental Science and Business Administration to launch a clothing brand focused on eco-friendly practices. Aim to utilize my strong project management skills and commitment to ethical sourcing in building a successful business.

Apart from the standard sections listed in this guide, you have the opportunity to get creative when building your profile.

Select additional resume sections that you deem align with the role, the department, or the company culture.

Here are the ones we recommend:

• Language skills - use a profficiency framework to indicate your aptitude level;
• Hobbies and interests - you can share more about your favorite books or how you spend your time. It's great for culture alignment;
• Volunteering - helps you highlight the causes you care about and hints at people skills you gained such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, and organizational skills;
• Awards - the space for your most prominent self employed business owner professional accolades and achievements.

Make sure that these sections don't take too much away from your experience, but instead build up your self employed business owner professional profile. You can add them as a second column to your resume, or on a second page.

• Craft a self employed business owner resume that's easy to read and aligns with the role's requirements.
• The top third of your resume should clearly convey your unique value proposition for the self employed business owner role.
• Tailor your resume to the job, highlighting skills, achievements, and the tangible results of your efforts.
• Detail your certifications and technical skills to demonstrate proficiency with specific tools and technologies.
• The sections you choose should collectively present a comprehensive view of your professional expertise and personality.

Looking to build your own Self Employed Business Owner resume?

• Resume Examples

How To Write A Goodbye Message to Colleagues on your Last Working Day (+15 Examples)

Resume job description: samples & tips to help you enhance your application, how to answer "why should we hire you", 8 example situational interview questions and their answers, how to write your first job resume, language skills on resume: how to explain proficiency & fluency.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

Self-Employed resume examples for 2024

A self-employed resume should highlight a variety of skills. For example, experience with accounting tools like QuickBooks and financial statements is valuable. Proficiency in managing customer relationships and providing good customer service is also important. Depending on the specific type of self-employment, skills like lawn care, photography, or HVAC work may be relevant. Additionally, experience with real estate, child care, or snow removal could be useful.

Self-Employed resume example

How to format your self-employed resume:.

• Align your resume’s job title with the position you’re applying for as a self-employed professional.
• Highlight accomplishments, such as profitable business operations and successful client relationships, in your work experience section.
• Aim to fit your self-employed resume on one page, focusing on relevant achievements and skills.

Choose from 10+ customizable self-employed resume templates

Choose from a variety of easy-to-use self-employed resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your self-employed resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Self-Employed resume format and sections

1. add contact information to your self-employed resume.

Self-Employed Resume Contact Information Example # 1

Hank Rutherford Hill

St. Arlen, Texas | 333-111-2222 | [email protected]

2. Add relevant education to your self-employed resume

Your resume's education section should include:

• The name of your school
• The date you graduated ( Month, Year or Year are both appropriate)
• The name of your degree

If you graduated more than 15 years ago, you should consider dropping your graduation date to avoid age discrimination.

Optional subsections for your education section include:

• Academic awards (Dean's List, Latin honors, etc. )
• GPA (if you're a recent graduate and your GPA was 3.5+)
• Extra certifications
• Academic projects (thesis, dissertation, etc. )

Other tips to consider when writing your education section include:

• If you're a recent graduate, you might opt to place your education section above your experience section
• The more work experience you get, the shorter your education section should be
• List your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent and high-ranking degrees first
• If you haven't graduated yet, you can include "Expected graduation date" to the entry for that school

Check More About Self-Employed Education

Self-Employed Resume Relevant Education Example # 1

Bachelor's Degree In Psychology 2006 - 2009

University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD

Self-Employed Resume Relevant Education Example # 2

Bachelor's Degree In Business 1996 - 1999

University of Central Florida Orlando, FL

3. Next, create a self-employed skills section on your resume

Your resume's skills section should include the most important keywords from the job description, as long as you actually have those skills. If you haven't started your job search yet, you can look over resumes to get an idea of what skills are the most important.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume's skills section:

• Include 6-12 skills, in bullet point form
• List mostly hard skills ; soft skills are hard to test
• Emphasize the skills that are most important for the job

Hard skills are generally more important to hiring managers because they relate to on-the-job knowledge and specific experience with a certain technology or process.

Soft skills are also valuable, as they're highly transferable and make you a great person to work alongside, but they're impossible to prove on a resume.

Example of skills to include on an self-employed resume

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Child care means the care, supervision, or guidance of a child by a person other than the child's parent, guardian, or custodian for periods of less than 24 hours. Childcare could be either center-based such as a daycare or a nursery or home-based care such as nannies or family daycare.

Snow Removal or clearing is the process of clearing and removing snow from one or more places, whether it be public streets, building private rooftops, gardens, public parks, or bridges. This is usually done with the ultimate goal of making travel and passage easier and safer for vehicles and people alike.

Top Skills for a Self-Employed

• Windows , 15.2%
• Mowing , 14.4%
• Customer Service , 13.2%
• Financial Statements , 12.9%
• Other Skills , 44.3%

4. List your self-employed experience

The most important part of any resume for a self-employed is the experience section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect to see your experience listed in reverse chronological order, meaning that you should begin with your most recent experience and then work backwards.

Don't just list your job duties below each job entry. Instead, make sure most of your bullet points discuss impressive achievements from your past positions. Whenever you can, use numbers to contextualize your accomplishments for the hiring manager reading your resume.

It's okay if you can't include exact percentages or dollar figures. There's a big difference even between saying "Managed a team of self-employeds" and "Managed a team of 6 self-employeds over a 9-month project. "

Most importantly, make sure that the experience you include is relevant to the job you're applying for. Use the job description to ensure that each bullet point on your resume is appropriate and helpful.

• Facilitated liaison communications between clients and claims personnel to effect equitable solutions.
• Owned and operated an exclusive insurance agency, Vaughn Agency, LLC.
• Performed mechanical repairs on commercial buildings related to HVAC.
• reported any damages presented in the house.. company is located in California state so all communication was remote.
• Cleaned windows, glass partitions, and mirrors, using soapy water and other cleaners, sponges, and squeegees.
• Operated an online sales website and self-managed sales volume monthly.
• Prepared quarterly payroll and sales/use tax returns for clients.
• Created shamanic life coaching immersion programs and mentorship opportunities, both in person and online through webinars.
• Generated payroll for staff which included proper processing of local, state and federal taxes, as well as FICA.
• Ordered products online and separated products and filled the orders.
• Created custom logo using Photoshop.
• Installed and managed IT software & hardware from Cisco command line maintenance to Windows server 2003/2008 (Datacenter, IIS).
• Established an online, off-site backup company partnership providing state-of-the-art backup, restoration and disaster recovery services to small businesses.
• Collected and processed online information to obtain a general concept of the operating principle.
• Implemented Windows Server configurations, including Active Directory to satisfy organization requirements.
• Performed all aspects of cosmetology and through hard work was promoted to Master Stylist.
• Performed Cosmetology Services with very strong time management.
• Serviced a variety of clients in the cosmetology field.
• Started as a receptionist while attending Cosmetology School.
• Maintained top status and was a Senior Hairstylist Received numerous awards Kept up with competitive sales environment

6. Finally, add an self-employed resume summary or objective statement

A resume summary statement consists of 1-3 sentences at the top of your self-employed resume that quickly summarizes who you are and what you have to offer. The summary statement should include your job title, years of experience (if it's 3+), and an impressive accomplishment, if you have space for it.

Remember to emphasize skills and experiences that feature in the job description.

Common self-employed resume skills

• Customer Service
• Financial Statements
• Real Estate
• Photography
• Snow Removal

Self-Employed Jobs

Links to help optimize your self-employed resume.

• How To Write A Resume
• List Of Skills For Your Resume
• How To Write A Resume Summary Statement
• Action Words For Your Resume
• How To List References On Your Resume

Updated June 25, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Self-Employed Related Resumes

• Employment Specialist Resume
• Human Resources Associate Resume
• Human Resources Coordinator Resume
• Human Resources Generalist Resume
• Human Resources Recruiter Resume
• Human Resources Supervisor Resume
• Personnel Specialist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Recruiting Coordinator Resume
• Recruiting Internship Resume
• Senior Recruiter Resume
• Senior Technical Recruiter Resume
• Staffing Consultant Resume
• Staffing Coordinator Resume
• Staffing Specialist Resume

Self-Employed Related Careers

• Corporate Recruiter
• Employment Specialist
• Executive Recruiter
• Human Resource Specialist
• Human Resources Administrative Assistant
• Human Resources Associate
• Human Resources Coordinator
• Human Resources Generalist
• Human Resources Recruiter
• Human Resources Supervisor
• Personnel Specialist
• Recruiting Coordinator
• Recruiting Internship
• Senior Recruiter

Self-Employed Related Jobs

Self-employed jobs by location.

• Self-Employed Alameda
• Self-Employed Del Aire
• Self-Employed Dundalk
• Self-Employed Holbrook
• Self-Employed Houston
• Self-Employed Hull
• Self-Employed Lanham
• Self-Employed Middle River
• Self-Employed Mililani Town
• Self-Employed River Grove
• Self-Employed Rochester
• Self-Employed Saint Paul
• Self-Employed Somerville
• Self-Employed Ventnor City
• Self-Employed Willow Grove
• Zippia Careers
• Business and Financial Industry
• Self-Employed
• Self-Employed Resume

Browse business and financial jobs

Have you explored SwatLink ? Have thoughts you want to share? Let us know what you think !

• Faculty & Staff
• Parents & Families
• Prospective Students
• Academia & Research
• Arts & Museums
• Communications, Media & Entertainment
• Consumer Products & Fashion
• Education & Teaching
• Engineering & Design
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Freelance
• Fellowships & Gap Year/Short-Term
• Government, Public Policy & Law
• Health & Wellness
• International Relations/Affairs
• Life & Physical Science Research
• Non-Profit & Careers for the Common Good
• Sports Management & Promotion
• Sustainability, Environment & Conservation
• Technology & Data Science/Analytics
• Exploring Your Interests
• Resume and CV (Curriculum Vitae) Writing
• Cover Letter Writing
• Interviewing
• Making & Maintaining Connections
• Negotiating an Offer
• Finding Internships & Summer Research
• Swarthmore Funded Summer Opportunities
• Finding a Job
• Applying for Graduate & Professional School
• Experiential Learning
• Access Professional Attire
• Professional Headshots
• Request an Interview Room
• Student Recruiting Policies & Guidelines
• Undocumented Students & Alumni with DACA
• Disabled & Neurodiverse Students
• First Generation / Low Income (FLI)
• International Students
• Women/Female-Identifying
• First Destination Reports
• Annual Report
• Summer Experience Reports
• Meet the Team
• Meet the Student Workers
• Meet the Pets
• Mission | Vision | Values
• 2022 – 2025 Strategic Plan

How To Write a Skills-Based Resume: Template and Examples

• Share This: Share How To Write a Skills-Based Resume: Template and Examples on Facebook Share How To Write a Skills-Based Resume: Template and Examples on LinkedIn Share How To Write a Skills-Based Resume: Template and Examples on X

Indeed Editorial Team

30+ Resume Objective Examples (Plus, Tips on How to Write Yours)

Resume objectives are a bit controversial. Some career experts see them as outdated, while others believe job seekers can still use them to their advantage. Although resume objective statements have slowly been replaced by resume summaries, they remain useful in certain situations—and that's why you should know how to write one, just in case.

For instance, if you're changing careers and your previous work experience doesn't quite match the new role you're after, an objective statement could help communicate your professional goals to the hiring manager. Likewise, if you're a recent graduate or looking to relocate, you could use this section of your resume to highlight these intentions.

We've gathered 32 resume objective examples—plus, some tips on how to craft one that grabs the hiring manager's attention.

What is a resume objective

A resume objective is a brief statement outlining your short-term career goals, usually one to two sentences long. It should be tailored to the specific job or industry you're pursuing and is placed at the top of your resume, just below the header.

What is a good objective for a resume, and when are they welcomed? That's what we'll show you in a moment.

When you should use a resume objective

Resume objectives aren't quite the norm these days, so they should be only used when you need to clarify why you're applying for that particular role or company. Here are three situations where using an objective statement is a good idea:

• If you're doing a career pivot: A resume objective can guide recruiters on your career goals and prevent you from being disqualified when transitioning to a new field.
• If you're changing locations: Applying for jobs outside your current state or city can leave recruiters uncertain about your location; a resume objective can clearly express your willingness to relocate.
• If you're a recent graduate: Since you likely have little to no work experience to show, a resume objective can give a glimpse into who you are and what you aim to achieve.
• If you've worked in a variety of roles: When your work history is all over the place, a resume objective statement can be a helpful tool to highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and what you're looking for in your next role .

Resume objective vs. resume summary

A resume objective outlines your career goals and what you aim to achieve in a position, while a resume summary focuses on skills, accomplishments, education, and relevant experiences for the role.

“Think of the resume objective as your career aspiration and the summary as your professional snapshot,” says Angela Tait, People Operations Specialist and Founder of Tait Consulting . “The objective sets your sights forward, while the summary looks at your past and present achievements.”

How to write a resume objective

If you decide to write a resume objective, it'll be the first thing recruiters see on your resume, right after your name and contact information. This means their first impression will be based on how well-written your objective statement is. Here are key tips to do it right:

1. Mention your area of expertise

“Start by mentioning your area of expertise and the role you are applying for,” Tait says. This way, you let the employer know right away about your background and what you want to achieve professionally.

2. Show how you can add value to the company

Your objective statement—and your whole resume, actually—should be tailored to each job opening. “Personalize your resume objective by stating how you can add value to the company you're applying to,” Tait says. “For instance, ‘ Seeking to leverage my expertise in digital marketing to drive brand growth and engagement at XYZ Corp.’”

3. Highlight skills relevant to the role

Once again, to write an effective resume objective, keep in mind the role you're going for. “Focus on how your skills and interests align with that specific job opportunity,” says Conor Hughes, certified in Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and HR Consultant at SMB Guide .

For example, for a software developer, skills in programming with languages like Java, C++, and Python are pretty important. Meanwhile, a graphic designer should highlight technical skills in creating and editing visual projects using tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma.

4. Optimize your statement for ATS machines

These days, most resumes get scanned by an ATS robot before reaching human recruiters. So, it's crucial to optimize your objective statement for these ATS machines. How? “Use keywords from the job description to show you have the relevant abilities they're looking for,” Hughes says.

If a job posting specifies “experience in copywriting” and “SEO optimization” as requirements, you should incorporate these exact keywords in your objective statement—and wherever else they fit on your resume. Using just “SEO” or only “copywriting” might not be enough; precision is key.

Need some help? Here's how to read the job description the right way —so you can stop sending resumes into the void.

5. Make it as concise as possible

Recruiters go through resumes really fast—that's one of the reasons two-page resumes aren't usually recommended. When writing your resume objective, keep it concise. “To one or two sentences max,” Hughes says. Remember, the goal is to give enough information about why you're applying for that role, not to share your whole life history.

32 resume objective examples to guide you

Now that we've covered the basics, here are 32 good examples of objectives for resumes categorized by job title and different professional situations, like career pivoting and entry-level positions. Use these examples as a guide, and don't forget to inject your own personality and core information.

General resume objectives examples

1. career change.

Copywriter with five years of experience, now transitioning into the UX Writing field, looking to leverage my writing and content creation skills to create digital experiences that drive business growth. Strong background in content strategy and data-driven decision making.

Find UX writer jobs on The Muse »

2. Relocation

Experienced customer service representative relocating to New York in July, seeking employment with an established customer support agency. I bring my strong communication skills , conflict resolution and customer retention ability developed in seven years working in the industry.

Find customer service jobs on The Muse »

3. Entry-level

Creative marketing graduate seeking a social media assistant entry-level position at a fast-growing marketing agency. My goal is to apply my strong storytelling and creative writing skills to create impactful content for clients and foster professional development.

Find marketing jobs on The Muse »

Compassionate and enthusiastic elementary school teacher with four years of experience teaching young students. Seeking to leverage my creative ideas, multitasking and organizational skills to create a safe and stimulating environment where children can play and learn.

Find teacher jobs on The Muse »

Registered nurse with three years of experience in patient care , currently specializing in pediatric nursing. Seeking to join the Grey Hospital nursing team and bring my knowledge of patient care and my critical thinking skills to foster a safe and empathic environment for patients.

Find registered nurse jobs on The Muse »

6. Journalist

Seasoned journalist seeking a News Reporter position at the USPN channel. I bring my five years of experience working on live television, interviewing sources, gathering and reporting information in fast-paced environments.

Find journalist jobs on The Muse »

Seeking a litigation paralegal position at The Law Group. I bring my three years of experience in conducting legal research, processing legal documents, and witness preparation for deposition and trial.

Find lawyer jobs on The Muse »

8. Architect

Experienced architect relocating to Houston, Texas in August. In my 10 years of experience in the architecture industry I was able to work both in industrial and residential projects, holding high proficiency in AutoCAD and Photoshop.

Find architect jobs on The Muse »

9. Real estate specialist

Passionate and proactive real estate specialist with solid experience in lease negotiation and facility management. Looking for a similar role to manage a real estate portfolio, implementing strategies to improve profitability and cost effectiveness.

Find real estate jobs on The Muse »

10. Waiter/Waitress

Seeking a waitress position at a local, family-led restaurant where my two years of experience in customer service and hospitality industry would contribute to create an exceptional experience to customers, guests, and clients.

Find waiter/waitress jobs on The Muse »

Resume objective examples for tech professionals

11. software engineer.

Software engineer with 5 years of experience in the banking industry, pivoting to the customer service industry to foster professional growth. Deep knowledge of object oriented programming, experienced with Java, C++, C#, Ruby, Python, and relational database schema design.

Find software engineer jobs on The Muse »

12. Software developer

Computer science graduate seeking an entry-level position as software developer. I bring my experience with Git, Java, and Python, as well as strong documentation abilities and communication skills .

Find software developer jobs on The Muse »

13. Data scientist

Experienced data scientist, seeking a senior position in the e-commerce industry. My goal is to leverage my ability to write complex and efficient SQL queries to extract data and translate business needs into analytical frameworks.

Find data scientist jobs on The Muse »

14. SEO analyst

SEO analyst, passionate about SEO and digital audience growth. 7 years of experience with site migrations, SEO analytics tools (Google Search Console, Chartbeat, Google Analytics, and SEMRush), reporting and sharing data insights, and making data-driven decisions.

Find SEO analyst jobs on The Muse »

15. UI/UX Designer

Mid level UI/UX Designer, seeking employment in a fast-growing tech startup. Solid experience with user-centered design principles, knowledge of responsive design, strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Find UI/UX Designer jobs on The Muse »

Examples of resume objectives for creative jobs

16. content writer.

Results-driven content writer with two years of experience writing for blogs and websites. Skilled in SEO, creative copywriting, and storytelling, looking forward to applying my skills and creative ideas to help XYZ build an engaged audience.

Find content writer jobs on The Muse »

17. Graphic designer

Creative graphic designer seeking an entry level-position in the education industry. Proficient with InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma, and After Effects, quick learner with strong time management skills.

Find graphic designer jobs on The Muse »

18. Video editor

Outcome-oriented video editor, proficient with Final Cut, After Effects, Adobe Premiere, and Photoshop. Seeking employment in the entertainment industry where I intend to apply my extensive experience in storytelling and project management to create engaging stories.

Find video editor jobs on The Muse »

19. Social media manager

Experienced social media professional, seeking a manager position at a high-growth company. I bring my in-depth knowledge of social media strategy and five years of agency experience creating content that is engaging and exciting to the community.

Find social media manager jobs on The Muse »

Resume objective examples for administrative roles

20. front desk.

Highly energetic tourism and hospitality graduate, looking for a front desk clerk position. 1.5 years of experience in customer service. Strong time management and organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to learn quick and adapt in fast paced environments.

Find front desk jobs on The Muse »

21. Receptionist

Looking for a receptionist position in the real estate industry. Three years experience in customer-facing roles, communication and leadership skills, ability to work with tight deadlines focusing on all aspects of a task or project.

Find receptionist jobs on The Muse »

22. Administrative assistant

Seeking an administrative assistant role in the healthcare industry. I bring five years of experience in customer service, advanced Excel skills, and ability to multitask to perform my duties in a timely and efficient manner.

Find administrative assistant jobs on The Muse »

23. Human resources

Human resources graduate, looking for an entry level human resources generalist position with ABC company to apply my strong verbal and written communication skills , analytical abilities, and proficiency in Microsoft applications to provide hands-on assistance to the HR team.

Find human resources jobs on The Muse »

24. Logistics

Logistics supervisor seeking a manager position at AABB company. I bring my extensive experience in global logistics operations and project management to enhance supply chain and logistics efficiency and achieve cost-effectiveness.

Find logistics jobs on The Muse »

25. Executive assistant

Seeking an executive assistant role at XYZ company. I'm an experienced professional with strong interpersonal skills, ability to multitask, and attention to detail to provide timely and high quality administrative office support to senior level leaders.

Find executive assistant jobs on The Muse »

26. Office manager

Experienced administrative assistant seeking an office manager position in a fast-paced work environment to apply my written communication skills, time management, prioritization, and planning abilities and provide exceptional service and foster professional growth.

Find office manager jobs on The Muse »

Resume objective examples for sales jobs

27. sales assistant.

Problem solver and team player sales professional, seeking a sales assistant position in a challenging work environment. I bring my experience supporting high acquisition organizations, willingness to learn, and winning team spirit to support sales teams.

Find sales assistant jobs on The Muse »

28. Sales manager

Dynamic sales manager seeking employment in the pharmaceutical industry to develop strategic sales plans and achieve revenue and market share objectives. Two years of experience in pharmaceutical sales plus three years of experience in general sales, excellent communication and leadership skills.

Find sales manager jobs on The Muse »

29. Cashier

Recent high school graduate looking for a cashier position at a company with a culture of recognition and excellence. One year of experience in retail sales, strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills to represent the company in a professional manner.

Find cashier jobs on The Muse »

Examples of resume objectives for finance careers

30. banking.

Seasoned relationship banker looking to secure an investment banking analyst position at Bank of America. 15 years of experience in the banking industry, advanced knowledge of banking transactions, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to develop and expand relationships with stakeholders.

Find banking jobs on The Muse »

31. Accounting

B.S. graduate in accounting seeking an entry-level accounting associate position to use my growth mindset, desire to learn, and organizational skills to ensure financial goals are achieved and foster professional development.

Find accounting jobs on The Muse »

32. Financial analyst

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) looking to secure a senior position in a competitive and results-driven work environment. 10 years of experience in financial analysis in banking and technology industries, advanced Excel and SQL skills, and ability to articulate analysis outcomes and relevant insights.

Find financial analyst jobs on The Muse »

Key takeaways

Resume objectives aren't the favorite of most recruiters, but they still serve a purpose. If you're career pivoting, relocating, applying for your first job, or have a diverse professional background, an objective statement can help the hiring manager understand your career goals and how they align with the job opportunity.

However, in other circumstances, using a resume summary might be more appropriate. (Here are 20 resume summary examples to make writing your own easier .)