One specific CV challenge you might face as a freelancer is effectively showcasing a broad range of projects without overwhelming potential clients. Our guide offers tailored strategies to help you curate your experience into a compelling narrative that highlights your versatility and skill set.
In this Enhancv freelancer CV guide, you'll find out more about how to:
- Answer job requirements with your freelancer CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your freelancer CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Resume examples for freelancer
Explore additional freelancer cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Role
Freelancer Graphic Designer
- Emphasizes creative leadership - The candidate's experience as a Senior Graphic Designer demonstrates their leadership abilities through spearheading projects like a company website redesign. This highlights their capability to lead teams and projects, resulting in increased user engagement and a sustained satisfaction rate of 98%.
- Illustrates career advancement - The CV effectively traces the candidate's progression from a Junior Designer to a Senior Graphic Designer. This trajectory showcases not only their growth in the field but also their ability to adapt and thrive within the design industry, moving between respected companies like Revolution Viewing, MediaCom, and Creative Spark.
- Highlights a strong digital design acumen - Featuring proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, the candidate underscores their technical versatility. Combined with skills in HTML and JavaScript, the CV indicates a robust capacity for both creating compelling visuals and developing interactive web interfaces, which enhance user experience by up to 25%.
Freelancer Content Writer
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, starting with a comprehensive header providing essential contact information, and followed by a succinct summary. Each section, from experience to education, is clearly delineated, allowing for easy navigation and quick understanding of the candidate's qualifications.
- Progressive Career Growth - Chloe Bell's career trajectory demonstrates a clear growth path from a Marketing Assistant to a Content Specialist. Each role builds on the previous one, showcasing an increase in responsibility and expertise in content and social media marketing within diverse industry settings.
- Inclusion of Industry-Specific Tools - The CV highlights Chloe's proficiency in relevant marketing tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite, indicating her technical adeptness. This technical depth reflects her capability to leverage industry tools to enhance marketing strategies, a valuable asset in the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape.
Freelancer Web Developer
- Structured presentation of career growth - The CV effectively highlights Max Wright's career progression from a Web Development Intern to a PHP Web Developer at a reputable company. This ascending trajectory showcases continued development and enhanced responsibilities over time.
- Emphasis on technical prowess and specific tools - This CV stands out by listing specialized tools and methodologies such as OpenCart, WHM, and cPanel, in addition to his proficiency in PHP and Linux sysadmin tasks. This emphasis on technical depth reinforces his competency in ecommerce and Linux administration.
- Demonstrated impact through key achievements - Max’s accomplishments, such as a 40% reduction in technical issues and a 50% increase in secure transactions, are not only quantified but also contextualized in terms of business impact, showcasing his ability to foster significant improvements in client operations.
Freelancer Digital Marketer
- Career Progression and Versatility - Oliver's career trajectory shows a clear upward momentum, with roles steadily advancing from E-commerce Developer to Senior Website Developer and Digital Marketing Specialist. This progression not only reflects his growing expertise but also his adaptability to lead complex projects in various renowned companies like Ebay UK and Marks & Spencer.
- Strategic and Technical Acumen - The CV demonstrates Oliver's adeptness in both strategic planning and technical execution. By integrating sophisticated tools such as Google Analytics and implementing advanced e-commerce solutions, he showcases a balanced blend of strategic insight and technical proficiency essential for driving digital marketing success.
- Impactful Achievements Aligned with Business Goals - Oliver's accomplishments are detailed with measurable business impacts, highlighting how his contributions have enhanced operational efficiency and revenue growth. For instance, initiatives that reduced cart abandonment by 15% and increased conversion rates by 18% indicate his ability to align technical implementations with broader business objectives.
Freelancer Video Editor
- Structured Educational Pathway - The CV outlines a well-defined educational journey that complements the candidate's career in video editing and content creation. With degrees in Film and Television Production and Communications and Media Studies from reputed universities, this foundation supports their advanced technical skills and storytelling abilities.
- Comprehensive Industry Tools Mastery - The CV highlights the candidate's proficiency in essential tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe After Effects, demonstrating technical depth. This expertise is crucial for high-quality video content production and aligns with industry needs.
- Strategic Career Advancement - The progression from Video Production Specialist to Senior Video Editor shows a clear upward trajectory, illustrating growth in responsibility and leadership. The career moves between significant UK companies illustrate adaptability and a strong growth mindset.
Freelancer Photographer
- Clear and well-organized presentation - The CV uses a structured format with clear headings and sections, making it easy for readers to navigate through Lucas Adams' qualifications, experience, and skills. This clarity ensures that key information is readily accessible without overwhelming the reader.
- Progression in real estate photography - Lucas Adams demonstrates a clear career trajectory, moving from a Junior Photographer to a Property Photographer and Floor Planner with increasing responsibilities and achievements. Each role showcases advancement and deeper engagement within the property photography industry.
- Industry-specific tools and methodologies - The CV highlights Lucas's proficiency in essential photography and planning tools, such as full-frame camera operation and floor plan creation, which are critical in delivering high-quality property visuals and accurate layouts. This technical depth distinguishes him as a specialized professional in the field.
Freelancer Social Media Manager
- Consistent Career Growth - Scarlett Murphy's career trajectory showcases a clear path of professional growth within the social media and content creation sector. Starting as a Content Coordinator, she advanced to a Digital Marketing Coordinator, and currently excels as a Social Media Strategist at ASOS. This progression highlights her ability to take on increased responsibilities and achieve significant impacts in each role.
- Robust Use of Social Media Tools - The CV effectively illustrates Murphy's proficiency with industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as Facebook Business Manager and Instagram Storytelling. Her emphasis on data analysis and audience targeting demonstrates an adept application of these tools to bolster brand strategy, ensuring a relevant and technologically adept approach to social media management.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration - Throughout Scarlett’s experiences, there's a strong emphasis on her ability to work cross-functionally, whether by spearheading influencer partnerships at ASOS or collaborating with design teams for cohesive content creation. This adaptability exemplifies effective communication and teamwork skills, crucial for driving unified brand messages across diverse platforms.
Freelancer SEO Specialist
- Clear Structure with Focused Sections - The CV is well-organized into distinct sections, allowing for easy navigation and comprehension of the candidate's qualifications. Each section, such as experience, skills, and education, conveys key details concisely, ensuring that the information is accessible and the candidate's strengths are immediately apparent.
- Diverse SEO Experience with Progressive Growth - The career trajectory shows a clear progression from an SEO Analyst to a Senior SEO Manager, demonstrating growth and increased responsibility in each subsequent role. This advancement is indicative of the candidate's capability to handle complex SEO challenges and adapt to the expectations of different roles within the industry.
- Effective Use of Industry-Standard Tools and Techniques - The CV highlights a wide range of industry-specific tools such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Google Search Console, showcasing the candidate's proficiency in essential SEO technologies. This technical depth is complemented by methodologies like content optimization and A/B testing, underscoring a strategic approach to SEO.
Freelancer Data Analyst
- Effective Content Structure and Clarity - Daniel's CV is structured systematically, starting with his key personal details and a well-crafted summary that concisely encapsulates his extensive expertise and the impact he has made in data analysis. This clear layout allows readers to easily identify his credentials, skills, and accomplishments, supporting swift comprehension of his professional profile.
- Highlighting Progressive Career Growth - The CV illustrates a logical career trajectory, showcasing Daniel's growth from a Junior Data Analyst to a Senior Data Analyst, with expanding responsibilities and achievements. His advancement reflects a dedication to the field and a consistent delivery of results, particularly notable in his shift to remote work while maintaining his career progression.
- Emphasis on Cross-Functional Collaboration - Daniel's profile emphasizes his adaptability and successful collaboration in cross-functional teams, crucial for a data analyst working in SaaS environments. His ability to communicate insights effectively to non-technical stakeholders is demonstrated through his leadership in creating dashboards and data visualizations that impact decision-making processes.
Freelancer Virtual Assistant
- Structured Presentation and Clarity - The CV is well-organized, with clear sections for experience, education, skills, and more, making it easy to navigate and assess Jacob's qualifications quickly. The use of bullet points facilitates concise communication of his accomplishments and responsibilities.
- Career Progression and Industry Mastery - Jacob's career trajectory from a Content Specialist to a Content Manager highlights his growth and increasing responsibilities within prominent tech companies like Samsung Electronics and Nokia. This trajectory is exemplary of his capability to adapt to complex challenges and leadership roles within the AI and automation sectors.
- Technological and Analytical Prowess - The CV showcases Jacob’s depth in AI and automation, incorporating technical skills like SQL and Python, as well as a data-driven approach through A/B testing. His ability to leverage analytics demonstrates substantial expertise in applying analytical techniques to improve content strategies and bolster business outcomes.
Freelancer Project Manager
- Effective Organization and Clarity - Samuel Campbell's CV is well-organized and concise, with each section clearly labeled and structured. This allows readers to quickly identify key information, such as experience and education, without having to sift through unnecessary details. The bullet points under each job position are succinct, making it easy to grasp the scope of responsibilities and achievements.
- Progressive Career Growth in Event Management - The CV demonstrates a clear career progression from an Assistant Event Manager to Project Manager, showing Samuel's growth within the field of event management. This trajectory highlights his increasing responsibilities and leadership roles, reflecting a successful and upward movement in his professional journey, along with geographical mobility between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Adaptation to Industry Trends and Technologies - Samuel showcases adaptability to the evolving industry by implementing digital solutions, such as a digital ticketing system that improved check-in speeds by 50%. This demonstrates his willingness to embrace new technologies and methodologies to enhance operational efficiency and audience satisfaction, which are critical in large-scale event coordination.
Freelancer Translator
- Concise Structure and Clarity - The CV is structured clearly, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions that provide a comprehensive yet concise overview of the candidate's background. This organization allows for easy navigation and quick comprehension of key information, which is vital for potential employers reviewing numerous applications.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Lily Cooper's career trajectory demonstrates continuous growth and a steady rise towards more senior roles, moving from Legal and Financial Translator to Senior Freelance Translator. Her experiences across diverse industries such as engineering, IT, financial, and legal sectors showcase her ability to adapt and succeed in varied fields, highlighting her proficiency and increasing her value as a candidate.
- Utilization of Advanced Translation Tools - The CV emphasizes the candidate's proficiency with Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools such as SDL Trados, MemoQ, and Wordfast. Lily's implementation of these tools to improve translation quality and efficiency showcases her technical depth and industry-specific knowledge, setting her apart in the competitive field of translation.
Freelancer Software Engineer
- Meticulous Content Presentation - Isla King's CV excels in clarity and structure, presenting each section with concise bullet points that highlight key achievements and responsibilities. This format allows for easy digestion of information and ensures that her extensive experience is communicated effectively without overwhelming the reader.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - The progression from Software Tester to Senior Software Test Manager illustrates a clear path of growth and responsibility, showcasing diligence and capability. Each role builds upon the last, demonstrating her ability to handle increased leadership and influence within large organizations such as IBM, Capgemini, and Atos.
- Achievements with Business Impact - The CV doesn’t just list technical accomplishments but also ties them to tangible business impacts, such as a 30% increase in test coverage and a 40% increase in testing efficiency. These metrics highlight her contributions to improving product quality and operational efficiency, reinforcing her value to prospective employers.
Freelancer UX/UI Designer
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized, ensuring easy readability with clearly distinct sections dedicated to experience, education, skills, and achievements. The concise language and bullet points highlight key details without overwhelming the reader, making it straightforward to identify Mia's qualifications.
- Demonstrable Professional Growth - From a Web Designer role at Rapid7 to a UI Designer position at HawkEye Innovations, Mia's career trajectory illustrates a clear progression in responsibility and technical expertise. Her steady rise within the UI/UX design field reflects both her growing impact and her ability to adapt her skills to increasingly complex projects.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - Mia's CV effectively communicates the significance of her contributions through achievements that tie directly to business outcomes. For instance, implementing a UI solution led to a 30% increase in user engagement, underscoring her ability to produce designs that not only look good but also drive user interaction and satisfaction.
Freelancer Personal Trainer
- Strategic Career Progression in the Fitness Industry - Archie’s career shows a clear trajectory from an Assistant Fitness Manager to a seasoned Personal Trainer who operates independently. This progression demonstrates not only dedication and growth within the fitness industry but also a developing focus on personal client interaction and leadership, reflecting adaptability to varying job roles and environments.
- Strong Client Relationship Management and Business Impact - Beyond just individual client sessions, the CV emphasizes how Archie translated client interactions into significant business metrics, such as increasing client base and satisfaction scores. Organizing fitness boot camps and implementing cross-promotional programs showcases an understanding of strategic business efforts to drive growth and profitability.
- Emphasis on Comprehensive Fitness Skill Set and Learning - With certifications in advanced personal training and nutrition, Archie combines technical fitness knowledge with a practical understanding of client needs. This blend highlights a commitment to continuous learning and the ability to apply advanced methodologies in client training programs, positioning him as a well-rounded expert in personal fitness and health coaching.
Freelancer Nutritionist
- Strong career progression and industry expertise - Ruby Gibson’s CV highlights a clear career trajectory within the field of animal nutrition, showing growth from a Farm Nutrition Advisor to a Swine Nutrition Specialist. This progression exhibits a deepening expertise in swine nutrition and illustrates her ability to take on increasingly responsible roles while remaining focused and committed to her chosen field.
- Emphasis on technical competence and methodologies - The document details Ruby’s use of specialized tools and methodologies such as the BestMix formulation system, ISO 22000:2018, and HACCP compliance. This demonstrates her ability to employ industry-specific tools to drive efficiency and improve safety standards, showcasing her technical depth and proficiency in her domain.
- Notable achievements with quantifiable business impact - The CV effectively underscores significant accomplishments that have a direct business impact, such as improving production efficiency by 20% and enhancing profitability by 8%. These achievements are clearly quantified and linked to business outcomes, illustrating how her contributions enhance both operational performance and customer satisfaction.
Freelancer Financial Advisor
- Exemplifies strategic and impactful career growth - Emily Cox's CV outlines a clear trajectory of career development, from a Financial Consultant at Deloitte to a Senior Financial Analyst at Grant Thornton UK LLP. This progression not only reflects her increasing responsibilities but also her ability to drive significant financial improvements, such as implementing strategies that resulted in a 15% revenue growth.
- Demonstrates cross-functional collaboration and influence - The CV emphasizes Emily's adaptability and effectiveness in cross-functional settings. Her ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams led to streamlined procurement processes and cost savings of 20%, showcasing her influence and strategic capabilities in matrixed environments.
- Highlights leadership and mentoring capabilities - Emily's leadership ability is evident in her role as a Finance Manager at PwC, where she directed a team of ten finance professionals and achieved a 90% client satisfaction rate. Her mentorship also significantly impacted team productivity, demonstrating her commitment to developing future leaders in finance.
Freelancer Legal Consultant
- Clear and Comprehensive Structure - The CV exhibits a well-organized layout, beginning with a succinct summary that highlights Joshua Patel's core competencies. Subsequent sections follow logically, detailing his experience, skills, education, and accomplishments. This enhances readability and allows for effortless navigation through his professional journey.
- Proven Career Advancement - Joshua's career trajectory demonstrates consistent growth, starting from a paralegal at Allen & Overy to a Senior Legal Consultant at Thomson Reuters. This progression underscores not only his capability in taking on more responsibilities but also his adaptation to various roles within the legal sector, marking a successful transition and enhancement of his professional standing.
- Integration of Legal Technology Expertise - A unique aspect of Joshua's CV is his adeptness with legal technology, particularly in leading the implementation of AI tools and using LexisNexis. This specialization not only highlights his technical proficiency but also positions him as a forward-thinking consultant capable of driving modern solutions that optimize legal processes and contribute to significant client and business improvements.
Freelancer HR Consultant
- Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, with clear headings for each section, allowing for easy navigation. Bullet points under each job role offer concise and specific responsibilities and achievements, ensuring that the reader can quickly grasp the candidate's experience and contributions.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Alfie's career shows a clear trajectory of advancement, from an HR Officer to a Senior HR Manager, highlighting significant growth and an increase in responsibilities. The shifts between roles and companies showcase adaptability and a climbing career path within the HR industry, culminating in leadership positions.
- Cross-Functional Bilingual Capabilities - A unique aspect of Alfie's profile is the emphasis on bilingual communication skills, underscored by facilitating improved collaboration across diverse teams and developing bilingual training materials. This ability enhances his versatility in HR settings, especially in multinational companies, fostering better communication and reducing misunderstandings.
Freelancer Business Coach
- Content Presentation and Structure - The CV is structured in a way that clearly outlines Eva Fisher's professional history and skills, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. This structured approach ensures clarity and allows potential employers to quickly assess her qualifications and relevance to the role of a Franchise Business Coach.
- Career Trajectory and Growth - Eva's career progression from owning her handyman business to her role as Operations Director at Checkatrade demonstrates a well-rounded growth path. Her transition from a business owner to a corporate leadership role highlights her adaptability and increasing responsibility, showcasing her ability to manage and grow franchise operations on a larger scale.
- Achievements and Business Impact - With clear evidence of her impact, the CV highlights Eva’s achievements in terms of efficiency improvements, increased franchise growth, and elevated customer satisfaction. For example, implementing new CRM systems led to a notable 30% rise in customer satisfaction, which not only shows her tactical proficiency but also her strategic thinking in driving business success.
Formatting your freelancer CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional freelancer CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :
- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional freelancer CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a freelancer CV
- Personal Statement highlights your freelancing ethos, offering recruiters a quick insight into your work approach and ethos.
- Portfolio of Work demonstrates your previous project experience and skills, vital for showcasing your capabilities.
- Skills Summary showcases your abilities tailored to freelance work, such as self-management and specialised talents.
- Professional Experience details your freelance job history, providing a timeline and context for your skills.
- Client Testimonials section offers social proof of your expertise and good working relationships with clients.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight a diverse skill set that demonstrates your ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring clients understand your adaptability and breadth of expertise.
- Include a concise portfolio or a link to an online portfolio to showcase your previous work, client testimonials, and the range of projects you've successfully completed.
- Emphasise your awareness of various freelance-specific tools, such as invoicing software, project management systems, and communication platforms, to demonstrate your proficiency in remote collaboration.
- Detail your ability to self-manage, mentioning any successful outcomes from instances where you identified client needs, administered projects, and met deadlines autonomously.
- Mention any industry-specific qualifications or certifications to establish your credibility and professionalism, assuring potential clients of your commitment to quality freelancing work.
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Making a good first impression with your freelancer CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for freelancer:
- Graphic Designer | Expert in Brand Identity | Adobe Certified | 5+ Years Professional Experience
- IT Consultant | Specialised in Cloud Solutions | CCNA Certified | Seasoned Professional with 10 Years' Expertise
- Content Writer | SEO & Digital Marketing Enthusiast | BA Journalism | Crafting Compelling Narratives for 7 Years
- Project Manager | Agile & Waterfall Methodologies | PMP Certified | Driving Team Success for Over 8 Years
- Web Developer | Full-Stack Expertise | JavaScript & Python | Creating Innovative Web Experiences for 6 Years
- Digital Marketer | Social Media Strategist | Google Analytics Qualified | Amplifying Brands Online for 9 Years
Your freelancer CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
freelancer candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you freelancer CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a freelancer job:
- Award-winning graphic designer with over 10 years of experience, proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, specialising in creating visually compelling branding and marketing materials. Notable achievement includes rebranding a major tech start-up, resulting in a 40% increase in their online engagement.
- Seasoned software developer with a strong history of Python and Java proficiency, bringing 12 years of experience in developing high-quality, scalable web applications. Successfully led a software team to deliver an enterprise solution which boosted the client's operational efficiency by 30%.
- Former financial analyst eager to apply 8 years of data analysis expertise to the field of data science. Strong background in statistical modeling, with a passion for translating complex data sets into actionable insights. Undertook a successful project that streamlined budget processes, saving the firm £500k annually.
- Experienced educator transitioning to instructional design, bringing a unique perspective with 15 years of curriculum development expertise. Holds a Master's degree in Education Technology and is adept at creating engaging e-learning content that has increased student performance by 25% in previous roles.
- Aspiring web developer with a deep appreciation for innovative user interface design, aiming to leverage background in creative arts to build intuitive web experiences. Completed intensive bootcamp courses in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and committed to continuous learning and professional development.
- Emerging digital marketing professional determined to leverage a strong foundation in content creation and social media management. A recent graduate in Marketing Communications with hands-on internship experience, poised to deliver fresh strategies to elevate brand presence and engagement.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your freelancer CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Detail your relevant project management experience, ensuring to highlight projects that came in on time and within budget.
- Exemplify your adaptability by describing a range of successful assignments across various industries or domains.
- Emphasise your communication skills by mentioning complex projects where you successfully coordinated with clients and team members.
- Showcase your problem-solving ability with examples of challenges you overcame through innovative solutions.
- Include specific tools or software you're skilled in, especially those that are unique to your field or highly sought after by clients.
- Highlight any recognition or awards from previous freelance work to establish credibility and a track record of excellence.
- Mention your ability to work under tight deadlines, giving examples of when you successfully delivered quality work under pressure.
- Demonstrate your expertise in your niche by discussing your professional development, such as courses taken or certifications earned.
- Quantify your achievements where possible, using metrics such as percentage of increased sales or audience growth to give concrete evidence of your impact.
Work Experience
Freelance Content Strategist and Writer
Various Clients
01/2017-12/2019
- Developed and implemented a content strategy for GoPro’s marketing campaigns, increasing user engagement by 40% and subscriber base by 25%.
- Led a remote team of 5 designers to create compelling visuals for Red Bull’s social media, resulting in a 30% higher click-through rate.
- Authored over 200 articles on technology and lifestyle for Wired, enhancing the brand's authority and driving a 20% increase in web traffic.
Work Experience
Independent Digital Marketing Consultant
Various Clients
06/2020-Ongoing
- Provided UX/UI consultancy services for Shopify online stores, improving user experience and reducing cart abandonment rates by 15%.
- Crafted and executed SEO strategies for HubSpot's blogging platform, which led to a 50% boost in organic search traffic within 6 months.
- Collaborated with the Airbnb marketing team to produce engaging travel content, which saw a 35% uplift in social media shares and 20% in booking conversions.
Work Experience
Freelance Branding and Marketing Expert
Various Clients
03/2015-05/2017
- Generated 30% more leads for Microsoft's cloud services by designing targeted paid media campaigns that resonated with the tech community.
- Spearheaded a rebranding project for Dropbox, which increased brand visibility and was met with a positive reception from the client base.
- Conducted comprehensive market research for Twitter to identify emerging trends, influencing the development of a new social media tool that gained 100K users upon release.
Work Experience
Freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Various Clients
10/2013-02/2015
- Created custom illustrations for Marvel's digital platforms, which enhanced storytelling and fan interaction, leading to a 25% increase in audience engagement.
- Collaborated with Adobe to produce tutorial videos for their Creative Cloud services, amassing over 2 million views and improving user proficiency.
- Transformed complex data sets into digestible infographics for The New York Times, simplifying the information flow and maximizing reader comprehension.
Work Experience
Freelance Web Developer
Various Clients
11/2012-09/2013
- Designed and delivered a bespoke WordPress site for Sony Music, enhancing the user interface and doubling the average session duration.
- Optimized database performance for Airbnb's internal systems, reducing query times by 30% and improving overall system efficiency.
- Developed a mobile-first responsive design for BuzzFeed's new category pages, which led to a 20% uplift in user retention on mobile devices.
Work Experience
Independent Social Media and Content Consultant
Various Clients
05/2011-10/2012
- Conceptualized and implemented innovative social media campaigns for Coca-Cola, resulting in a viral spread and a 10% increase in follower count.
- Managed a project for Canon's online photography classes, which expanded the customer base by successfully leveraging influencer partnerships.
- Orchestrated a multilingual content strategy for Netflix’s European markets, bolstering regional subscriber growth by 15% over one year.
Work Experience
Freelance Technical Writer and Copywriter
Various Clients
09/2009-04/2011
- Created compelling copy for Apple’s product landing pages, which increased conversion rates by 20% through clear and persuasive messaging.
- Led an outreach initiative for Intuit that enhanced B2B partnership opportunities, securing 10 new contracts with major industry players.
- Addressed IBM's technical documentation needs by producing user-friendly manuals and help guides that significantly decreased customer support calls.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Key freelancer CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your freelancer CV:
HARD SKILLS
Project Management
Time Management
Technical Writing
Graphic Design
Web Development
Digital Marketing
Data Analysis
SEO/SEM
Software Proficiency
Financial Planning
SOFT SKILLS
Communication
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Critical Thinking
Self-Motivation
Networking
Creativity
Work Ethic
Stress Management
Negotiation
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Listing your university education and certificates on your freelancer CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your freelancer CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
