People who are self-employed depend on successfully advertising their services for a living, and one of the best tools for that is an impactful self-employed resume. Independent professionals can gain a considerable edge in a competitive job market by creating a well-structured, experience-focused resume and sending it out to potential clients.

So, if you don’t have one or if you want to freshen up your current one to increase your chances of expanding your client base, then this article is tailor-made for you.

Our HR experts did a deep dive on the topic and gathered everything that should be on your self-employed resume and more, so make sure you read through to the very end.

Key Takeaways

  • Due to the increased freedom that comes with self-employment, candidates should highlight their initiative, project management expertise, and leadership potential on their resumes.
  • Your resume should have a summary or objective statement, your contact information, your educational and work history, and a section detailing your soft and hard skills.
  • When outlining your background as a self-employed person, it’s a good idea to include information like volunteer work, languages spoken, certifications obtained, and publications.
  • At the end of this article, you can find a sample resume for a digital marketer that covers all the pillars of a good self-employed resume.

What is Self-Employed?

Instead of working for a corporation and receiving a salary, self-employed people choose to either work for themselves and supply certain services or contract with businesses directly.

Being your own boss gives you a lot of freedom to choose your own hours, work from wherever you like, and keep as much or as little of what you make as you like. To keep on top of things, though, a lot of discipline, time management skills, and organizational abilities are also necessary.

Several categories of self-employment exist, including but not limited to:

  • Freelancer. It is common practice for freelancers to provide their services to clients on a contract or project basis.
  • Independent contractor. When businesses need help with a specific project but don’t want to hire full-time employees, they often turn to independent contractors.
  • Sole proprietor. A sole proprietorship is a business that has one owner and is operated under that person’s name. The business is run by the owner, who is also responsible for paying taxes based on the business’s profits.

Should You Include Self-Employment on Your Resume?

You should highlight your self-employment on your resume for the following reasons:

  • It showcases your autonomy. Your ability to take charge and take responsibility for your work is highlighted when you include your self-employment experience on your resume. When you work independently, you are accountable for all of your work and professional decisions instead of hiding behind answering to another person or following the guidelines of an organization.
  • It demonstrates project management experience. You can highlight your ability to see projects through successfully by listing self-employment on your resume. Whether you’re working solo or in a team, you may explain how you identify and implement the most effective methods for getting things done. This exemplifies your problem-solving and analytical abilities.
  • It displays leadership skills. Including self-employment on a resume can show an employer that you are capable of handling several responsibilities. You need leadership abilities to motivate your team to complete assignments on time and to achieve your team’s or organization’s goals.

Self-Employment Resume Contact Information

self-employed resume

Your contact information, which should be listed first on the resume, should include:

  • Full legal name. Put your name at the top of the resume, where it will be clearly seen.
  • Professional job title. Think about your title or the heading that best describes what you do for a living.
  • Contact details. Add your phone number, email, and physical address (if applicable) as a last touch.

 

The following is an example of how a self-employed resume’s contact information may look:

Madison Miller
Digital Marketer
418-555-7979
[email protected]

How to Write a Resume Summary/Objective for Self-Employment

There is a significant distinction between a resume summary and an objective, despite their superficial similarities.

The summary provides the prospective employer with a concise overview of your qualifications for the advertised position. The objective, on the other hand, concentrates on the kind of job that you are looking for and places an emphasis on your long-term professional objectives.

Self-Employment Resume Summary

I am a result-driven digital marketer who has two years of experience working in corporate environments and three years of experience running my own business. I have extensive knowledge when it comes to the areas of social media and SEO.

This self-employed resume summary provides a condensed review of the applicant’s talents, highlighting strengths such as the applicant’s ability to work in a variety of different capacities within the marketing industry.

Self-Employment Resume Objective

To provide digital marketing services while leveraging my understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing in order to assist my clients in expanding their brand awareness, boosting their revenue, and driving more traffic.

This resume objective displays the individual’s ambition as well as their desire to apply their abilities to the benefit of their clients and bring success to those clients.

Education Section of Self-Employment Resume

When you are putting together an education section of your self-employed resume, the first thing you should do is label the section “Educational Background.”

Then, you should provide a comprehensive summary of the academic accomplishments you have achieved. Be sure to put the most recent item at the top of the list.

Include information on the degree that was obtained, the name and location of the educational institution that was attended, and the number of years spent there. If you already possess a degree beyond that of a high school graduate, there is no need to mention your high school diploma.

The following is an example of a potential structure for the education section:

Educational Background

Master of Science in Marketing Science, Columbia University, New York City, NY
September 2018–June 2020

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Analytics, New York University, New York City, NY
September 2014–June 2018

How to Add Self-Employment Experience to Your Resume

Consider the following suggestions if you are not sure how to write your own business experience on your resume:

  • Come up with a title. Choose a title that communicates something about the nature of your self-employment and the services you provide.
  • Compose a summary. Summarize your history of self-directed work. Make sure to highlight these accomplishments using metrics like key performance indicators (KPIs) to back up your claims.
  • Create a list. To demonstrate the extent of your business experience, provide a list of relevant clients and projects, as well as the kind of success your work has brought them.

 

In your self-employed resume, you can demonstrate your experience as a digital marketer in the following ways:

Owner of Madison Miller Marketing: 2020 to present day

  • I worked with clients in the beauty industry and created online advertising and search engine marketing campaigns for them. As a result of my contribution, the clients saw a rise of 25% to 34% in their annual revenue.
  • I developed strategies for marketing through social media for my clients in the health industry. My clients were able to get a minimum of 20,000 social media followers in less than a quarter, thanks to my services.
  • I wrote SEO content for clients in the wellness industry. I assisted the clients in achieving a 700% increase in the amount of organic website traffic they received.

How to Add Skills to Self-Employment Resume

When it comes to adding self-employed resume skills, it is essential to keep in mind that both soft skills and hard skills should be included.

Soft skills, also known as transferable skills, are the kinds of skills that are applicable to a wide range of vocations and work environments. For instance, some of the best-known examples of soft skills include communication, teamwork, dispute resolution, critical thinking, and logical reasoning.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are workplace-specific abilities that may be learned through direct experience. Data entry, maintaining network security, developing original content, conducting market research, and other similar activities are all examples of hard skills.

When it comes to including these abilities on your self-employed resume, the most effective strategy for drawing attention to them is to create a section labeled “skills” and list them all in that section. For the sake of greater clarity, you may want to categorize soft skills and hard skills into different groups.

Also, make sure that you place a strong emphasis on the skills that are required for the position that you are applying for, which can help you differentiate yourself from the other candidates.

This section of your resume could contain information along these lines:

Skills

Soft Skills

  • Active listening
  • Conflict resolution
  • Critical thinking
  • Effective communication


Hard Skills

  • SEO
  • Campaign management
  • Digital advertising
  • Market research

 

You can add a phrase or two to each skill that explains how you put them to use if you haven’t already demonstrated the practical application of these skills in the experience section of your self-employed resume.

How to Add Other Sections to Self-Employment Resume

You have the option of deviating from the standard self-employed resume format by incorporating certain additional sections, such as:

  • Volunteer work. Think about including volunteer work that is related to your line of employment. Consider the following sentence as an illustration: As a social media specialist at an NGO, I am responsible for maintaining audience interaction and the consistent uploading of content to social media platforms.
  • Languages. Make a list of all the languages you can communicate fluently in. You can present yourself as a person who is proficient in French, Spanish, and English, which enables you to engage effectively with customers located all over the world.
  • Certifications. You can also include any applicable certifications that you have received. Consider stating: Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP), obtained by completing an intensive online learning program that covers topics such as SEO, social media marketing, and metrics.
  • Publications. Bring employers’ attention to any literary work that you have made or that you have contributed to. Take a look at the following as an illustration: Author of a book about running a business that offers guidance to ambitious folks who are looking to be self-employed.

Should You Write a Cover Letter With Your Self-Employment Resume?

3 people looking at a piece of paper

It is recommended that you accompany your resume with a cover letter. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and demonstrate why you would be a benefit to the company or client you want to work with.

The following is an example of a cover letter that accomplishes exactly that goal.

Dear HR Manager,

I am writing to express my enthusiasm about the possibility of working for Publicis Groupe in the capacity of a digital marketing specialist. As a professional with five years of experience in the industry, I am certain that my knowledge of SEO, search engine marketing, market research, and digital advertising will contribute to the success of your company.

You will find attached a copy of my resume, which provides an overview of my experience and skills, for your consideration. I would be grateful to discuss with you how my background aligns with the requirements you have at the moment.

Sincerely,
Madison Miller

Self-Employment Resume Example

After going over the many parts that make up a resume and looking at several different self-employed resume examples, let’s take a look at a comprehensive example of a resume for a self-employed digital marketer.

Madison Miller
Digital Marketer
418-555-7979
[email protected]

Summary
I am a result-driven digital marketer who has two years of experience working in corporate environments and three years of experience running my own business. I have extensive knowledge when it comes to the areas of social media, marketing for search engines, and SEO.

Educational Background

Master of Science in Marketing Science, Columbia University, New York City, NY
September 2018–June 2020

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Analytics, New York University, New York City, NY
September 2014–June 2018

Self-employment Experience

Owner of Madison Miller Marketing: 2020 to present day

  • I worked with clients in the beauty industry and provided them with online advertising and search engine marketing campaigns. As a result of my contribution, the clients saw a rise of 25% to 34% in their annual revenue.
  • I developed strategies for marketing through social media for my clients in the health industry. My clients were able to get a minimum of 20,000 social media followers in less than a quarter, thanks to my services.
  • I wrote SEO content for clients in the wellness industry. I assisted the clients in achieving a 700% increase in the amount of organic website traffic they received.
    Skills

 

Soft Skills

  • Active listening
  • Conflict resolution
  • Critical thinking
  • Effective communication

 

Hard Skills

  • SEO
  • Campaign management
  • Digital advertising
  • Market research

 

Certifications

HubSpot Academy’s Digital Marketing Certification Course
OMCA™ Certification for Digital Marketers

Final Thoughts

And with that, we’ve reached the end of our resume guidance for self-employed individuals for 2024!

As a professional who is self-employed, it is essential to have a resume that showcases all of your previous work, qualifications, talents, and anything else that is relevant in order to differentiate yourself from the other professionals in your field.

If you were unsure before, after reading this article, you should know everything there is to know about creating a stellar self-employed resume. Good luck with your next career adventure!