Quick answer: List freelance work like any other job in your Work Experience section. Use a clear title such as "Freelance Graphic Designer" or "Self-Employed Copywriter," name your business (or just "Self-Employed"), add your location or "Remote," and give one date range for the whole freelance period. Underneath, write three to five bullets with results, and name notable clients. If you've done many small gigs, group them under one entry or a "Selected Projects" subheading instead of listing every client. Add a portfolio link to your header so employers can see the work.
Freelancing is real work. You find your own clients, negotiate rates, meet deadlines, handle invoices, and occasionally explain to someone why "can you make the logo bigger, but also smaller?" isn't a design brief.
The problem is that many freelancers undersell all of this on their resumes. They bury it at the bottom, label it vaguely, or leave it off entirely, which can create what looks like an employment gap.
This guide shows you exactly where to put freelance work on a resume, how to format it, how to handle lots of small projects, and examples for writers, designers, developers, and gig workers.
Should You Put Freelance Work on Your Resume?
Yes, in almost every case. Freelance work:
- Fills employment gaps with real experience. See how to explain employment gaps
- Shows initiative and self-management, two traits hiring managers love
- Proves skills with real clients and real results
- Adds industry exposure if you've worked across several companies
The only time to leave it off is if it's completely unrelated to the job and you have plenty of relevant experience to fill the page.
Where to Put Freelance Work on a Resume
You have three main options.
Option 1: In your Work Experience section (most common)
Treat freelancing like a regular job and place it in reverse-chronological order with your other roles. Use this if freelancing was your main work for a period, or if it's relevant to the job.
Option 2: In a separate "Freelance Experience" or "Selected Projects" section
Use this if you freelance on the side while holding a full-time job, or if you have lots of short projects that would clutter your work history. See how to list projects on a resume.
Option 3: Within a skills-based (combination) resume
If you're changing careers, a combination resume lets you group freelance results under skill headings like "Content Strategy" or "Web Development."
How to Format a Freelance Entry
Each freelance entry needs:
- Job title: "Freelance [Role]," "Independent [Role]," "[Role] (Self-Employed)," or "Contract [Role]"
- Business name: your company name if you have one ("Jane Doe Design LLC"), or "Self-Employed"
- Location: your city and state, or "Remote"
- Dates: one date range for the whole freelance period (for example, 2023 – Present), not separate dates for every gig
- Clients: name notable ones in a bullet or a "Clients include" line
- Bullets: three to five accomplishments with numbers
Freelance Graphic Designer | Self-Employed, Remote | 2022 – Present
- Designed brand identities, websites, and marketing materials for 25+ small businesses and startups
- Created a rebrand for a local coffee chain that increased social media engagement by 60%
- Maintain a 4.9/5 client rating across 40+ projects on Upwork
- Clients include Bean & Co., Riverside Yoga, and Northside Credit Union
Not sure about wording? The title matters for applicant tracking systems. If you're applying for "UX Designer" roles, "Freelance UX Designer" will match better than "Creative Consultant."
How to List Many Small Freelance Gigs
If you've done 30 small jobs for 30 different clients, listing each one separately would turn your resume into a phone book. Instead:
- Group them under one entry with a single date range
- Summarize volume: "Completed 75+ projects for 40+ clients"
- Highlight two to four standout projects in the bullets
- Name recognizable clients for credibility
- Drop gigs that don't relate to the job you want
Freelance Copywriter | Self-Employed, Remote | 2021 – Present
- Wrote 300+ blog posts, landing pages, and email campaigns for 35+ B2B SaaS clients
- Increased organic traffic for a project management startup by 140% in 9 months through SEO-focused content
- Wrote a 6-email onboarding sequence that lifted trial-to-paid conversion by 18%
- Clients include FinPilot, CloudNest, and TaskFlow
If you've freelanced for one major client long enough, you can list them as the "company" instead:
Contract Front-End Developer | Brightline Health (via Self-Employed) | Remote | Jan 2024 – Dec 2025
Freelance Work on a Resume: Examples by Role
Freelance writer
Freelance Writer and Editor | Self-Employed, Chicago, IL | 2020 – Present
- Write and edit 12–15 articles per month for publications and brands in personal finance and health
- Bylines in regional business magazines, two national health websites, and 10+ brand blogs
- Built a client base from 0 to 18 recurring clients through referrals and pitching
See our writer resume guide for more.
Freelance web developer
Freelance Web Developer | Doe Digital LLC, Remote | 2022 – Present
- Built and launched 20+ responsive websites with React, Next.js, and WordPress
- Improved page speed scores from 45 to 95 for an e-commerce client, increasing conversions by 22%
- Manage hosting, maintenance, and security updates for 12 retainer clients
Freelance social media manager
Freelance Social Media Manager | Self-Employed, Remote | 2023 – Present
- Manage Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts for 6 small businesses
- Grew a local bakery's Instagram from 1,200 to 14,000 followers in 10 months
- Create monthly content calendars and analytics reports for each client
Gig and platform work (Uber, DoorDash, Instacart)
Gig work counts too, especially for customer service, logistics, and driving roles:
Independent Delivery Driver | DoorDash and Instacart, Phoenix, AZ | 2023 – 2025
- Completed 2,500+ deliveries with a 98% customer rating
- Managed my own schedule, routes, and expenses as an independent contractor
Freelancing Alongside a Full-Time Job
If you freelanced while employed, list both. Put your full-time job in Work Experience and the freelance work either:
- In the same section with overlapping dates (that's fine and common), or
- In a separate "Freelance Projects" section below your main experience
Before listing it, check your employment contract for non-compete or moonlighting rules, and don't name clients who compete with your current employer.
Tips to Make Freelance Experience Look Professional
- Use a business name if you have one. "Rivera Creative LLC" looks more established than "Self-Employed," though both are fine
- Add a portfolio link to your header (personal site, Behance, GitHub, Dribbble, or Contently)
- Show business skills: client acquisition, retention rate, repeat clients, project budgets, and revenue (if impressive)
- Mention platform ratings like Upwork Top Rated or Fiverr Level 2 Seller
- Keep it honest. Don't inflate a two-week gig into a "consulting engagement." Employers may ask for client references. See references on a resume
- Leave out rates unless you're applying for another freelance or contract role where it's requested
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I list freelance work on my resume?
Add it to your Work Experience section with a title like "Freelance [Role]," your business name or "Self-Employed," your location or "Remote," one date range, and three to five bullets with results and notable clients.
Does freelance work count as work experience?
Yes. Freelance, contract, and self-employed work all count as professional experience, as long as you can describe the work and results honestly.
How do I list multiple freelance clients on a resume?
Group them under a single freelance entry, summarize the number of clients and projects, highlight a few standout projects in the bullets, and add a "Clients include" line with recognizable names.
Should I say "self-employed" or "freelance" on a resume?
Either works. Use "Freelance [Role]" as your job title and "Self-Employed" or your business name in the company spot. Choose the wording that best matches the jobs you're targeting.
How do I show freelance work if I signed an NDA?
Describe the client generically, such as "a Fortune 500 retail company" or "a Series B fintech startup," and focus on the type of work and results without revealing confidential details.
How do I go from freelance back to full-time work?
Frame freelancing as professional experience, highlight results and client names, emphasize teamwork and communication, and explain in your cover letter why you want a full-time role. See how to write a cover letter.
Turn Your Freelance Work Into a Strong Resume
Our Resume Builder helps you turn scattered gigs and client projects into polished, ATS-friendly bullet points, so your freelance experience gets the credit it deserves.