Perfect Resume Ideas for Freelancers - CareerAlley

Perfect Resume Ideas for Freelancers - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. As a freelancer, you dont have the same experiences as someone in a big company. For a start, you cant be promoted since you are already at the top of your own business! But this doesnt mean that you cant create a resume that isnt just as effective. In fact, for freelancers, the humble resume is just the thing to give potential clients a taste of your skill set, experience, and talents. So what makes the perfect resume? There is no reason that a great resume template cant work perfectly as a base for you though if you want to show off your design skills, you might want to make some modifications! Tweet This So what makes the perfect resume? Well, for a start, you should stop worrying about making it so unique that it is barely recognizable. There is no reason that a great resume template cant work perfectly as a base for you though if you want to show off your design skills, you might want to make some modifications! Here are a few other ideas to get you started. source Use Keywords One of the most important aspects of SEO is the proper use of keywords and it is no different when it comes to writing a resume. Some employers actually use bots to spool through the number of resumes they receive but even if they dont, people tend to skim through text to find what they are looking for. If you arent sure whether you are using the right keywords, Jobscan is a great reference point. With a list of 500 keywords to browse and a scanning tool that compares your resume to the job description, you will have a much better idea of what to aim for. The problem with these hundreds of identical resumes is that all of them look alike, like clones. Moreover, some of them are almost as annoying as spam messages, which have miraculously gotten through a spam filter. How to observe the rules of business etiquette and make your resume to stand out from the crowd at the same time? Here is a surprising, but effective action plan How to Write a Killer Resume Keep It Brief A resume should be a single page document that covers as much as possible but this doesnt mean that you can ramble on. You need to be as efficient with the space available as possible which means that you need to curate the details you include and be as brief as possible everywhere else. Unlike a CV, you dont need to include your complete job history, you can just pick out your best highlights. For example, if you have worked for a big brand name, this is the time to show that off! source Be Confident You might be quite modest in person but your resume is no place to hold back. You need to present yourself in the best light in order to show off your experiences and your potential. If you want an employer to know how much value you can add to their business, you need to give them a reason to hire you and not another freelancer. If you arent sure how to be confident without sounding like a jerk, you should start with the facts. Put down any quantifiable results and explain what you did to get there. If you worked with a team or built on someone elses work, dont be afraid to put that in. No good work happens in a vacuum. Photo by James L.W on Unsplash Tell a Story You might not have the space for a full-blown epic poem written in iambic pentameter but you definitely have room for a dragon-slaying story. For all that a dragon slaying story wont actually contain a dragon, the principle is simple: theres a problem, you provide a solution and the lasting impact is seen in x, y and z. This kind of story shows that you are aware of the way that businesses run going in and can spot the areas that require improvement. Plus, as a freelancer, you can show this over and again, choosing from a variety of stories and picking out the one that will tempt in your next client in particular. Bringing personality to a resume can be quite a challenge in so little space but there are a couple of methods you can use. For example, even if your CV will be read by a bot, it should still scan well to a human being. Writing in your own voice is a good place to start and a more conversational tone is appropriate in most situations now. Call to Action Finally, every resume should come with a call to action at the bottom of the page. This might be a link to your website which contains much more information about your work and experience but it might simply be an email address and an offer to get in touch. If a potential employer doesnt have anywhere to go immediately after reading your resume, you are increasing the chances that they are going to stick in their filing system and never return to it. The easier you can make it for them to continue researching you or get in touch to set up a meeting, the more likely they are to do it. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to make a resume and cover letter that gets you hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search