Laura Slingo 
Adding gig work to your CV can play to your creativity and strengths
Just because you're self-employed, it doesn't mean that you can't add this valuable experience to your CV. Whether your freelance work is your primary job or a side gig, it deserves to be documented on your CV - not only because it's a fundamental component of your employment history, but also because it plays to your strengths.
Understandably, it can seem a little tricky adding self-employed work to your CV, because it's somewhat untraditional. But CVs are relatively flexible in structure and formatting; they can be tweaked and tailored to display your winning traits in the best possible way to impress a prospective employer.
This article gives answers to all of the questions you may have on how to list self-employment and freelance work on your CV.
Identify the best way to structure your self-employed CV
The layout of your CV is critical. If your employment history isn't documented in a clear and consistent format, the HR manager may end up confused and shift their focus to the next candidate.
If you've swapped your nine-to-five for a full-time freelancing gig, it might be best to weave your self-employment into your Employment History section, like a freelance CV. Essentially, you would be presenting your self-employment as another role that sits neatly in your timeline of past positions.
Alternatively, if your freelance work is a side gig, you might like to introduce a new section outside of your career highlights, that summarises the nature of your work and the projects you've undertaken.
Assign yourself a job title that's related to your work
It's perfectly fine if you want to give yourself the title of "Self-Employed" or "Freelancer." However, I'd advise using your creative job title more to your advantage; you have the power to craft a title that is descriptive and immediately tells a prospective employer exactly what you do.
Ensure that your job title reflects the nature of your work. Try combining any of the terms "freelancer," "consultant," or "contractor" with an adjective that summarises your industry, role or niche. For example: "Freelance Writer and Editor" or "SEO Consultant."
Include a company name if appropriate
If you're a full-time freelancer, you may have set up a limited company. If this is the case, document it on your CV. However, if the company is just your name, you may want to expand on it with some descriptive language so that the potential employers get a feel for the industry you work in and even your work experience.
Keep your formatting consistent with the other work listed on your CV, so that it looks purposeful, seamless, and polished.
Outline the nature of your work and services
Like any other role on your CV, it's worth outlining the nature of your self-employment or side gig. Just below your job title, company, and dates of employment, add a couple of lines that summarise what you do, the types of clients you have or the industries you work across, for example.
Don't feel like you have to go overboard with detail here. Ultimately, you need to give the recruiter a sense of what you're all about and, if possible, reference anything that's in line with the job you're applying for. For example, if the job you want is within the healthcare sector and one of your clients sat within this niche, say so.
Name-drop impressive clients and projects
Always be selective with the clients and projects listed on your CV and make your choices based on the position you're applying for. In addition to the projects that relate to your potential new role, you may also like to name-drop any big, impressive clients.
When adding details about projects, use punchy, concise bullet points to highlight your marketable skills (include both hard and soft skills) and achievements. You can add these bullet points either underneath each client or project, or perhaps underneath your outline, as referenced above.
Link to your portfolio
Your CV should be around two pages in length. If you've worked on lots of small projects or have been self-employed for a long time, it can be difficult to fit your experience on your CV without compromising quality.
Don't be afraid to link out to certain projects or even your portfolio at the top, right next to your name and contact details in your CV. As CVs are sent digitally these days, it's easy to link out, so make the most of the opportunity to direct prospective employers to live examples of your work and abilities.
The UK has over 2 million freelancers and this figure is expected to rise over the coming years as this type of work allows for independence and flexibility. Rest assured that your self-employment and side gigs are legitimate experiences worth shouting about on your CV. Just keep these pointers in mind when documenting the details, so that you present your abilities in a way that benefits your job application.
Have you effectively included your self-employment on your CV? TopCV's free, objective review will tell you how you fared. Submit your CV here.