How to Discuss Self-employment on Your Resume

Self-employment can be an enriching and rewarding experience, providing you with a wealth of skills and accomplishments to share with potential employers. However, articulating this experience on a resume can sometimes be challenging. This article will focus on the best practices for presenting self-employment in a professional and compelling manner on your resume.

Highlighting Self-Employment on Your Resume

When you are self-employed, you wear many hats and develop a broad range of skills. Here's how to make the most of your self-employment experience on your resume:

Emphasize Achievements over Responsibilities

Rather than listing duties, focus on specific achievements and the impact you made while self-employed. Quantify your successes wherever possible using metrics such as revenue growth, customer acquisition numbers, or percentage improvements in efficiency.

Use the Right Job Title

Choose a job title that accurately reflects your role and responsibilities. If you were a freelance graphic designer, 'Freelance Graphic Designer' is appropriate. If you operated a consulting business, 'Founder and Consultant' could be a good fit. Ensure the title is understandable and respected in your industry.

Create a Business Overview

Provide a brief description of your self-employment venture, including the services offered or products sold. This helps to set the context for your achievements and responsibilities.

Tailor Skills to the Job Description

Identify skills from your self-employment that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Highlight these skills in a separate section, or weave them into your achievements and job descriptions.

Explain Periods of Self-Employment Clearly

Be transparent about the period of self-employment on your resume. Include the start and end dates, if applicable, to clarify the timeline for employers.

Balance Self-Employment with Other Experience

If you have other professional experience, integrate your self-employment into your employment history in chronological order. This provides a complete picture of your background.

Provide References or Testimonials

Including references or brief testimonials from clients can lend credibility to your self-employment experience. Make sure to get permission before including any client information.

Addressing Potential Concerns of Employers

Employers may have specific concerns when considering a candidate with self-employment history. Prepare to address these in your resume or cover letter:

Commitment Levels

Some employers might question your commitment to being an employee after being your own boss. Highlight collaboration and teamwork experiences to show your ability to work within an organization.

Skills Translation

Ensure that the skills gained during self-employment are presented in a way that employers can see their relevancy and value to the position you're applying for.

Gaps in Employment

If there are gaps in your employment due to periods of self-employment, be ready to provide a clear and honest explanation.

Crafting the Resume Entry

Here's an example of how a self-employment resume entry might look:

• Self-Employed, Web Developer, January 2016 - Present
• Successfully designed and deployed 15+ websites for local businesses, improving their online presence and increasing their customer base by an average of 30%.
• Managed all aspects of the business, including marketing, client relations, and project management, demonstrating exceptional multitasking and organizational skills.
• Collaborated with sub-contractors and freelancers, building effective working relationships and strengthening team development.

This entry demonstrates achievements, explains the nature of the self-employment, and shows transferable skills.

Final Tips

• Proofread your resume carefully: Typos and grammatical errors can undermine your professionalism.
• Use professional language and avoid overly casual phrases that might give the wrong impression.
• Be honest: Overstating your accomplishments or misrepresenting your business can harm your credibility.
• Prepare a portfolio: If applicable, having a portfolio ready can be an excellent complement to your resume and demonstrate your work.

Discussing self-employment on your resume should not be a disadvantage. On the contrary, it can showcase your entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, and versatility. Follow these guidelines to ensure your self-employment experience enhances your candidacy and helps land you the job you aspire to.