When updating your resume, accurately conveying your self-employment experience is crucial. Employers value candidates with entrepreneurial skills. Whether you were a freelancer, business owner, or consultant, effectively communicating your self-employment status demonstrates your resourcefulness, independence, and initiative. In this guide, we will explore different ways to describe your self-employed experience on a resume, including formal and informal options. We will also provide tips, examples, and regional variations where applicable.
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Formal Ways to Say “Self-Employed” on a Resume
When it’s important to maintain a formal tone in your resume, consider these professional alternatives for stating your self-employment:
1. Entrepreneur:
Emphasize your role as an entrepreneur, especially if you successfully started and managed your own business.
2. Business Owner:
Highlight that you were a business owner, which showcases your ability to take full responsibility for a venture.
3. Independent Contractor:
If you worked on a contract basis, use this term to indicate your autonomy while providing services to clients.
4. Consultant:
For those with specialized knowledge and expertise who provided consulting services, this title concisely captures your role.
Informal Ways to Say “Self-Employed” on a Resume
If you’re applying to a less formal industry or want to inject some personality into your resume, consider these alternative phrases:
1. Freelancer:
Showcase your flexibility and adaptability by using the term “freelancer”. It implies you worked on various projects for different clients independently.
2. Self-Starter:
Highlight your proactive approach by describing yourself as a self-starter. This term emphasizes your motivation and ability to work independently.
3. Independent Professional:
This phrase implies that you worked autonomously, managing projects and clients without relying on a traditional employer.
4. Solopreneur:
For those who managed a one-person business, “solopreneur” indicates that you handled all aspects of your venture alone.
Tips for Describing Self-Employment
1. Be Specific:
When describing your self-employment on a resume, be specific about the nature of your work, industry, and achievements. Use quantifiable metrics and concrete examples whenever possible.
2. Emphasize Skills Acquired:
Highlight the valuable skills you gained during self-employment, such as project management, financial planning, client acquisition, or marketing. Relate these skills to the job you’re applying for.
3. Showcase Results:
Mention any noteworthy accomplishments or successful projects you undertook while self-employed. Employers appreciate candidates who can demonstrate tangible results.
4. Bridge Employment Gaps:
If your self-employment period created a gap in your employment history, be prepared to explain it succinctly during an interview or in your cover letter. Emphasize the value you gained from the experience as it relates to the position.
5. Use Action Verbs:
Employ impactful action verbs to begin bullet points under your self-employment section. This makes your resume more dynamic and engaging.
Examples:
Entrepreneur: Founded and managed a successful online retail business, achieving a 50% growth in revenue within the first year.
Independent Contractor: Provided freelance graphic design services to various clients on a project basis, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction.
Freelancer: Worked independently as a content writer, producing engaging articles for a diverse range of clients while consistently meeting deadlines.
Remember, tailoring your resume to the specific job application is crucial. Consider the tone and language used in the job description, and adjust your resume accordingly. By accurately and effectively conveying your self-employment experience, you increase your chances of impressing potential employers and securing new opportunities.
