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Tips on Listing Self-employment on Your Resumé
Being self-employed is a challenging way of earning a living. You have to develop a suitable niche in which to operate, find clients, get adequate insurance, hire additional help, and do many other things that are done by a variety of people in a larger business. To succeed as a freelancer, contractor, or a new business owner, you have to have determination, passion and patience, all of which you also need to successfully hunt for a new job. So why should listing self-employment on a resumé raise concerns for your potential employer?
Many employers regard evidence of self-employment as a red flag against a potential employee. Here are some of the questions they will want answers to:
- Were you self-employed because you were in between jobs, or because you wanted to start your own business rather than work for a corporation? (in other words, are you someone who can work smoothly in the group environment of a corporation, or are you likely to be a source of constant conflict because you want to do things your way?)
- Are you still working on your own, as a freelancer or a consultant? If so, do you intent to continue this work in addition to your full time job? (will your freelance or consulting work cut into the time and energy you bring to your employment)?
- Will your self-employment present a conflict of interest for the company?
- Are you working as a freelancer or a contractor on part-time basis, and never intend to have this replace full-time employment?
- Does your long-term career goal include owning your own business? (are you going to just use this job as a stepping-stone, and possibly take clients with you in the process?)
All of these questions are valid from your potential employer's point of view. Companies do not want to hire you, invest in your training and provide you with benefits only to have you quit after a year or two to start your own business -- especially if you then take a number of clients with you. This is the main reason current or former self-employment raises red flags for the hiring manager. The best way to address any self-employment on your resumé is to highlight the positives of working as a freelancer or managing your own business, particularly initiative and self-directedness. Under no circumstances should you ever conceal periods of self-employment, because this will only confirm concerns about your reliability when the truth comes out.
If you pick up freelance projects infrequently and do not intend to make this work a full time career, you can omit any such experience from your resumé, just as you are free to leave out second jobs taken concurrently with your primary job. The only time you really want to list occasional freelance work on your resumé is if it allows you to fill any gaps in your professional experience. If you are doing a chronological resumé, you want to account for lost time, and if you are doing a functional resumé, you will want to show skills that are not accounted for in your regular employment. If you have worked as a contractor for a period longer than three months, or if you have ever owned your own business, your resumé should include them. List your job responsibilities in the same way as they are for any other full-time job you've held, focusing on what is most relevant to the job you are seeking. Emphasize your self-starter attitude in the Qualifications section of your resumé. Make sure to list any employability skills you have acquired or strengthened while you were self employed.
As a final indication of your commitment to the job you are seeking, write your cover letter or email so that it addresses the concerns your potential employer may have about your history of self-employment. Clarify anything on your resumé that may raise questions. For instance, if you still own your own business, but are looking for full-time work, make clear to the employer what your long-term professional goals are and how you intend to balance your roles at both businesses. However, don't apologize for being self-employed -- this will only serve to reinforce the perception of your self-employment as a flaw. Your resumé and cover letter should present you as a credible and passionate professional who can be relied upon to give a good return on the company's investment in you. Focus on how the positive experiences and skills you have acquired as a freelancer will benefit the company if you are their chosen candidate.
