Do I need a CV if I’m a freelancer?
The short answer? No. But as with many things in the world of self-employment, it’s complicated.
What kind of freelancer are you?
There are different types of freelancers; those that predominantly take project work in-house at a company for a period of time and those that work independently on client projects. We can assume that applying for freelancer positions where you’re required to go into an office and work alongside a client’s team, an old-school hiring process will be in place. By that, I mean the position is listed, apply by sending your CV, job interview (possibly a few rounds), short-term contract presented, congratulations - you’re hired. The HR teams in those hiring positions are more likely to look more intensely at a CV because it’s what they’re used to. Then we have the independent freelancer roles. These largely come off the back of word of mouth, Google searches and a client proactively seeking out a freelancer to help resolve a specific business problem they’re having. Hiring a freelancer like this is usually an alternative to hiring an agency. In these situations, a CV is less likely to play a role in your hiring. Instead, your visibility online, testimonials from others, and demonstrable case studies are far more important.
How it works at The Doers
When we look for freelancers to join client projects here at The Doers, CVs rarely come into play. We‘ll most likely opt to look at their digital footprint instead. If we want a general overview of their experience and where they’ve worked, we head to LinkedIn. Do they have social accounts to show their work and expertise? Are those expertise aligned with the project we have in mind? What’s their niche? What other clients have they worked for?
Once we’ve gathered some intel, we’ll book a quick call with The Doers’ Doer, Emma. We’re attuned to keeping these short and sharp and reading quickly about whether the freelancer is the right fit for the job. We’ll ask about experience, preferred ways of working, and rates, and give an overview of the project we have in mind (if applicable). From that, we’ll know interest levels from both sides and progress accordingly.
When actively recruiting for freelancers, we will more likely take note of a well-crafted introduction email than the CV attached. Is the email communicating clearly what the freelancer does and their experience? Is it showing confidence in their skill set? What personality is it conveying? Have they attached a portfolio of their work?
What to include in a freelancer CV
If you do have a CV as a freelancer, be mindful of what you include within it. There is zero interest in your GCSE grades and where you volunteered in your gap year. We want to know what work you’ve done as a freelancer, what your working style is, what your rates are if you have any relevant interests, and what your niche is. If you’re able to throw in some personality to that too, you’re winning. It should ALWAYS be on a single page and attached preferably as a PDF. If relevant to what you do, always make sure you attach a portfolio of your work too!
This post was written by our CEO, Jess. If you’re a freelancer looking to join our network, head over to our application form to find out more.
