Freelancing may have started as a part-time gig, but it’s become a full-time career for millions of people. Freelancers are successfully making money full time providing a range of services including logo design, blog writing, social media management, and website coding. Freelance work is real experience that is valuable, and you can and should include it on your resume.

But how do you include it in a way that’s professional? What if you’re new to freelancing and have no experience? How can you compete – especially with AI tools consistently infiltrating the industry, such as ChatGPT?

How to List Freelance Work on Resume?

Even if you don’t have a traditional employer, freelance gigs reflect your skills, reliability, and results. Here’s how to position them in a more professional way:

1. Use A Professional Job Title

Your title should represent the services you provided and should also adhere to the industry standard.

Here are some examples:

• Freelance Web Developer
• Freelance Graphic Designer
• Freelance Digital Marketer
• Independent Copywriter

Avoid common or general labels like “Freelancer” or “Project Work”! Use a job title that hiring managers will recognize immediately.

Pro tip: Use a job title that matches with the job you’re applying to. If it’s a UX role, use Freelance UX Designer instead of Freelance General Designer.

2. Treat It Like a Real Job

Complete an entry in the “Professional Experience” section, as if it were any W-2 employment.

Example Resume Entry (U.S.):

Freelance Digital Marketing Specialist
Self-employed | Remote (U.S. clients | April 2021 – Present

• Developed digital campaigns for e-commerce brands across California and New York
• Managed Facebook and Google Ads, up to 4.5x ROI for small businesses
• Wrote SEO-focused blogs and Email funnels for 10+ B2C companies

3. Business Name (Optional)

If you have registered a business (like an LLC), list that name. If you do not; you can just say:

• Self-employed
• Freelance [Job Title]
• Your Name, LLC (if formed)

Note: U.S. freelancers are allowed to operate as a sole proprietor without having to form a business, having a business name lends some professionalism.

4. Add Metrics and Results

American hiring managers love data and results. Quantify your freelance contributions whenever possible.

Examples:

• Increased website traffic by client 130%, within 3-months
• Delivered 25+ logos and brand kits for small U.S. companies
• Managed a YouTube channel channel that grew from 0 – 10K subscribers

5. Name Clients (If Possible)

Did you work for national or well-known brands, agencies or U.S. startups? If so, name them (if you have their permission). If you acted under an NDA, describe the type of client instead.

Examples:

• “Developed e-commerce site for Florida-based skincare startup”
• “Created pitch decks for a tech accelerator in Silicon Valley”

This adds credibility and context.

How to Start Freelancing in the U.S. With No Experience?

No clients? No reviews? No problem. Every successful U.S. freelancer started at zero. Here’s how you can break into freelancing — even if you’re just getting started:

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1. Pick a Marketable Skill

Choose a service that is in demand and that you’re interested in. Common beginner-friendly U.S. freelance services include:

• Content writing
• Social media management
• Virtual assistance
• WordPress website setup
• Email marketing
• Data entry

If you’re unsure what to offer, start by asking: “What do I enjoy doing that others would pay me for?”

2. Learn and Upskill for Free

There are plenty of U.S.-based and global platforms offering free training to help you become job-ready:

• Coursera (many U.S. universities)
• HubSpot Academy (marketing, sales)
• YouTube tutorials
• Skillshare or Udemy (often under $20)

Don’t wait to be “perfect.” Learn → practice → offer.

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3. Build a Starter Portfolio

Even 2–3 samples of mock or personal projects can help land your first gig.

Where to host your portfolio (free):

• Google Drive (PDFs or Docs)
• Notion (easy to customize pages)
• Behance (for design)
• GitHub (for developers)
• LinkedIn (add media to your profile)

Make it clear, visual, and relevant.

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4. Volunteer or Do Free Work (Initially)

Offer your services to:

• Local businesses (think: cafes, salons, or gyms)
• Student orgs or nonprofits
• Friends and family with small businesses

Make it clear this is to build your portfolio, testimonials, and confidence.

5. Start Applying on Freelance Platforms

Here are the most popular freelance platforms for U.S. freelancers:

Platform	Good For
Upwork	High-quality U.S. jobs, long-term clients
Fiverr	Quick tasks, scalable gigs
Toptal	Premium U.S. clients (requires screening)
Freelancer.com	Diverse global jobs
Contra	Freelancers with personal branding

On Upwork and Fiverr, you may need to start with lower rates or fewer reviews — that’s okay. The key is to build credibility and client history.

FAQs

Q: Is freelance writing difficult with ChatGPT?
A: No, it’s not difficult, but you will still need creativity, originality, and editing ability – ChatGPT is a tool.

Q: Is there a Freelancer Season 2?
A: There is not currently, but there is no official announcement of Season 2 of The Freelancer.

Q: Is Upwork worth it for freelance jobs?
A: Yes, if you are consistent, patient, and build a good profile – a lot of U.S. freelancers make full-time income.

Q: Should I call it consulting or freelance?
A: Use consulting for strategic advice, and freelance for work that is deliverables based.

Q: Should I say “freelance” or “freelancer”?
A: In resumes, use “Freelance [Job Title],” and in informal and spoken use “I’m a freelancer.”

Conclusion

Freelancing is just as legitimate and constructive as any work, and can be placed on your resume with confidence – whether you worked remotely with U.S. clients or built your clientele. When designers/freelancers creatively use job tites, quantify results, and treat each freelancing assignment as a legitimate experience, they create patterns of acceptance and become competitive applicants.

When they combine some or all of these approaches, employers automatically consider the applicant as a successful freelance worker, rather than whether one has freelanced. Even if you are just getting started as a new freelancer that has not done anything, do not forget that every successful freelancer replented where you are. All it takes is motivation, the right skills, and determination, to build a well-respected freelance career from the ground up.

And of course, applying the use of tools, like ChatGPT and all forms of freelancing (like Upwork) will definitely help. So please, do not ever downplay your work or potential; all that you did is a significant chapter in your freelance story.

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