Self employed CV examples

Being self-employed doesn’t mean you’re missing experience – it means you’ve developed a unique skill set that many employers value. The trick is to present your business background in a way that highlights your strengths in leadership, strategy, and execution.

This guide walks you through structuring and writing a CV that clearly communicates how your entrepreneurial background makes you an asset, ensuring others see you as deserving of any role on offer.

Just like any CV, a Self-Employed CV should have a clean, neat structure that makes it easy for recruiters to spot your key strengths and experience. Making the mistake of a messy and unnavigable layout will only overshadow your expertise, and force readers to give up.

Here’s the format to follow:

• Name and contact details – Place these personal details at the top so employers can get in touch easily.
• Profile – Kick things off with a concise overview of what makes you the ideal candidate for the job.
• Core skills – Provide a snapshot of your most relevant business and industry-specific abilities.
• Work experience – Walk through details of your self-employment, structured like a traditional job role.
• Education – List any qualifications, degrees, training, or certifications that enhance your credibility.
• Additional info – Optionally include memberships, awards, and relevant hobbies.

Employers expect a well-presented CV that clearly outlines your skills and experience. If your CV looks unstructured or confusing, they may assume the same about your work style. Your CV should offer recruiters an easy and pleasant read.

Stick to these formatting tips:

• Bullet points – Break down responsibilities and achievements for easy reading.
• Divide sections – Clearly label each section to make it accessible.
• Use a clear and readable font – Stick to professional and clean font, and a sensible colour scheme.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it a concise length to maintain their interest while still covering all the essentials.

Your CV profile is your 30-second pitch – it should highlight your business experience and key skills while positioning you as a valuable candidate for employment. Ultimately, you’re trying to convey the benefits of hiring you – so consider what employers want from their new hire.

Here’s what to include:

• Your business background – Whether you ran a company, freelanced, or consulted, be clear about what you did.
• Industry expertise – Mention the field you worked in and your core services.
• Transferable skills – Highlight leadership, project management, client relations, and financial management.
• Achievements – Showcase key successes, such as revenue growth, client expansion, or operational improvements.
• Career goal – Express your enthusiasm for transitioning into employment and how your skills align with the role.

Your time being self-employed has likely equipped you with a wide range of skills. This section gives hiring managers a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table. Anyone who opens up a CV immediately scans for relevant keywords, so make sure you’re including the tangible, relevant skills which are desired.

Tailor this list to the job you’re applying for, ensuring it highlights the most relevant skills.

Your self-employment is great experience – it just needs to be framed correctly. Rather than listing it vaguely, treat it like any other job.

List your business or freelance work in reverse order, explaining the services you provided, industries you worked in, and key successes. If you ran your own business, highlight financial management, business strategy, and operations.

For those transitioning back into traditional employment, it’s useful to frame your experience in a way that aligns with the role you’re applying for.

• Outline – Provide a brief description of your business, its industry, and the work you did.
• Responsibilities – Detail the key tasks you managed, from operations to client services. Use action words like “developed,” “managed,” and “executed.”
• Achievements – Highlight tangible successes, such as increased revenue, client retention, or operational improvements.

If you’ve completed any formal education, industry training, or certifications, include them here. Employers appreciate continuous learning, so highlight qualifications that reinforce your expertise.

For self-employed professionals moving into corporate roles, business training courses such as finance, leadership, or digital marketing can make your application stand out.

If your industry requires specific licensing or professional development, list those to add credibility to your CV.