4 Ways to Use Your Resume Beyond Finding a Freelancing Job

The world of freelancing is dynamic and exciting because you never know when your dream project may pop up in your path. Plus, even if everything seems chill and dull today, things can change from one week to another.

However, you have to welcome that change and be ready to accommodate it. Otherwise, you may be missing out on huge opportunities that could have made your professional life a lot more interesting.

So how do you open the door for these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities?

One way is to be active on various platforms and make sure your work is always easy to find and eye-catching. Plus, it’s a way to explore new facets of your talent and focus on constant improvement.

For instance, content creators have a plethora of platforms where they can test out new ideas and try personal projects that may even lead to a solid following.

However, this takes time and not everyone is a content creator or passionate about social media exposure. Luckily, this doesn’t mean you are condemned to eternal obscurity; you just have to find new ways to put your work and skills out there.

Today we’ll take a look at how freelancers can use a tool from the good old days — the CV or resume. Yes, you read that right – with a bit of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, you can use your good old friend, the resume, to let possible customers know you are worthy of their attention.

After all, a resume that got you hired in the first place is a powerful tool. Add a bit of nurturing and some sprucing up, and you’ve got an easy-to-use, low-maintenance promotion vehicle at your disposal.

If you’re confused or low on ideas on how to make your resume the driver of your future freelancing career, here are a few ideas to spark your inspiration:

1. Keep Up with the Old Ways

And of course, by old ways, we mean LinkedIn!

Young adults today might think of LinkedIn as something from the past — an old and dusty platform that’s designed for “established professionals” looking for network possibilities.

While this description does make you think of older folks, LinkedIn is still one of the strongest social media platforms today.

With over 740 million active users and increased engagement, LinkedIn is the ideal place to be when you are interested in professional opportunities.

Of course, you’re not the only one to think this way. Other freelancers in your niche will find LinkedIn appealing, which is why you need to spruce up your profile and your resume on the platform.

Start by making sure everything is up to date (projects, overall experience, studies, skills, and so on). Also, make full use of the tools LinkedIn offers such as adding a catchy background, a professional photo, and an interesting headline.

It also helps to make your presence known to other users via posts, invites to connect, and sharing interesting visual content.

2. Put Your Skills into Practice

Show don’t tell – this is a rule we often see in filmmaking and storytelling, but it can also be applied to your resume. After all, what is a resume if not the story of your professional life?

The idea is that you can use your resume to show your skills and professional inclinations. Here are two great examples of how to do this:

Build a Resume Website

A resume website is an incredibly powerful and versatile tool for freelancers in any niche, but it fits like a glove for people in media, marketing, design, or content.

Here are a few powerful reasons why you should turn your resume into a website:

• Complete customization and creative freedom (unlike a standard CV or a LinkedIn profile)
• It’s a dynamic environment where you can use graphics, images, colors, and more
• You can insert links to your portfolio and other projects
• Freedom to showcase your skills using visual cues

What’s even better, you don’t have to be a web designer or developer to create a website nowadays. There are plenty of website building platforms out there (such as Wix) that you can use to put together a gorgeous resume design.

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to use Wix to create a resume website

Quick note: If you are not a web designer and still manage to create a gorgeous resume website, you show possible collaborators that you’re not afraid of a challenge and you are capable of learning new skills.

Make an Infographic

Have you ever thought of turning your resume into an infographic?

A well-designed infographic is cute, shareable, and easy to follow. Plus, when you turn your resume into one, you showcase graphic design skills and manage to look professional while doing so.

The trick here is to find a unique and creative way to make your infographic stand out (right now, people’s passion for this type of content is a bit low). Of course, it’s also a way to learn new skills and get a better understanding of how to organize various elements on a page. So you learn while doing it!

Tell a Story [Build a Personal Brand]

Storytelling is one of the most sought-after skills nowadays. So, why not turn your resume into a compelling story and do some personal branding while you’re at it?

It’s a fantastic way to test your marketing and storytelling skills while also showing anyone interested you are worthy of their time.

The good news is that you have complete freedom in choosing the medium and the pace of the story. The not-so-good news is that it takes time and patience to build a personal brand.

Luckily, you know the object of your branding (yourself) so it’s easy to identify strong points, professional prowess, and other elements worth mentioning. Plus, even if you don’t become an overnight sensation, if you take the road of personal branding, you have the chance to learn and improve your social media skills.

3. Spruce Up Your Portfolio

Let’s say you manage to build a great personal brand starting from your resume. Or that you have a fantastic website resume that attracts impressive traffic every month. Yet something is missing…

We’re talking about your portfolio!

When you’re not looking for new clients it’s quite easy to forget about maintaining your portfolio. However, it’s also a mistake, especially when you have several different projects going on at the same time.

As large projects become the norm, small jobs are easy to forget, which is why it’s important to keep accurate track of your jobs.

Whether you are a graphic designer, web developer, writer, social media manager, or software developer, you will benefit from having a diverse portfolio. It is a great way to showcase your experience in the field and you can use it to back up your resume claims.

Quick tip: Ask each of your collaborators (or the ones you enjoyed working with) for testimonials. Next, use them (with the collaborator’s permission) to boost up your portfolio. It’s a great technique to increase your credibility and show future collaborators your value.

4. Try the New Ways

Have you heard about TikTok Resumes?

This was a pilot program designed to test the platform’s utility for job-related and career-oriented content. While its target audience was young adults, the program gathered lots of interest from both job-seekers and employers (names like Chipotle, Target, WWE, or Shopify got in the game)

Overall, the project was an attempt to redefine the old and dusty resume format and reshape the hiring process in a new light. Basically, TikTok creators had to use the tools and features at their disposal to create a convincing video resume.

Here is a great example of a TikTok Resume (more examples in the app if you follow #TikTokResumes).

Now, we’re not saying you should start a TikTok account just to put your CV out there, but the idea of a video resume is not that new. In fact, several freelancing platforms do accept (and even encourage) freelancers to put together a video presentation of their skills, experience, and overall career.

And, in the getting new skills category, this is a great way for you to get more comfortable with a camera and learn how to put together a video that looks professional.

Start Getting Creative & Start Landing Jobs!

Overall, the combination resume portfolio can be a powerful tool for your freelancing career, but you need to know how to reach the right audience. While it is a good idea to stay up to date regarding the best formats to use, it also helps to get creative and find new ways to stand out from the crowd.

When you build a website or turn your resume into an interactive visual with a professional graphic design, you set yourself apart from the rest. Plus, it’s a great way to learn new skills while making sure your personal online brand represents your interests and carries your name to new heights.

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