Top freelance programmer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: Freelance programmer resume edition
Checklist: ways to make your experience section stand out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
We’ve gathered the most impressive Freelance Programmer experience sections from real Enhancv resumes. Check them out for some additional inspiration!
- Produced osCommerce websites. Developed custom modules for client specific needs. Had a perfect 5 star rating with over 50 projects at rentacoder.com which became freelancer.com. Still have a 5 star rating but almost all my old projects are gone.
- Developed front and back end (PHP) for DAVE (Data Acquisition Virtual Assistent), a Windfarm Management SASS which the company abandoned due to inability to obtain buyers. I'm very proud of the system I built from the ground up for over a year, but they've abandoned it and there is no way now to show my hard work.
- Started working on more NodeJS oriented projects @ Freelancer.com and perfected my Javascript skills.
- Got familiar with Angular, VueJS, and a bit of React.
- Started working with Telegram's blockchain TON (Telegram Open Network) and got my feet wet with Typescript by creating an API for generating, deploying, and testing byte-code for TON Smart Contracts.
- Started working on a personal project BitKollect.com (100% Typescript front and back end). Opted to use HTML5 custom elements for more control and less overhead vs libraries like Angular/Vue/React.
- Developed UI tools and interaction methods for multiple games resulting in an improved user experience and increased user engagement
- Collaborated with UX/UI designers to build and implement high-quality UI features that aligned with game design and player expectations
- Implemented UI design changes based on user feedback that resulted in a 15% increase in player retention
- Provided technical assistance to the game development team to identify and solve UI related issues
- Contributed to the development of UI architecture and frameworks that resulted in faster UI development and deployment time
- Designed and implemented UI systems for AAA video games using Unity resulting in a streamlined development process and improved user experience
- Collaborated with UX designers and game designers to ensure the user interface aligned with the overall game design and player expectations
- Optimized UI performance resulting in a 20% reduction in UI rendering time
- Mentored junior UI programmers resulting in improved team performance and skill development
- Implemented and optimized user interface features resulting in a 30% increase in player engagement
- Collaborated with designers to create intuitive and visually appealing menus and HUDs
- Streamlined game asset loading times through coding and testing resulting in a 20% reduction in load times
- Developed new gameplay mechanics that were well-received by players and resulted in a 15% increase in game sales
- Designed and implemented custom widgets resulting in a 25% increase in usability and player satisfaction
- Improved game performance by optimizing UI code and reducing unnecessary calculations resulting in a 15% reduction in frame rate drops
- Collaborated with designers to create intuitive and visually appealing menus and HUDs that received positive feedback from players
- Implemented localization features allowing for seamless language switching resulting in a 10% increase in game sales in non-English speaking regions
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Freelance Programmer resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action verbs for your freelance programmer resume
Recommended reads:
Freelance programmer resume: crafting a strong skills section
Do this if you want to make your skills section stand out.":
- Check the job advert for keywords and add them to your skills section to pass ATS;
- List only skills that are relevant to the position to keep the hiring manager focused;
- Balance between hard, soft, and technical skills;
- Elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your Freelance Programmer resume, e.g. the experience section or your resume’s summary.
Top skills for your freelance programmer resume
Upwork
Quickbooks
Microsoft Office
Email clients
PayPal
Budgeting
Marketing
Design
Communication
Leadership and project management
Teamwork
Problem
Solving
Work Ethics
Flexibility
Adaptability
Interpersonall skills
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads:
Freelance programmer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your freelance programmer resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your Freelance Programmer resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
How to write an inspiring freelance programmer resume summary
Checklist: Writing a resume summary that makes you stand out
- Keep it short and use well-structured sentences;
- Mention your total years of experience in the field and your #1 achievement;
- Highlight your strengths and relevant skills;
- Add keywords from the company’s website or the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
Recommended reads:
Making the education section of your freelance programmer resume stand out
Education section checklist for your freelance programmer resume:
- List your highest education degree: including your major, year of graduation, and the institution you attended;
- Highlight the extracurricular activities that have helped you gain additional expertise;
- Share more about the certifications you’ve got, especially if they are relevant to the job position;
- Entry-level applicants: Mention relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your freelance programmer resume
How to Thrive as a Freelance Developer
Talking to Freelancing Masters Who've Been There and Done That
The Freelance Masterclass: For Creatives
The Ultimate Guide to Freelancing: Learn to Price Projects, Build Portfolios, Find Clients, Brand Yourself & More!
Freelancing on Upwork & Freelancer.com as a Beginner in 2022
Learn how to apply on projects, Win the jobs you want, Earn big on freelance websites such as Upwork and Freelancer.com.
Complete Guide to Freelancing in 2022: Zero to Mastery
Achieve freelance success on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Start a home business or side hustle. No experience needed!
Freelance Bootcamp - The Comprehensive Guide to Freelancing
Learn how to build a profitable freelance business completely from scratch and gain the tools needed to succeed.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Freelance Programmer. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Freelance programmer resume: Formatting tips & tricks
Which came first: the hen or the egg? This question reminds us of the thing our resume experts hear most often in their job – which comes first: the content or the format? Well, we advise you to pick the format first and then go on with drafting your resume’s content.
And how do you choose a resume format? Well, based on your applicant profile. In general, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail:
The reverse-chronological resume format is quite straightforward. Here, you describe all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological form, meaning your latest job comes first. This resume format is great for people with lots of experience and skills who don’t have any career gaps.
If you are a recent graduate or don’t really have much experience in the industry you’re applying for, go for the functional skills-based resume format. This format focuses on skills and character traits, rather than experience. It makes the hiring manager realize you’re the perfect fit for the role without putting too much emphasis on your work history.
And if you’re looking for something a bit more intriguing and exciting, check out the hybrid resume format. It’s a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional skills-based formats, which makes it great for all types of job-seekers. The hybrid resume allows you to showcase both your professional experience and your skills, education, and additional qualifications. If you’re feeling creative, add a separate section about your typical day or life philosophy.
Our top style and layout resume format tips:
- Go for a standard 12p resume font;
- Choose 1-inch resume margins for a professional and easy-to-read feel;
- ry your best to fit your resume in a one-page template. If you’re a professional with over 10 years of relevant experience, having a two-page resume is also fine;
- Make sure to save your resume as PDF – this will help you avoid unwanted editing and formatting issues.
Read this: How to make your resume stand out
Recommended Reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Freelance Programmer resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections that’ll look good on your Freelance Programmer resume
Do you want to move beyond the traditional skills, education, and experience section? Easy-peasy!
Just choose one or two additional sections to help recruiters get a fuller picture of who you are, both as a person and as a professional:
Adding a splash of creativity to your freelance programmer resume
Boring resumes are no longer an option if you’re looking to impress recruiters.
And no matter whether you’re looking to give your old resume a new life or want to start building a new one from scratch, being at least moderately creative is always a good idea. Do this by adding a ‘favorite books’ section or even a pie chart of what your typical day looks like.
What makes a great freelance programmer resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
