How Career Changers Should List Unpaid Freelance Work

James Walker

James Walker writes about career transitions. London-based career enthusiast.

Visual representation of the voice · not a photographic portrait

Quick answer: List unpaid freelance projects in your experience section with a clear title, the client or project name, dates, and two to four bullets showing what you did and what changed. You do not need to write "unpaid" on the resume, but answer honestly if an interviewer asks.↗ Share on X

Yes, you should list unpaid freelance projects on your resume, and you can put them in the main experience section, not hidden at the bottom. Give the work a clear title (for example, "Freelance Web Designer"), list the client or project name, the dates, and two to four bullet points that show what you built and what changed because of it. Being unpaid does not make the work less real. Employers care about the skills you used and the results you got, so write about it the same way you would write about a paid job, and be honest if someone asks.

Here is exactly how to format it, what to write in each bullet, and how to talk about it in an interview.

Why do unpaid projects count as real experience?

READ ALSOCareer Change Interview: Prove Your Old Skills Still Count →Transferable Skills on a Resume: 7 Steps for Career Changers →Career Change Resume: Write a First Bullet That Gets Read →

When you change careers, your biggest problem is a gap between what you have done and what the new job asks for. Unpaid projects are often the fastest way to close that gap.

A hiring manager reading your resume is asking one question: "Can this person do the work?" A well-described project answers that question directly. Did you redesign a website for a local bakery? Set up bookkeeping for a friend's small business? Write grant applications for a community group? Those are real tasks, with real people, and often real results.

What hiring managers usually do not like is vague wording. "Helped with marketing" says nothing. "Wrote and scheduled 24 Instagram posts for a local gym over three months" says a lot.

Where should unpaid freelance work go on your resume?

You have three good options. Choose based on how strong and relevant your projects are.

For most career changers, a "Relevant Experience" section placed above your older jobs works best. It puts your new skills first, where the reader looks first. Your previous career can go below it under "Additional Experience" or "Professional Experience."

How do you format one unpaid project?

READ ALSOWhy Did You Leave Your Last Job? 9 Honest Answers That Work →Online Courses on Your Resume: Where They Go and What to Say →Where to Put Volunteer Work on a Resume (With Examples) →

Use the same structure as any job entry. Here is a template:

Freelance [Role] | [Client or Project Name]

[City or "Remote"] | [Month Year] – [Month Year]

• Action verb + what you did + tool or method + result
• Action verb + what you did + tool or method + result
• Action verb + what you did + tool or method + result

And a filled-in example:

Freelance Web Designer | Rosa's Bakery

Remote | March 2026 – May 2026

• Redesigned a 5-page website in WordPress, making menus and hours easy to find on mobile phones
• Added an online order form that the owner now uses for weekly cake orders
• Wrote simple instructions so the owner can update prices without help

Notice what is missing: the word "unpaid." You do not need to put it on the resume. A resume shows what you did, not what you were paid. You also should never claim you were paid if you were not. If the interviewer asks, tell the truth (more on that below).

What should each bullet point say?

Strong bullets follow a simple pattern: verb + task + result.

1. Start with an action verb. Built, wrote, designed, organized, analyzed, launched, trained, reduced, created.

2. Say what you did, specifically. Name the tool, the number of items, the type of work.

3. Show the result, if you have one. More sign-ups, fewer errors, less time, a finished product the client uses.

Only use numbers you actually know. If your client told you online orders went up, you can say so. If you do not know the result, describe the finished work instead. Never guess or round up to make it sound bigger.

How do you list several small projects without clutter?

If you have five tiny projects, five separate entries will look messy. Group them under one heading:

Freelance Graphic Designer

Self-employed | June 2025 – Present

• Designed logos and flyers for 5 small local businesses, including a barbershop and a food truck
• Created a brand color and font guide for each client to use on their own
• Delivered all files in print and web formats within agreed deadlines

Then, if one project is especially strong, mention it by name in a bullet or link to it in your portfolio.

Should you include volunteer and personal projects too?

Yes, with a small difference in labeling.

• Volunteer work for a real organization (a church, school, nonprofit, community group) can go in the same Relevant Experience section. Use a title like "Volunteer Bookkeeper" or "Volunteer Event Coordinator."
• Personal projects with no client, like an app you built for yourself or a sample marketing plan, go under a "Projects" heading. Call them what they are. A personal project is still proof of skill, especially in tech, design, and writing.

The rule is simple: label it honestly, describe it specifically.

How do you talk about unpaid work in an interview?

Interviewers sometimes ask, "Was this a paid role?" Answer directly and move to what matters:

"No, it was unpaid. I took it on to build real experience in web design while I was changing careers. The owner still uses the site, and I'm happy to show you the before and after."

That answer does three things. It is honest. It shows initiative. And it steers the conversation back to your skills.

Do not apologize for the work or call it "just a small thing." If it is on your resume, it deserves to be there.

What else makes unpaid projects more convincing?

A few extras can turn a good entry into a strong one:

1. A portfolio link. Put a short link at the top of your resume, next to your email and phone. Include screenshots, files, or before-and-after examples.

2. A reference from the client. Ask the person you worked with if they would be willing to speak to an employer. A quick, positive phone call carries real weight.

3. A short written recommendation. Ask for two or three sentences you can quote on LinkedIn.

4. Matching keywords. Read the job posting. If it asks for "Google Analytics" and you used it, make sure those exact words appear in your bullets.

5. A clear summary at the top. Two lines that connect your old career to your new one. For example: "Former retail manager moving into operations analysis, with freelance experience organizing inventory data in Excel for two small businesses."

Your next step

Pick your strongest unpaid project and write its resume entry today using the template above: title, client, dates, and three bullets built on verb + task + result. Read the bullets out loud and remove any vague words like "helped" or "assisted." Then message the person you did the work for and ask whether they would be a reference. Once that one entry is solid, use it as the model for every other project on your resume.

FAQ

Should I write "unpaid" on my resume?

No, you do not need to. A resume describes the work you did, not your pay. Never claim it was paid, and answer honestly if an interviewer asks.

Can I list projects I did for friends or family?

Yes, if the work was real and the person uses what you made. Use the business or project name, describe the task specifically, and make sure the person is willing to confirm it.

Where do unpaid projects go if I'm changing careers?

A "Relevant Experience" section placed above your older jobs usually works best. It shows your new-field skills first, where the hiring manager looks first.