I was self-employed for a few years in a particular field.
On my resume, I list it sorta like this,
Name Of Field
<subheading> Major Client A, description of work performed, dates performed
<subheading> Major Client B, description of work performed, dates performed
However, I had two other "major clients" in the same field of work (let's call them clients C & D) that I performed quite a bit of work for.
The difference is that clients A & B paid me while clients C & D did not. I did some work for C &D primarily to: 1) gain experience, 2) their good favor should something more promising present itself, 3) for fun.
My question is this: may I also list clients C & D along with A & B, given that the type of work performed is in the same field and during the same period of time? Or should I not list them because I was not paid?
Being so vague about the field makes it hard to give you a good answer. Are you a graphic designer?
My response would be yes in any case - if you did work for them and they used it, list it on your resume. If you could qualify it as 'volunteer experience', I usually list that separately (I've been an EMT for 10 years in a volunteer department, but that has bearing on jobs in Public Health I apply for). If you were a freelancer, you should definitely include it. Unless it was clearly 'volunteer' work, I would just list it as another job. Think of your resume as a portfolio. You want to showcase what you've done and what you are capable of to prospective employers, so you pick work you've done that you think best shows that. You can explain that it was pro bono if you get an interview and they ask, otherwise just list it as freelance work.
Being so vague about the field makes it hard to give you a good answer.
I'm sorry about that. It's editing for magazines and catalogs.
My response would be yes in any case - if you did work for them and they used it, list it on your resume. If you could qualify it as 'volunteer experience', I usually list that separately (I've been an EMT for 10 years in a volunteer department, but that has bearing on jobs in Public Health I apply for). If you were a freelancer, you should definitely include it. Unless it was clearly 'volunteer' work, I would just list it as another job.
I was thinking about listing some of it as volunteer experience, but saying that I volunteered to edit a florist's catalog sounds off somehow. I have more traditional sounding volunteer experience to list such as working at a soup kitchen.
At the same time, I don't want to give the false impression that I was paid for it.
Yes, I was a freelancer. The thing about being a freelancer is that it tends to arouse suspicion from employers, so I want to make sure to include all my satisfied clients in one way or another.
Go ahead and include it. People list unpaid internships all the time. Your unpaid work sounds like it is the same thing. I don't see why you would even need to mention that the work was unpaid unless they specifically ask how much you were paid.
Agreed with everyone else; go ahead and include it with no worries. It's relevant experience in the field, which is what matters. There's no expectation of listing your salary on a resume, and it has no bearing on the validity of your experience. Getting paid nothing is just a very small salary.
Thank you all for your answers. I just didn't want anyone who read my resume to feel like I was misleading them. However, you all make fair points. I will include this information.
Thank you all for your answers. I just didn't want anyone who read my resume to feel like I was misleading them. However, you all make fair points. I will include this information.
No worries. If you did the work you did the work. If it comes up in an interview, mention that it was unpaid, but that doesn't change the fact that you put out a product for these people. As a freelancer, it's generally understood that jobs sizes and compensation may vary.
On my resume, I list it sorta like this,
Name Of Field
<subheading> Major Client A, description of work performed, dates performed
<subheading> Major Client B, description of work performed, dates performed
However, I had two other "major clients" in the same field of work (let's call them clients C & D) that I performed quite a bit of work for.
The difference is that clients A & B paid me while clients C & D did not. I did some work for C &D primarily to: 1) gain experience, 2) their good favor should something more promising present itself, 3) for fun.
My question is this: may I also list clients C & D along with A & B, given that the type of work performed is in the same field and during the same period of time? Or should I not list them because I was not paid?
Thanks.
My response would be yes in any case - if you did work for them and they used it, list it on your resume. If you could qualify it as 'volunteer experience', I usually list that separately (I've been an EMT for 10 years in a volunteer department, but that has bearing on jobs in Public Health I apply for). If you were a freelancer, you should definitely include it. Unless it was clearly 'volunteer' work, I would just list it as another job. Think of your resume as a portfolio. You want to showcase what you've done and what you are capable of to prospective employers, so you pick work you've done that you think best shows that. You can explain that it was pro bono if you get an interview and they ask, otherwise just list it as freelance work.
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I'm sorry about that. It's editing for magazines and catalogs.
I was thinking about listing some of it as volunteer experience, but saying that I volunteered to edit a florist's catalog sounds off somehow. I have more traditional sounding volunteer experience to list such as working at a soup kitchen.
At the same time, I don't want to give the false impression that I was paid for it.
Yes, I was a freelancer. The thing about being a freelancer is that it tends to arouse suspicion from employers, so I want to make sure to include all my satisfied clients in one way or another.
Edit - I just saw that jay said the same thing.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=557874
No worries. If you did the work you did the work. If it comes up in an interview, mention that it was unpaid, but that doesn't change the fact that you put out a product for these people. As a freelancer, it's generally understood that jobs sizes and compensation may vary.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
"If you don't hit your adversaries wile they're down, they might get up again." --Whipkeeper
"Victory favors neither the righteous nor the wicked. It favors the prepared." -- Lay of the Land