How to List Contract Work on Your Resume (With Examples)

Listing contract work adds to your resume by:

• Highlighting your versatile experience
• Demonstrating your adaptability and self-motivation
• Showing off industry-specific skills

Tips for listing contract work on your resume

Use a consistent job title format

Using a consistent format in your work experience section makes each entry easy to read. For each position, include the following information:

• Job title
• Freelance/Remote/Contractor
• Company name
• Location of company (optional)
• Dates you worked with the company

Group similar contracts together

If you’ve had several contracts in a similar field, group your achievements under the same entry in your experience section.

This approach keeps your resume concise and demonstrates your specialized experience in a particular field.

Include time frames for each contract

Include the dates for each contract job to provide a clear timeline of your employment.

If you worked on multiple short-term contracts, group them by year or month, such as “January 20XX–May 20XX” or “June 20XX–Present.”

Note the type of contract work

Label your contract roles clearly on your resume.

Alternatively, if you’re adding freelance experience to your resume, list your job title as “Freelancer” or “Independent Contractor” to indicate the nature of the job.

This clarification ensures employers understand that the roles were temporary by design.

What information to include when listing contract work

Include the following in your contract job description:

Accomplishments and impact

When describing your contract work, focus on your achievements rather than just listing duties.

Highlight specific accomplishments that show how you contributed to the company or project.

For example, instead of just stating “designed marketing materials,” say “designed marketing materials that increased client engagement by 30%.”

Relevant skills

Clearly mention the skills you used and developed during your contract work in your experience section.

Whether you’ve learned new software, enhanced your project management abilities, or developed industry-specific expertise, highlight how these skills can benefit the company you’re applying to.

Tailored descriptions to the job you’re applying for

Customize each contract job description to align with the job you’re applying for by emphasizing the skills and experience that match the job requirements.

For example: if the job ad says the role requires collaboration, highlight how you collaborated with different teams in your contract work.

Examples of contract work on resumes

Frequently asked questions

We’ve answered some of your most common questions about listing contract work on your resume below:

Should I list all contract work?

No, you don’t need to list all contract work on your resume. List the most relevant contracts that demonstrate your experience for the job you’re applying for. Unrelated short-term work can be left off your resume, unless omitting it would create an employment gap.

When to include short-term contracts

Include short-term contracts as long as they are relevant to your target position or industry. Even short stints demonstrate key skills and experience, especially if you made a significant impact or gained valuable knowledge.

Does adding contract work look bad on my resume?

No, listing contract work doesn’t look bad on a resume. It demonstrates adaptability, versatility, and the ability to work on diverse projects. Employers value candidates who show they can thrive in different environments and roles.