I guess the reason you’re reading this letter now is because you’re having a hard time writing a self-employment resume, well all is not lost, let’s take a look together ok?

Starting your own business requires tenacity, patience, and consistent effort, although the initial financial rewards may be small. If you have been self-employed for whatever reason and are now in the market for a full-time job, including self-employment on your resume may raise concerns for your prospective employer.

By anticipating these concerns, you’ll be in a much better position to deal with them effectively and turn many of them into positive benefits for your potential employer.

Here are the top concerns that will set off red flags in your employer’s mind…

* Were you working for yourself between jobs or because you preferred self-employment to working for an organization?

* Are you currently still a freelancer or consultant, and would you continue this in addition to your full-time job?

* Does your self-employment present a conflict of interest for the company?

* Doesn’t your potential employer want to spend time and money training you and providing benefits only for you to retire a year later to start your own business?

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best possible way to include your self-employment history on your resume.

You should highlight all the positive aspects of being self-employed or running your own business. There’s no point in listing infrequent freelance projects on your resume. The only time this can be constructive is to fill in gaps in your professional work experience.

If you have been working as a contractor for more than 3 months or own your own business, you must include this on your resume. Remember to highlight the aspects of your self-employment period that relate to the requirements of the job you are seeking.

It’s important to list your job responsibilities in the same way, focus on the skills that best fit your career goal, and give proof of your accomplishments when possible. Bring your self-initiated attitude to the qualifications section of your resume. Be sure to list all employability skills you’ve acquired while self-employed.

Be sure to address the expected concerns of your potential employer. Highlight those issues on your resume that might raise concerns, and defuse them early on in your cover letter. If you own your own business and are still looking for a full-time job, be sure to clearly explain how you plan to effectively manage your performance in both businesses. Never apologize for being autonomous

Your resume and cover letter should reflect your credibility and passion as a professional. Showcase all the positive experiences you’ve had and relate them directly to the requirements of the job you want.