An online resume: a vital tool for freelancers

Today, as a freelancer, posting your resume online is almost an inescapable step to promote your freelance business. What better way is there to obtain international contacts than to have them visit your profile? However, what digital tools and platforms should you use, and what are their respective pros and cons? Take a look below.

Our favorite tools

LinkedIn: the social resume

LinkedIn has almost 500 million users worldwide and is found in over 200 countries. 128 million of these users are in the United States. In brief, LinkedIn is the ultimate professional social network and having a digital presence there is vital! One of its greatest benefits, (similar to all other social networks), is its interactivity! Indeed, what could be better for the online reputation of a freelancer than to be visible in an active, professional network of experts. LinkedIn allows you to display your connections with your partners, clients, and colleagues. You can also use this platform to ask your clients and colleagues for their recommendations on your work and display them on your profile as well as reach out to potential clients that are looking for your services!

resumeGenius: the “traditional” resume

resumeGenius is well known in the world of online resumes. They have a giant choice of templates with high-quality customer service. The platform allows users to create relatively traditional online resumes and cover letters. On the other hand, although it does offer a range of customization options for different business sectors, there is no layout option aimed specifically at freelancers. Overall, it is a simple and powerful tool, and it should only take you about fifteen minutes to create and download a resume.

Doyoubuzz: the smart resume

Doyoubuzz is a platform that allows you to create and publish your resume online. There are many platforms like this, but this one is particularly interesting because it offers resume templates that are aimed specifically at freelancers. The site provides attractive, customizable templates but, above all, it allows you to create a genuinely interactive resume, with links to a portfolio, a website, your social media pages, and so on. In fact, Doyoubuzz offers a range of features including SEO, resume translation, statistics, and more.

Vizualize.me: the visual resume

Vizualize.me is a Canadian site that is well known in North America and elsewhere, which operates according to the same principles as the two platforms mentioned above. More than just a “traditional” online resume, it allows you to create a resume in the form of an infographic, which represents an interesting alternative, particularly for anyone (like web designers) who operates in the creative sector.

The limitations of the traditional online resume

While online resumes are undoubtedly powerful, they have their limitations. Online resumes are limited in terms of format and customization. In the end, you won't be 100% responsible for your own “creation.”

Creating an online resume also requires being able to communicate concisely, but freelancers often find that they benefit more when extending their presentation beyond a single page.

Another disadvantage is the cost of these tools. Taking advantage of their full feature set often means spending a few euros or dollars. With Doyoubuzz, for example, it could cost you from €19.90 to €79.90 for one year.

What’s more, you can expect to spend some time optimizing your presence on resume publication sites: you’ll need to apply online for opportunities and be active on the site. Simply publishing your resume is not enough to gain visibility.

Finally, online resumes, though interesting, should never be the only tool to use to reach out to new clients. While an online resume should form part of your online presence, it cannot be your only technique.

A website instead of a resume?

In fact, online resumes are used to create a link, serving as a shop window for a website. They are literally a resume – a summary – and an invitation to find out more. While it is not essential to build a website at the start of your freelance career, it quickly becomes vital once you begin to specialize in your domain. A website is a step towards becoming a true professional and, given how important it is, it must be made with a great deal of care to be truly effective. An efficent, professional website is a highly valuable asset for any freelancer.

A website offers many more possibilities than a simple online resume. It allows you to present your work in great detail. In fact, websites are a complete channel, allowing freelancers to contact potential clients directly while generating traffic. In fact, it’s worth adding that having a website is great for promoting your services that you offer and your personal brand.

Each tool has its place, and everything depends on the individual’s aims and perspectives. As such, while there are clear reasons that speak in favor of publishing your resume online, a high-quality personal website is equally essential for creating a truly effective, personal brand.