From employee to contractor: How to write your first contractor / interim CV

Writing a CV for the contract or interim market has some nuances that come into play based on two key factors: your experience and your status.

If you are someone who has always been employed and you are now branching out into the contracting world, you might be wondering how to word your CV since your new "business" has no notable experiences yet. It is just you and your career history. Let us break down exactly how to handle this transition.

The 'Experience' Factor Let us start with experience. If you are brand new to contracting, your CV is likely going to look very similar to a standard job seeker's CV. You have to rely on your employed experience to make your case.

In this scenario, any project work you have completed during your permanent employment will serve you well. These past projects can and should be presented as case studies to showcase your capabilities and outcomes to a potential client.

As you progress and become a seasoned contractor with dozens of short-term assignments, or if your client work begins to overlap, a standard chronological CV often falls down. At this stage, it can be replaced with a more portfolio-based document. A word of warning, however: certain caveats need to be considered here, as not all recruiters and industry sectors are at one with anything other than a chronological CV.

The 'Status' Factor and IR35 That brings me nicely to talking about your status. The structure of your CV should reflect how you are engaged.

If you are working as a contractor or interim but you are on the client’s payroll (what we would call inside IR35 in the UK), then a chronological CV should always be used.

However, if you are working as a supplier (outside IR35), that more portfolio-based document can be very effective. It is certainly more in keeping with operating as a business rather than a quasi-job seeker.

Terminology Matters Where you are operating as a bona fide independent professional, regardless of whether you use a chronological or portfolio-based CV, you need to sound like one. I strongly consider using appropriate terminology to shift the reader's perception.

For example, replace your 'Employment History' section with 'Experience', and change phrases like 'Hired to…' to 'Engaged to…'.

I would also recommend including your PSC (Personal Service Company) name and your contract/interim status right at the top. This ensures organisations understand immediately that you are an independent professional and not a job seeker.

Q&A: Transitioning your CV for the Contract Market

Q: How do I write my CV if my new contracting business has no track record yet? A: If you only have your own career history, your CV will initially look very similar to a job seeker's CV. You must rely on your employed experience. The best strategy is to take any project work you completed as an employee and present those as specific case studies to showcase your value to a potential client.

Q: When should I move away from a traditional chronological CV? A: If you are a seasoned contractor with dozens of short-term assignments, or if you have overlapping client work, a chronological CV can start to fall down. At this point, a portfolio-based document is often better. However, be aware that some recruiters and sectors still strictly prefer a chronological layout.

Q: Does my IR35 status dictate my CV format? A: Yes, it absolutely can. If you are working inside IR35 (on the client's payroll), you should always use a chronological CV. If you are operating outside IR35 as a supplier, a portfolio-based CV is highly effective and aligns better with operating as a business.

Q: How can I make my CV sound less like a permanent job seeker? A: You need to adjust your terminology. Stop using "Employment History" and use "Experience" instead. Rather than saying you were "Hired to" do a job, state that you were "Engaged to" deliver a project. Finally, make sure to include your PSC name and your interim status so clients know you are a bona fide independent professional.