What Recruiters Actually Want to See in Your CV

Freelancing gives you freedom—but with it comes the challenge of getting noticed in a crowded marketplace. A polished CV, solid interview skills, and a strong online presence can be the difference between landing your next project or getting passed over.

In this episode, we speak with Kaja Storbeck, a recruitment consultant who brings skilled people together to progress in the short and long term and build an amazing future of work together  🤩

From this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why financial insecurity is a major challenge for freelancers.
✅ How to protect yourself financially, emotionally, and physically.
✅ The real reason undercharging can cost you clients.
✅ How to approach pricing discussions with confidence.
✅ Why freelancing is like a poker game—and how to play it right.

Watch now and take control of your freelance journey! 🚀

🎧 Or listen to it here on Spotify

Your CV is still your business card in freelancing

Unlike full-time roles, freelance projects demand quick onboarding and tangible results. That’s why your CV needs to highlight what matters most: hard skills and measurable outcomes.

🔹 Skip the high school history—start with your most recent projects.
🔹 Use numbers: budget size, team size, KPIs reached.
🔹 Keep it clean: readable, minimal formatting, professional photo.
🔹 Focus on top 3 relevant projects that show your strengths.

💡 Pro Tip: Think of your CV as your pitch—make it quick, clear, and focused on what you deliver.

Want to stand out? Use testimonials and keywords

When reviewing multiple applications with similar skills, what makes one freelancer stand out?

✔️ Testimonials: Feedback from past clients adds instant credibility.
✔️ Keywords: Tailor your CV to each job using the same terms from the job description.
✔️ Clean formatting: Avoid flashy colors or unreadable layouts.

💡 Pro Tip: Ask clients for recommendations right after a project ends—and use those on your CV, LinkedIn, or even as screenshots in your portfolio.

Beating the bots: passing automated CV screeners

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs. These bots look for keywords and formatting cues—if your CV doesn’t include them, you may never get seen by a human.

✅ Match your wording to the job description.
✅ Use common job-specific terms and tools (e.g., “Figma,” “agile,” “JavaScript”).
✅ Avoid over-designed CVs that confuse parsing systems.

💡 Better Yet: Reach out directly. Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn, mention your application, and build a personal touch beyond the CV.

Why LinkedIn is a freelancer’s superpower

Many freelancers neglect their LinkedIn, but in today’s market, it’s one of the most powerful tools for getting discovered.

✔️ Freelancers are being hired directly through LinkedIn.
✔️ Recruiters use it daily to source candidates.
✔️ Your profile acts as a live portfolio, testimonial wall, and SEO-friendly landing page.

💡 Pro Tip: Add hard skills, measurable results, and testimonials to your profile—and start engaging with your network to stay top of mind.

How to nail freelance interviews

Once your CV gets you in the door, your next step is showing how you solve problems.

🧩 Clients hire freelancers to solve specific issues—so focus on:

1. The problem the company had.
2. What you did to fix it.
3. The outcome you delivered (with numbers, if possible).

💡 Pro Tip: Use the “problem → action → result” framework in your answers to clearly communicate your value.

Talking about rates: don’t wait

Discussing rates can feel awkward—but waiting too long can cost everyone time.

💬 Bring up your rates before the interview or at least early in the process.
🛑 Avoid multi-stage interviews that end in, “Oh, you’re out of budget.”

💡 Pro Tip: Be clear, confident, and ready to explain your rate based on your experience and impact.

One small action you can take today

“If you don’t have a LinkedIn account filled with hard skills, testimonials, and measurable results—start today.”

Whether it’s updating your LinkedIn, rewriting your CV to include project outcomes, or reaching out for testimonials—do something small today that builds long-term visibility.

TL;DR

✔️ Your freelance CV should focus on recent projects, hard skills, and measurable outcomes.
✔️ Use testimonials and tailor each CV with keywords to match the job description.
✔️ Beat ATS bots with clean formatting and the right terminology.
✔️ Don’t skip LinkedIn—it’s how recruiters and clients find you.
✔️ Talk about rates early and follow up fast to stay top of mind.
✔️ Networking (especially in-person) leaves lasting impressions.

5 quotes from this conversation

1️⃣ “Your CV is your business card—clients don’t just want to know who you are, they want to know what you can do right now.”
2️⃣ “Keywords can help you pass AI screening, but a personal connection can get you remembered.”
3️⃣ “Be clear about your rates before interviews—no one wants to waste time.”
4️⃣ “LinkedIn isn’t optional anymore—it’s your proof of expertise and the gateway to new opportunities.”
5️⃣ “Always follow up. Fast replies can be the reason you get the job instead of someone else.”