Self-Employed, Not Self-Sabotaging: How to List Entrepreneurial Work on Your Resume and LinkedIn

When it comes to resumes and LinkedIn, self-employed professionals often shoot themselves in the foot—not because they lack experience, but because they overdo the title. This article, rooted in the insights from Swaggart: The Art of Professional Job Schmoozing at Interviews, is a real-talk breakdown on how not to tank your own credibility when listing your business ventures.

Let’s clear this up: calling yourself a CEO when your business consists of you, your laptop, and a stack of unpaid invoices might feel empowering, but it’s not doing you any favors.

What’s Wrong with Self-Appointed Executive Titles?

"Executive titles signify either years of professional experience or a long-term commitment to the current role."

- Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews

Let’s break that down. When you brand yourself as President, Founder-CEO, or worse—Executive Principal Director—you create tension with hiring managers.

They’ll ask:

• Why would someone with a C-suite title want this job?
• How can someone be ‘President’ of a business with no team?
• If you’ve been in charge, will you even take direction well?

These aren’t petty questions. They’re logical. Executive titles imply:

• You’ve managed departments.
• You’ve led large-scale initiatives.
• You’ve been paid at a level consistent with your title.

If none of that is true, you’re setting yourself up to get grilled.

Self-Employment Isn’t Shameful—Inflating It Is

What’s wild is how often people assume that calling themselves a CEO will boost credibility. In reality, it sends signals of:

• Overcompensation.
• Inflated ego.
• Disconnected self-awareness.

It takes courage to start your own business. But courage doesn’t always translate into good judgment when writing a CV.

"If you expose that your executive-level position under self-employment supervises only yourself, then I guarantee the interview panel will call into question your overall judgment."

- Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews

So What Should You Use Instead?

The answer is simple: be honest and strategic.

Start with the function, not the fluff. Instead of trying to sound impressive, be clear and grounded in what you actually did.

Examples:

• Consultant, Branding & Communications
• Technical Writer – Financial Sector
• Trainer & Workshop Facilitator – Corporate Team Building
• Founder, Women in Sustainability Events

The power of these titles lies in the fact that they’re:

• Specific to the skills involved.
• Easily understood by hiring panels.
• Not misleading or self-aggrandizing.

Why ‘Founder’ Works Better Than CEO

"...[U]se the term 'Founder' to mark the initiative—however small or large—as established by your sole undertaking."

- Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews

Unlike ‘President’ or ‘Chief Executive Officer,’ the term ‘Founder’ speaks to origin and initiative without claiming hierarchy or grandeur. It signals creativity, autonomy, and vision—without sounding like you’re playing dress-up in corporate clothes.

Avoiding the Suspicion Trap

"You will not be viewed as an ambitious self-starter. Instead, you will be seen as an opportunistic careerist."

- Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews

That line hits because it’s true. When hiring panels feel like you’re faking authority, they start to doubt:

• Your judgment.
• Your adaptability.
• Your motives.

Worse, even if they believe your title, they may wonder:

• Why leave something you built?
• Will you stay long in this job?
• Are you stepping down because you couldn’t handle the pressure?

These doubts live in the mind of every smart hiring manager. So your job is to disarm those thoughts before they take hold.

You Don’t Need to Sound Bigger Than You Are

Using humble, function-based titles won’t diminish your work. In fact, they increase your credibility.

Here’s what people actually want to see:

• Clear skills.
• Real accomplishments.
• Evidence of grit and discipline.

They don’t care if you wore a suit in your living room and called yourself Chief Innovation Architect.

LinkedIn Strategy for Self-Employed Titles

Treat your LinkedIn the same way. Don’t use clickbait job titles. Instead:

• Focus on projects.
• Share measurable results.
• Write in the summary section about your motivation and vision.

Pro Tip: If you need a guiding format, check the Occupation section in Swaggart. Use those job-specific terms as a foundation.

If You’ve Managed a Team, Mention It—But Carefully

Managing a team under your business is worth sharing—but don’t weaponize it with a title like Managing Director of Global Operations if the ‘global’ part is your neighborhood and your ‘team’ is two freelancers you hired once.

Instead:

• Mention leadership in the bullet points.
• Share scope of responsibility.
• Let the results do the talking.
• Real Talk: Why You Might Still Be Rejected

Even if your title is airtight, even if you nailed the interview, there’s still one hurdle:

"The interviewer may still be curious as to whether your impressively ambitious character will be satisfied with the constraints and limitations that come with traditional employment."

- Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews

It’s a fair concern. Freedom changes a person. That’s why you should speak openly—but strategically—about why you’re ready to join a team again.

Do not say:

• “I want something easier.”
• “Running a business was too much.”

Do say:

• “I’m excited to contribute in a collaborative environment.”
• “I’ve gained perspective from entrepreneurship that will make me a better teammate and strategist.”

Final Word

Self-employment is not a stain on your record—it’s a badge of courage. But only if you present it well. Titles matter. Tone matters. Honesty matters.

Choose your words wisely. You worked hard for your experience—now tell that story in a way that hiring managers will trust.

If you’re self-employed and unsure how to reflect your journey on a resume or LinkedIn profile, don’t guess your way through it. I offer customized CV writing and interview coaching services tailored to entrepreneurial professionals like you. Get started now and let’s shape your story into something they can’t overlook.