Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Explain a Stint in the Gig Economy on Your Resume
Transcript
- Lucas: So you spent 14 months driving for Uber between marketing jobs. Now you're applying for a senior coordinator role and that gap is staring you in the face. What do you do with it? Luna: I've seen this a lot — especially after the 2023 layoffs. People take a gig to pay the bills, then suddenly they're trying to explain it in interviews and it feels like a liability. Lucas: Right. And the instinct is usually to hide it — either leave a gap on the resume or list it as 'self-employed' with no detail. Both are mistakes. Let me walk through how one of my clients handled it. Luna: What was her situation? Lucas: She was a marketing coordinator at a mid-size ad agency for three years, then got laid off in a restructuring. She did Uber for about 14 months while she figured out her next move. When she came to me, her resume just had a gap from March 2024 to May 2025. No mention of the gig work at all. Luna: And her rationale was that Uber didn't belong on a marketing resume? Lucas: Exactly. She thought it would cheapen her credentials. But here's the thing — a 14-month gap raises more questions than a gig that you can reframe. So we added it, but not as 'Uber Driver.' We called it 'Independent Contractor — Rideshare Operations'. Luna: I like that. It sounds more like a business role. But what did the bullet points look like? Lucas: We focused on three things: revenue generation, customer satisfaction metrics, and operational self-management. So one bullet was 'Generated over $45,000 in personal revenue through dynamic pricing and route optimization.' Another was 'Maintained a 4.9-star rating across 2,500+ trips, demonstrating consistent client service.' And a third: 'Managed all scheduling, vehicle maintenance, and tax compliance independently.' Luna: That's smart because it frames the driving as a business operations role — not just a job. And it ties into transferable skills like logistics, client relations, and self-direction. Lucas: Exactly. And in interviews, when they asked about the gap, she could say 'I took time to explore independent work and actually built a small transportation business that taught me a lot about customer service and operational efficiency.' It turns a potential negative into a story about resilience. Luna: But what if someone did gig work for longer — say, two or three years? Does the same approach hold? Lucas: I think the threshold is around 18 months. Less than that, you can frame it as a transitional period. Over two years, you might need to decide whether to keep it on the resume at all. If you've been driving for DoorDash for three years and you're applying for an accounting role, it's going to look like you've been out of the field too long. At that point, you might want to consider a certification or a freelance project in your field to bridge back. Luna: So the key is to tie the gig work back to the job you're applying for. Even if it's a stretch, you can usually find a connection. Lucas: Right. For example, if you delivered for DoorDash, you can talk about route optimization, time management, and handling high-pressure situations — especially during dinner rush. Those are real skills. And if you did freelance work on Upwork, you can talk about client acquisition, project scoping, and meeting deadlines. It's all about the reframe. Luna: I want to talk about the format. Should you list gig work in a separate section, or integrate it into your regular work history? Lucas: I recommend a separate section called 'Independent Consulting' or 'Freelance Experience' — especially if you had multiple gigs. That way it's clear that these were short-term engagements, not a single full-time job. And it keeps the chronology clean. For my client, we put it right after her marketing coordinator role, so the timeline was seamless. Luna: What about the Uber rating? Is that too specific? Lucas: Not at all. A 4.9-star rating is a concrete metric. Hiring managers love numbers. It's the same as a Net Promoter Score or a customer satisfaction rating. It shows you can deliver consistent quality. We debated including the dollar amount — $45,000 — but I think that's fine too. It shows you understand revenue. Luna: One thing I've seen is people worrying that including gig work will make them look desperate. Like it signals they couldn't find a real job. Lucas: That's the exact stigma we're trying to fight. The reality is, millions of people have done gig work. And in 2026, with the job market still tight in some sectors, it's completely normal. The trick is to own it confidently. If you're embarrassed about it, that comes through in the interview. Luna: So the takeaway is: include gig work if it's less than two years, reframe the title to something more professional, and focus on transferable skills and metrics. But what about cover letters? Should you address it there? Lucas: Generally, no. Your cover letter should focus on your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the role. You don't need to proactively explain the gig work. Let the resume speak for itself. But be ready to talk about it in the interview — and have a concise, positive story ready. Luna: Honestly, if today's episode helped you think about how to frame your own gig work, that's the kind of practical takeaway we hope for. And if it was worth a coffee to you, there's a link — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Yeah, we keep the show ad-free and listener-supported, so that kind of thing really does make a difference. And we appreciate it. Luna: Alright, back to the resume. One more tip: if you list gig work, keep the bullet points to three or four max. You don't want it to dominate your resume. The focus should still be on your core career narrative. Lucas: Good point. The gig section should be a supporting actor, not the lead. And if you have multiple gigs, pick the one or two that are most relevant to the job you want. You don't need to list every single side hustle. Luna: Great advice. So to summarize: reframe the title, use metrics, keep it brief, and prepare a story for the interview. Lucas: And remember — the gig economy isn't a black mark. It's a sign of adaptability. Use it to your advantage.