Should I list short-term freelance projects on my resume?

Yes, you should list short-term freelance projects, but it depends on how they fit your narrative. If they're in your field and show relevant skills, they belong on there. For example, if you're a designer and did three months of freelance branding work, that's absolutely worth including - it demonstrates you can deliver real client work. The key is being selective; don't pad the resume with every gig. Pick projects that either show growth, variety of skills, or substantive work.

The tricky part is formatting them so they don't look scattered or suggest you're job-hopping. Group them under a "Freelance" or "Contract Work" section rather than listing each one separately like different jobs. Include the client type or industry if possible (like "Designed packaging for e-commerce startups" rather than just "Freelance Designer"). Keep descriptions short and impact-focused - what did you actually deliver, and what was the outcome? That matters way more than how long you were there.

If the freelance work fills a resume gap or was your main gig for a while, definitely include it. If it's just one or two tiny projects mixed in with solid full-time roles, you might skip them. Think about what story your resume tells - does this project strengthen it or clutter it? That's your answer.