Temporary jobs can boost your job search, by preventing resume gaps, helping you gain skills, and providing opportunities for networking. However, it can be difficult to determine the best way to market your temporary jobs to hiring managers, especially with the limitations of the standard resume. Make the most of your temporary employment experience – learn more about how to list temporary jobs on your resume:
Pick a Method
There are two methods for listing your temporary jobs on your resume: by specific position or grouping them all into a temporary employment section. What works best for you depends on your particular temporary work history.
- By Position – list each temporary job on its own, like you would for longer-term employment. However, include a note about it being a temporary role so hiring managers know the short duration isn’t due to job hopping or getting fired.
For example:
Employer Name, Location
Job Title; Temporary (duration)
- As a Category – if you have numerous temporary jobs, listing each one on its own may take up too much space on your resume. Instead, you may opt to group all of your temporary employment into its own category.
For example:
Staffing Agency Name, Location
Overview description of types of temporary jobs (i.e., Contracted for various temporary administrative positions… (duration)
Include Individual Employers
When you are listing temporary jobs on your resume, be sure to include the individual employers for which you worked. This will help hiring managers gain a perspective on the extent of your temporary experience. Use your staffing agency’s name as the employer, so it is clear that these were temporary jobs placed through them. In the descriptions of your work duties, however, add the individual employers. This makes it clear to hiring managers that you have relevant experience in specific industries or company types.
Highlight Skills and Accomplishments
Although listing temporary jobs on your resume requires a slight change in strategy in terms of formatting, the basic best practices for resumes remain. Even for short-term jobs, you need to highlight your skills and accomplishments from them. Write your duties in the actionable language (i.e., “coordinated schedule for President/CEO” rather than “Was responsible for handling scheduling needs) to be more compelling. For accomplishments, use any objective metrics to demonstrate how well you performed, such as specific new software you learned to use or a number of employees you supported.
Improve your job search strategy by teaming up with Nesco Resource. Since 1956, we have been working with job seekers and employers to make the most successful matches. Get started with your job search and contact Nesco today.
