How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume: Examples & Tips for Highlighting Temp Roles Effectively

How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume: Examples & Tips for Highlighting Temp Roles Effectively

Madison Norton

Listing temporary jobs on a resume can be a unique challenge, but it's also an opportunity to showcase diverse skills and experiences. Whether you've worked in short-term roles, through staffing agencies, or transitioned to permanent positions, it's important to present these experiences effectively.

In this post, we'll cover how to list multiple temp jobs, highlight key achievements, and make temporary roles look impressive. We'll also provide tips, examples, and answers to common questions to help you craft a strong resume that stands out to potential employers.

  • How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume

When listing temporary jobs on your resume, focus on showcasing the relevant skills and experiences gained during these positions. Clearly label each role as temporary to avoid confusion.

Temporary jobs can highlight your adaptability and ability to quickly learn new skills. Use bullet points to detail specific accomplishments and responsibilities, emphasizing any transferable skills. This approach not only demonstrates your versatility but also provides a concise snapshot of your contributions in each role.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 1

Imagine you worked in a temporary administrative position at a law firm, where you handled scheduling and correspondence for a team of attorneys. Listing this experience can highlight your organizational skills and ability to manage important tasks.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 2

Suppose you were a temporary sales associate during a busy holiday season at a retail store. This role can showcase your customer service skills and ability to perform under pressure.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 3

Consider a situation where you worked as a temporary data entry specialist for a healthcare company, helping to update patient records and manage databases.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 4

Imagine you took on a temporary role as a social media coordinator for a small business during a product launch. This experience can demonstrate your digital marketing skills.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 5

If you worked as a temporary project assistant in a construction company, where you supported project managers and handled logistics, it can showcase your project management and coordination abilities.

How to List Temporary Jobs on a Resume Example 6

Suppose you worked as a temporary graphic designer for a marketing agency, contributing to various client projects and branding initiatives. This role can highlight your creative skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

  • How to List Multiple Temp Jobs for Different Staffing Agencies

Listing multiple temp jobs from different staffing agencies can be challenging because it may appear disjointed or inconsistent. The right solution is to focus on the skills and experiences gained across these roles rather than the frequent job changes. Group similar positions together under a common heading if possible, and clearly indicate the roles were temporary.

Example of How to List Multiple Temp Jobs for Different Staffing Agencies

  • How to List Multiple Client Companies for One Staffing Agency

When listing multiple client companies for one staffing agency, the challenge is to avoid making your resume look scattered or overly complex. The right solution is to emphasize your consistent role with the staffing agency while highlighting the diverse experiences gained across different client assignments. This approach showcases your versatility and ability to adapt to various work environments.

Example of How to List Multiple Client Companies for One Staffing Agency

  • Tips on How to Make Your Temp Jobs Look Impressive

Follow these tips to make your temp jobs stand out on your resume:

  • Highlight Key Achievements: Focus on accomplishments rather than just duties. Mention any awards, recognitions, or major projects you contributed to.
  • Emphasize Transferable Skills: Showcase skills that are relevant across industries, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
  • Use Strong Action Verbs: Start bullet points with dynamic verbs like "led," "developed," or "improved" to convey your proactive approach.
  • Quantify Your Impact: Include numbers or metrics to illustrate the results you achieved, such as "increased sales by 20%" or "managed a team of 10."
  • Tailor to the Job: Customize the description of your temp jobs to match the skills and qualifications sought by the employer.
  • Highlight Short-Term Successes: If you achieved something significant in a short period, make sure to point it out as a testament to your quick adaptability.
  • Include Relevant Keywords: Use industry-specific terms and keywords to pass through applicant tracking systems and appeal to recruiters.
  • How to Show Transition from a Temporary Worker to a Permanent Worker on Resume

To effectively show your transition from a temporary worker to a permanent employee, it's important to highlight the continuity and growth in your role. Here's an example of how to list this on your resume:

Example of How to Show Transition from a Temporary Worker to a Permanent Worker on Resume

In this example, the transition is clearly marked by separate entries for the temporary and permanent positions, highlighting the progression and expanded responsibilities. This format demonstrates your ability to adapt, grow, and succeed in a role, showcasing your value to the employer.

  • How Many Temp Jobs Should You List on Your Resume

Include three to five temp jobs that are most relevant to the position you're applying for. Focus on roles that highlight your key skills, adaptability, and significant achievements. This keeps your resume concise and relevant, showcasing your qualifications effectively.

How do I label temporary jobs on my resume?

Label temporary jobs as "Temporary," "Contract," or "Temp" next to the job title or company name to clarify the nature of the position.

Should I include short-term temp jobs on my resume?

Include short-term temp jobs if they are relevant to the job you're applying for or demonstrate important skills or accomplishments.

How do I handle gaps between temp jobs?

Address gaps between temp jobs by highlighting any relevant volunteer work, freelance projects, or skill development activities during that time.

How can I make temp jobs look cohesive on my resume?

Group similar temp jobs under a common heading or by listing the staffing agency, emphasizing the skills and experiences gained across these roles.

Do I need to list the staffing agency and the client company?

You can list both the staffing agency and the client company, but it's most important to focus on your role and achievements during the assignments.

How do I highlight skills gained from temp jobs?

Use bullet points to list specific skills and accomplishments in each temp job, emphasizing transferable skills valuable to potential employers.

Can temp jobs be listed under a separate section on my resume?

Yes, you can create a separate section titled "Temporary Work Experience" to differentiate these roles from your permanent positions.

How do I explain leaving a temp job on my resume?

Simply state that the job was temporary or project-based; no further explanation is needed unless asked during an interview.

Should I mention the duration of each temp job?

Yes, include the start and end dates for each temp job to provide a clear timeline of your work history.

How can I make temp jobs seem as valuable as permanent roles?

Focus on the achievements and skills you developed, showing how they contributed to your professional growth and experience.

How do I format temp jobs on my resume?

Use consistent formatting for all roles, including job titles, company names, and dates, and clearly mark them as temporary positions.

Should I include a reason for a temporary position becoming permanent?

Mention the promotion or transition to a permanent role as a sign of your good performance and the value you added to the company.

Madison Norton

Madison Norton

VP Marketing & Resume Expert

Madison is the VP Marketing and General Manager at VisualCV . He's a seasoned marketing leader, resume writing and career marketing expert and now helping people grow their own career marketing strategies to build a career they love.

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How to List Contract Work on Your Resume: A 2024 Guide

In this article, we'll dive into exactly what contract jobs you should include or leave off your resume, as well as how to include them to ensure they appear favorably to a recruiter.

4 years ago   •   7 min read

In 2024, more companies are turning to contract work, so understanding how to present this experience on your resume has never been more important. This could include contract positions, temp work (directly or through an agency), freelancing, consulting, and any other kind of work that was intentionally short-term.

Listing contract jobs on your resume risks the appearance of job-hopping. On the other hand, leaving them off your resume is likely to leave large gaps in your job history. Either one is a major red flag to employers — so how do you avoid it?

In this article, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to list contract work on your resume, giving you a better chance to showcase your value to potential employers. We’ll dive into exactly what contract jobs you should include or leave off your resume. And we’ll provide tips to ensure each one showcases your adaptability, resilience, and ability to deliver value across different roles and industries.

Use contract work to your advantage

Contract and temporary work belong on your resume. Listed correctly, these jobs can strengthen your work history and demonstrate valuable skills. The trick is to make them work for you, not against you. In this section, we'll discuss how to put contract work on your resume in a way that emphasizes your flexibility, adaptability, and achievements.

Demonstrate flexibility and diversity of experience

When putting together your resume for contract work, think about the various industries, teams, and projects you’ve been a part of, and how you adapted to each new environment. Be sure to include any instances where you had to quickly adjust to new technologies, strategies, or working practices.

For example, you could write:

  • Adapted to four different industries (healthcare, finance, education, technology) within a span of two years, effectively understanding and contributing to diverse project objectives.

Showcase adaptability

Detailing the skills you had to learn quickly or the challenges you had to overcome in your different roles. Discuss how you've rapidly grown into various roles, learned new systems, or grasped complex concepts.

  • Leveraged adaptable learning capabilities to master three new project management software platforms in the span of six months.

Focus on your achievements

Like everything else on your resume, contract work needs to emphasize your achievements, not just account for how you’ve been spending your time. Your achievements should be quantifiable , results-oriented, and relevant to the positions you’re applying for. Focus on your ability to deliver results, regardless of the contract's nature or duration.

  • Developed a new content strategy that increased web traffic by 30% in 3 months for a startup in the education sector.

How to list contract work on your resume

  • List an employer. This can be the staffing agency (if you used one) or your own name.
  • Give yourself a standard job title.
  • Add "contractor" or "consultant" at the end of your title.
  • List the dates of your contract (month and year is fine).
  • Add a short blurb describing the nature of your work.
  • Include 3-6 bullet points detailing your most relevant accomplishments .
  • Start with an action verb and include hard numbers and metrics.
  • Include relevant skills and keywords to bypass ATS and get your resume onto the desk of a hiring manager.
  • Use a free resume checker to get instant feedback on how to optimize your resume.

If you want to check if you’ve listed contract work the right way, upload your resume to the tool below — it’ll let you know if your temporary experience highlights quantifiable achievements and valuable skills.

An illustration of how to list contract work on your resume, with a step by step guide

Here's a template for listing contract work on your resume that you can copy and paste:

YOUR NAME CONSULTING SERVICES, Columbus, OH Social Media Marketing and SEO Consultant (Jun 2017 – Present) Developed strategic insights for seven medium-large companies ($5M+/year) to improve SEO, web traffic and conversions. Revamped and implemented new websites for four companies. Selected Projects Name of project - 1-3 bullet points in the format [Action Verb] [Accomplishment] [Metric], e.g. Search Engine Optimization project for American pet store - Analyzed data from 25000 monthly active users and used outputs to guide marketing and product strategies; increased average app engagement time by 2x and 30% decrease in drop off rate Website Redesign for Top 5 Hospital in USA - Drove redevelopment Of internal tracking system in use by 125 employees, resulting in new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time - Overhauled the obsolete legacy source code of two production applications, resulting in increased usability and reduced run time performance by 50%

Next, we provide some examples on how to show contract work on your resume, depending on your unique situation:

What contract work should look like on your resume

If you used a staffing agency.

If your contract jobs were all provided by a single staffing agency, list that agency as your employer. This format allows you to group a large number of jobs underneath a single heading, which makes your job history look more uniform and keeps your resume easy to read.

How to list a staffing agency with accompanying jobs on your resume

You can also include the company you worked for — this is optional, but it can help provide extra context. Just make sure you’re not representing the nature of your employment.

Group your experience

If you’ve held a few positions with different companies or agencies, it’s still possible to group these together. Think about what they have in common — like a similar industry or type of role — and list them accordingly.

If you were an independent contractor

If you’ve done a lot of freelance or contract work directly, rather than through an agency, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own firm and listing your experience under that heading.

Grouping your contract jobs under one company on your resume

Using a grouped firm name — even if it's your own — looks more professional than a collection of unrelated freelance or temporary jobs (since it does not show you've had any gaps), and listing your work under one heading gives you the opportunity to emphasize the most relevant skills you’ve picked up. It also shows recruiters that you have a focus in one specific discipline or industry.

Related: How To List Contract Work on LinkedIn

Label your experience

If most of your job experience is full-time and you’ve only held one or two temporary positions, the simplest way to list contract jobs on your resume is to label them. List these jobs as you would any other, but label them clearly with ‘temporary,’ ‘temp,’ or ‘contract.’ It doesn’t matter which one you choose — but be consistent, and use the same format throughout your resume.

Example of using labels to list contract work on your resume

Highlight specific experiences

Underneath the employer section — which could be a staffing agency or your own contracting firm — write a short blurb that contextualizes your experience.

This works best if you’ve held a number of temporary or contract positions with similar titles or duties, but if not, try to find a common theme to connect your work. This approach is all about presenting a meaningful and consistent job history, so focus on highlighting your most relevant accomplishments from each assignment.

How to highlight specific contract and temp jobs on your resume

List specific dates

Having lots of contract jobs is one situation where it pays to list specific months — not just years — on your resume. Again, if you have a lot of these, it’s best to group them under a single heading, like a staffing agency. Underneath that, you can list each company or position and the exact dates you worked for them.

How to list specific dates of your contract work on your resume

List temporary jobs in their own section

If none of the approaches above work for you — for example, if you’ve held a few different contract positions in between full-time jobs  — another solution is to create a separate section on your resume for temporary jobs.

This might be a good idea if the temp work you’ve done isn’t related to your current field but fills what would otherwise be large gaps in your work history . List your relevant work experience as normal, with a ‘Contract Work’ section underneath.

How to use a separate contract section on your resume to list all your contract work

You don’t need to list every job

Not all contract jobs need to make their way onto your contract work resume. If a particular job doesn’t strengthen your candidacy, leave it off! This is especially important if you have a long list of temporary experiences. It’s okay to only include the positions that are the most relevant and best demonstrate your skills.

Ask yourself these questions when deciding which contract jobs to include:

  • Did this job provide me with skills or experiences that are relevant to the position I am applying for?
  • Did I achieve notable successes in this job that I can quantify or otherwise highlight?
  • Did this job contribute to my professional growth or offer a stepping stone to more advanced roles in my career?
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How to Add a Part-Time Job on a Resume

how to add a temporary job to resume

How to Decide What Jobs to List on Your Resume

How to list part-time work on your resume, how to describe part-time or temporary jobs on your resume, sample resume including part-time jobs, when to leave jobs off your resume, frequently asked questions (faqs).

When and how should you list part-time or temporary work on your resume? There's no single answer to that question since it depends on the work itself and the role you want now. 

When you’re adding part-time positions or gigs to your resume, it can make sense to include them if you want to provide the employer with a comprehensive work history or if they are related to the job for which you are applying.

Review advice on how to decide what to include on your resume, when to leave jobs out, options for adding part-time work, and examples.

Key Takeaways

  • When deciding to add part-time work to your resume, consider whether the job is related to the role for which you’re applying, your work experience, and if the position relates to your career goals.
  • Part-time jobs can be included in the employment history section of a resume or listed as a separate category.
  • If the job is relevant, include the details as you would with a full-time position. Otherwise, list the employer, job title, and dates of employment.

Here are a few things to consider before adding part-time or temporary work to your resume: 

Are you applying for a part-time role?  If so, it makes sense to include prior part-time and temporary roles—they count as relevant experience. 

Is it the only job you've ever had?  Particularly if you are fresh out of school or applying for entry-level jobs, part-time jobs may be your primary form of experience. And even if a part-time job as a cashier isn't super-relevant to your desired career in marketing, there are likely valuable on-the-job skills you developed that you can highlight in the job description on your resume. 

Does it relate to your career goals and help show continuity?  If the part-time work is related to your career goals, include it on your resume and describe the position fully. Even though it might not be as significant as your previous full-time employment, it still shows continuity within your career. It can sometimes be difficult to know how to handle part-time or temp roles that you took during a period of unemployment, but if they're relevant to your industry and overall career, it makes sense to include them. 

Was the job purely for spending money?  If so, while you may want to still include it on your resume, there's no need to list it prominently. For instance, if you worked  several shifts  as a bartender for extra money while working full-time as an editorial assistant, you can leave off the bartending work from your resume. An exception might be if you are applying for a role as a food and drink editor—in that case, your bartending experience might be something worth including and mentioning during interviews.

How long were you in the role?  If you were in a part-time role for a long time—years or decades—then it's certainly worth including. Being in a role for a long period can point to your loyalty and dependability, which are characteristics that are often prized in candidates.

If a part-time or temp role eliminates a significant full-time employment gap in your resume, it may make sense to include it. 

If you want to include temporary, part-time, consulting, volunteer, or other non-full-time experience on your resume, there are several ways you can include the roles on your resume.

Option 1: Use 2 Categories

One option is to separate your work experience into two categories—one specific to the jobs you’re applying for, and the other for non-related employment (see sample resume below):

  • Category 1: Related Experience
  • Category 2: Other Employment, Other Experience, or Additional Experience

List the related experience category toward the top of your resume and place other employment further down on the document. You can also name your "Related Experience" header after the field you're in. For instance, you could call it "Sales Experience," "Programming Experience," or "Editorial Experience." 

Option 2: Use a Resume Profile

A  resume profile  is a brief summary of an applicant’s skills, experiences, and goals as they relate to a specific job opening.

It’s typically a list at the top of your resume, below your  contact information . It’s a good way to present your most relevant skills to the employer.

If you are including part-time roles on your resume, you can choose how much to write about them. Base this decision on a position's relevancy to your work history or the job at hand. If it's related to your career goals or industry, describe it just as you would a full-time role. If it's not related, simply list your title, the company name, and the dates you worked. 

For example, if you're applying for a mid-career position as a marketer, there’s no need to share a lot of details about a sales associate job at a retailer. However, if it's your first full-time role as a marketer, part-time experience may be an important part of your resume. In the description of the job, highlight any skills that relate to marketing, such as arranging signage and promotions, signing up customers for store credit cards, etc. 

As with any job listed on your resume, keep the description focused on accomplishments and skills.

Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word) or see below for a text version.

The Balance

Sample Resume Including Part-Time Jobs (Text Version)

Ellen Editor 1234 James Street • Seattle, WA 98122 • 555-555-5555 • eeditor@email.com

Summary of Qualifications

Creative and deadline-savvy food writer and editorial assistant leveraging superb digital publication talents to excel as a Food and Drink Editor.

  • Writing & Editing : Proven ability to author and edit flawless, ready-to-publish content within challenging deadlines. Well-versed in Chicago and MLA style guides.
  • Food and Drink : Solid “real life” food and drink industry experience developed as a Class 12 Mixologist, restaurant reviewer, and food blogger.
  • Technical Proficiencies : Excellent command of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign), WordPress, HTML, and CSS.
  • Key Strengths : Self-directed and energetic, working equally well in on-site and telecommunications work environments.

Editorial Experience

SEATTLE LIFE MAGAZINE ONLINE, Seattle, WA Editorial Assistant , 2020-Present Hone expertise in digital publishing as editorial assistant tasked with curating homepage for audience of 100,000 daily visitors. Locate and select photo and video content; author stories and headlines. Track web metrics.

  • Demonstrated excellent command of basic video editing, social media, HTML, and CSS technologies.

Additional Experience

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BITES, Seattle, WA Food Writer (part-time), 2019-Present Contribute regularly to popular website and blog dedicated to exploring local Pacific Northwest cuisine. Develop, test, photograph, and publish recipes; author restaurant reviews.

  • Instrumental in positioning website to achieve food blog awards in 2016 and 2017.

DECEPTIONS BAR AND GRILL, Seattle, WA

Bartender (part-time), 2020-Present Serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks to patrons of upscale restaurant in Seattle’s historic district. Develop original menu items and themed drinks for restaurant events; order supplies, restock bar, and ensure compliance with all governing regulations and food service standards.

  • Created popular new drinks including “The Redlight,” “The Underground,” and “The Skid Row.”

Education and Credentials Bachelor of Arts in English, 2019 WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Bellingham, WA

Washington State Class 12 Mixologist (current MAST license)

Another option is to leave irrelevant part-time or temporary employment off your resume.

There is no obligation to include all your  work experience  on it. Think of your resume as being more like a "greatest hits" album than a "complete retrospective." 

Does every job someone has had have to be included on a resume?

A resume is a summary of your work experience and doesn’t need to include every job you’ve held. The general rule is to list the previous 10 years of employment history, but that’s not required. However, when completing a job application, all the information an employer requests should be listed.

Do part-time jobs count as work experience?

Every job an applicant has held is considered work experience. In addition to part-time jobs, gigs, internships, volunteering, and other experiential and learning activities can be added to a resume.

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CareerOneStop. “ Resumes .”

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How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume with Examples

  • September 8, 2023
  • Lisa Wachuku

Temporary jobs can be a valuable part of your work history, providing you with diverse experiences and helping you bridge employment gaps. However, effectively showcasing these roles on your resume can be challenging. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the best practices for listing temporary jobs on your resume, along with real-world examples to illustrate each point. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to create a compelling resume that highlights your temporary work experience.

  • Understand the Value of Temporary Work:

Temporary jobs can demonstrate your adaptability, flexibility, and ability to quickly learn and contribute. Before listing them on your resume, reflect on how each role has contributed to your skill set, industry knowledge, and overall career development.

  • “My temporary role as a project assistant at XYZ Company allowed me to quickly adapt to new project management software, which has become a valuable skill in my current role as a project coordinator.”
  • Create a Separate Section:

Consider including a separate section on your resume specifically for temporary or contract work. This helps hiring managers recognize and appreciate the variety of your experiences.

  • Include Essential Information:

For each temporary job, include essential details such as the job title, the name of the company, the duration of your employment, and the location.

  • “ Project Assistant, XYZ Company, Boston, MA, May 2021 – August 2021 “
  • Use Action-Oriented Language:

Highlight your accomplishments and responsibilities in each temporary role using strong action verbs.

  • “Managed a team of five interns to successfully complete a time-sensitive project ahead of schedule.”
  • Quantify Achievements:

Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers or percentages. This adds credibility to your claims and makes your resume more compelling.

  • “Increased sales revenue by 20% in a two-month contract role as a Sales Associate. “
  • Tailor Your Resume:

Customize your resume for each job application by emphasizing the temporary roles and skills most relevant to the position you’re seeking.

  • “Highlighted my data analysis experience during a temporary research position when applying for a data analyst role.”
  • Highlight Transferable Skills:

Identify transferable skills you gained from temporary jobs that are applicable to the position you’re pursuing.

  • “Developed strong communication and client relationship-building skills during a series of short-term customer service roles.”
  • Address Employment Gaps:

If temporary work was used to fill employment gaps, make it clear on your resume. This demonstrates proactiveness in maintaining your skills during periods of unemployment.

  • “Utilized contract roles to stay active in the job market while transitioning between full-time positions.”
  • Show Career Progression:

If you took on temporary roles with increasing responsibility or in different industries, highlight this as evidence of your growth and adaptability.

  • “Started as a junior copywriter in a freelance capacity and progressed to a lead copywriter role within six months.”
  • Proofread and Format:

Ensure your resume is error-free and professionally formatted. Consistency in font, spacing, and bullet points makes your resume visually appealing.

  • “Maintained a clean and organized workspace while handling administrative tasks for multiple executives.”

Part II: Real-Life Examples of Listing Temporary Jobs on a Resume

Now that we’ve covered the best practices for listing temporary jobs on your resume, let’s delve into real-life examples to see how these principles can be applied effectively:

Example 1: Administrative Assistant

Example 2: Sales Associate

Example 3: Project Coordinator

Example 4: Customer Service Representative

Example 5: Research Assistant

By incorporating these examples into your resume, you can effectively demonstrate your skills, accomplishments, and contributions in your temporary roles. Remember, the key is to tailor your resume for each job application and highlight the aspects of your temporary work that align with the requirements of the position you’re pursuing.

Listing temporary jobs on your resume doesn’t have to be a challenge. By following the best practices outlined in this guide and drawing inspiration from the real-life examples provided, you can create a compelling resume that effectively showcases your temporary work experience. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your adaptability, skill development, and value to potential employers, ultimately helping you land your desired job. Your resume is your ticket to your next career adventure, so make it count!

Having trouble with writing your resume? We understand. Check out our various  Resume Bundles  or  contact us  today for a customized quote. We even  guarantee  that you will receive more interviews.

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How to Properly List Temporary Work on Your Resume

Job Search , Resume Tips

Properly List Temporary Work on Your Resume

Referencing temporary work on your resume can make the difference between impressing hiring managers or turning them away.  Listing your contract work on your resume should highlight your skills, experience, and flexibility as a candidate. Despite the short-term nature of temp positions, it’s important to give them the same level of attention as full-time roles. Don’t underestimate the value of your work, but rather, accurately list and explain it. Follow the tips below to effectively showcase the worth of your temp experiences to potential employers

List Experience Appropriately

Working different temp jobs means you will need to frequently update your resume because your employment is consistently changing. It is crucial that you properly list your temp jobs, whether it’s a couple of positions or multiple. First, write down all your jobs and decide if it’s beneficial to list each assignment separately or to group them together.

If you’ve only had a few short-term positions, consider listing these separately.  Just like a full-time position, include the organization’s name, city and state, job title, start, and end date, and your responsibilities and achievements. The key is to label each of your experiences as temp, temporary, or contract alongside the job title. Make sure to choose just one word and keep it consistent throughout your resume.

Albrecht Law Firm, Boston, MA

Office Assistant; Temporary (JAN 2019 – FEB 2019)

  • Answered and directed phone calls
  • Filed documents

Lexi & Co, Boston, MA

Accountant; Temporary (JAN 2019 – MAR 2019)

  • Managed payroll process
  • Fulfilled audit requests

If you have multiple temp jobs, group them together. This works especially well if you have several similar assignments under one agency. Add the staffing agency as your employer and the start and end dates of your employment with the agency. Remember, the staffing agency is your employer, they are the ones sending you on a work placement, not the organization. Right below the agency’s name, include a short blurb that connects all your relevant temp work together. Next, reference the job title, the organization’s name, dates of employment, and main duties completed for each placement.

JOHN LEONARD, Boston, MA (2016 – Present)

Contracted by staffing agency JOHN LEONARD to work on a temporary basis to assist with administrative-related assignments for a diverse range of organizations throughout the greater Boston area.

Office Assistant, Albrecht Law Firm ( JAN 2019 – FEB 2019)

  • Directed 50 phone calls a day
  • Filed 30 documents an hour

Administrative Assistant, PPQ ( MAR 2019 – MAY 2019)

  • Managed 4 employee’s schedules
  • Maintained file room

Receptionist, Lexi & Co (AUG 2019 – SEP 2019)

  • Maintained records for 30 clients
  • Checked in 20 clients a day

Depending on your unique employment history, there are multiple ways you can accurately group your temp work. Sort through your experience and place your positions where you best see fit. While formatting your temp jobs, keep in mind standard resume etiquette and different ways to make your resume stand out among your competition.

Make the most out of your temp background

A valuable tip is not to lie or fail to mention your temp work on your resume. If you’re worried about listing temp work because you look like a job hopper, forget that preconceived idea. Especially in today’s job market, job hopping is less frowned upon because of the increased popularity of temporary/freelance work. Your temp experiences should be considered an asset of your career, not a red flag. Be confident in the work you have completed and accurately show the value you gained from each one of your assignments.

Properly List Temporary Work on Your Resume (1)

When showcasing your temporary work experience on your resume, it’s essential to maintain a clear and concise format. With these helpful tips, you can present your temp work as an asset rather than an obstacle. Highlighting your determination, willingness to take on new challenges, and proactive job-seeking approach is precisely what hiring managers seek in potential candidates.

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How to List Temporary Work on a Resume

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In This Guide:

What identifies as temp work, how to list temp work on your resume, example of temp experience on a resume.

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Building a resume can be daunting. Have you just completed a temp job and wondered how to present your experience on a resume? If so, this article is for you.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • Defining temp work
  • Appropriately labeling temp work
  • How to tailor your temp work to the new job you’re applying for
  • How to quantify your accomplishments
  • How to include the staffing agency
  • Real resume examples of listing work on a resume

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Temp work is any job that has a hard end date. It’s a temporary position, usually filled by a staffing agency. At the end of the contracted position, a company may offer a permanent position; however, that usually doesn’t happen.

Even though temp jobs usually are just temporary, they can often provide valuable experience that will propel you to your next job opportunity. Let’s discover the best way to list temp work on your resume to impress your next employer.

Make sure you label it as a temporary position.

Temp work isn’t a long commitment, so your potential employer may think you were fired or quit suddenly if you don’t clarify. Letting your employer know there was a mutually agreed upon end date ensures them that you left on good terms.

Tailor your temp positions to the position you're applying for.

Even if your past experiences don’t line up exactly for the new position you’re applying for, don’t count yourself out. Highlight relevant experiences and job skills to make your potential employer see that you’re a natural fit.

Quantify temporary position accomplishments with numbers.

Numbers provide an employer with a quick, easy way to see your impact at your place of employment. Include things like the number of people you trained, how many clients you saw per day, and any relevant customer satisfaction statistics that boosted during your time.

Make sure to include the staffing agency.".

Including the staffing agency you worked with gives you credibility. It can also be another potential reference for the new employer, so keep relations with your staff agency positive. Including this detail in your resume template will function as another reference.

PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL CENTER, Salt Lake City, Utah Certified Nursing Assistant (Temporary Contracted Position) | Jan 2021-April 2021

  • Provided comprehensive care to more than 50 residents in a residential treatment center environment
  • Collaborated and designed a new meal delivery system that reduced patient wait time by 35%
  • Trained four newly certified CNAs to provide routine care, such as checking vital signs and grooming patients

Remember, listing temp work is not a negative strike against your resume. Here are a few key takeaways to impress your new employer.

  • Highlight relevant experiences that make you stand out
  • Focus on the big impact you made, despite the short amount of time employed
  • Quantify your accomplishments and daily tasks
  • Focus on the aspects of your temp job that are related to your new potential position

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How to List Temp Agency Work on Your Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

Published on 07/10/2024 ⚬ Read time 5 min

Temp Service Finder©

Temporary work is becoming increasingly common in today's job market. Whether you are filling a gap, managing seasonal surges, or working on specific projects, temp work plays a vital role in many industries. Effectively listing temporary work on your resume is crucial to showcasing your skills and flexibility to potential employers. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to list temp work on your resume and make it stand out.

Quick Overview

List temp work in reverse-chronological order.

Group similar experiences together.

Label temp work clearly and consistently.

Highlight responsibilities and achievements.

What Do I Do If I Have Too Many Short Jobs on My Resume?

What is Temp Work?

Temporary work, often referred to as temp work, involves short-term employment arrangements that can last from a few days to several months, depending on the employer's needs. Companies hire temporary employees to support specialized projects, cover full-time employee absences, or manage high-traffic periods. Despite the short-term nature of these roles, including temp work on your resume is essential to providing a complete picture of your work history.

How to List Temp Work on Your Resume

Use a reverse-chronological format.

When listing temp work on your resume, it's best to use a reverse-chronological format. Start with the most recent position you held and work backward. This approach provides a clear timeline of your work history and helps hiring managers easily understand your career progression.

For example:

Company Name, City, State

Job Title (Temporary) – Start Date to End Date

- Key responsibility or achievement

Group Similar Experiences

If you've held multiple temp jobs through a staffing agency, it's a good idea to group these experiences together. List the name of the staffing agency as your employer, followed by the duration of your employment with the agency. Under this heading, include a brief description of the types of assignments you completed and then list each placement with its corresponding responsibilities.

Staffing Agency Name, City, State – Start Date to End Date

Contracted by the staffing agency to perform various administrative duties on a temporary basis for different organizations.

Job Title, Company Name – Start Date to End Date

Label Your Temp Work

Clearly labeling your temp work is essential to indicate why the positions were short-term. Use consistent labels such as "temporary," "temp," or "contract" next to each job title. This helps hiring managers quickly understand the nature of your employment.

Receptionist (Temporary)

Administrative Assistant (Contract)

List Relevant Responsibilities

When detailing your temp work, focus on listing relevant responsibilities that demonstrate your skills and experience. Include at least three bullet points for each role, highlighting key tasks and duties you performed.

Receptionist (Temporary) – January 2020 to March 2020

- Answered and directed phone calls for a busy office.

- Managed appointment scheduling and client communications.

- Assisted with administrative tasks and document filing.

Showcase Your Achievements

In addition to listing responsibilities, it's important to highlight your achievements in each temp role. Include one or two bullet points that showcase positive results or contributions you made during your employment. This demonstrates your ability to add value, even in short-term positions.

Administrative Assistant (Contract) – June 2019 to December 2019

- Implemented a new filing system that increased efficiency by 20%.

- Assisted in organizing a major corporate event attended by over 200 participants.

Tips for Making Temp Work Stand Out

Tailor Experiences to the Job Description: Customize your resume for each job application by using keywords from the job posting. This not only helps you pass applicant tracking systems but also catches the hiring manager's attention.

Use Quantifiable Data: Including numbers in your resume helps provide a clear picture of your responsibilities and achievements. For example, mention the number of clients you handled or the percentage increase in efficiency you achieved.

Highlight the Value of Temp Work: Emphasize the skills and experience you gained from temp work, presenting it as an asset rather than a gap in your employment history. Show that you are proactive and willing to take on new challenges.

Examples of Listing Temp Work

Limited temp work experience.

If you have only one or two instances of temp work, list them separately, just like you would for full-time positions.

Northfield Law Group, Northfield, IL

Receptionist (Temporary) – July 2020 to October 2020

- Handled confidential information for over 35 clients.

- Provided excellent service when greeting clients and answering calls.

- Scheduled and confirmed over 50 appointments per month.

Farrer Law Services, Chicago, IL

Administrative Assistant (Temporary) – January 2020 to June 2020

- Reviewed over 40 documents monthly to support legal reviews.

- Managed data entry for motions, trials, and arbitration.

- Handled over 25 client calls and inquiries daily.

Temp Work Experience Through a Staffing Agency

For multiple temp assignments through a staffing agency, group them under the agency’s name.

Super Staffing Company, Chicago, IL – January 2019 to Present

Contracted by the staffing firm to perform various administrative duties on a temporary basis for multiple medical facilities.

Front Desk Receptionist, Heckman Medical Center – April 2020 to October 2020

- Made over 40 calls daily to confirm appointments and provide follow-up instructions.

- Filed and maintained records for over 800 patients, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.

- Greeted and prepared over 25 patients per day for appointments.

Medical Receptionist, Waukegan Health Group – January 2020 to March 2020

- Scheduled and coordinated daily appointments for eight physicians.

- Maintained and digitized records for over 1,000 patients.

- Greeted and checked in over 50 patients daily.

Listing temp work on your resume effectively can make a significant difference in impressing hiring managers. By following these tips, you can highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements gained from temporary roles, presenting them as valuable assets to potential employers. Remember, temp work showcases your flexibility and willingness to take on new challenges, which are highly desirable traits in today's job market.

If you need reliable temp agencies to help meet your staffing needs efficiently, use "Temp Service Finder©" to find the best service providers in your area tailored to your specific requirements.

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Here’s How To Add a Temp Job to the Work History on Your Resume

Add a Temp Job To Your Work History

If you’ve done multiple temp or temp-to-hire jobs, you may be worried that prospective employers will interpret that fact as you not being able to hold down a long-term job. Sporadic work history may raise concerns, which you might have a chance to address during the interview.

The good news is that if you’re smart about the way you display your temp work history, you can actually impress potential employers. Let’s look at a few ways to list temp jobs on your resume.

List the Companies as Your Employers

Acknowledge the temp role and temp staffing agency, but list the company for which you worked for the period of your temp assignment as the employer. The entry in your resume should look something like this:

[insert position title] at [insert company name] Temporary placement via [insert temp staffing agency name]. [start date–end date].

If you worked in a temp to hire role, you could list it as follows.

[insert position title] at [insert company name] [start date–end date]. Temporary placement via [insert temp staffing agency name]; to be hired full-time by [insert tentative hiring date].

This makes it clear to someone reviewing the resume that the position was a temp or temp to hire job and not a full-time position that got terminated for one reason or another. During interviews, have an upbeat and positive attitude about your temping experience. Try to sell interviewers on your diverse professional background.

If they give you a chance to explain the circumstances under which you worked as a temp, frame those circumstances positively. For example, rather than say that you only accepted the temp jobs because you needed the money, say that you saw them as an opportunity to gain experience and hone your skills before looking for a full-time job.

Create a Section for Each Temp Staffing Agency

The duration of the temp or temp to hire assignment determines how you list it on your resume. You want your temp work history to demonstrate consistency. Ideally, this means that you should have occupied roles for at least one year. There are a couple of ways to achieve this with your temp working history.

If the temp assignments were brief, but you got them through the same temp staffing agency, you can list the temp jobs as follows.

[start date–end date]. [insert temp staffing agency name]. [insert location]. [insert position title] for a variety of high-tech companies including [insert company name] and [insert company name]. [insert brief description of role/position]

You can create a bullet list of the companies to which the temp staffing agency assigned you as follows.

[insert temp staffing agency name]. [insert location]. [start date–end date].

Various temping assignments for companies in need of skills in [insert list of skills]. Placements included:

  • [insert company name]

Some career counselors recommend listing only the temp jobs relevant to the position for which you’re applying. Furthermore, if your work history and experience are rich enough, you don’t have to list your temp jobs if they don’t help sell your achievements and skills.

A Functional or Functional-chronological Resume May Be Suitable if You Temp to Hire Frequently

You can use the functional-chronological resume format , which lets you outline the skills and knowledge of your temp roles without listing the temp or temp to hire jobs. Your cover letter can mention that the resume highlights only the relevant skills and knowledge that you acquired from various temp jobs.

Using this approach makes your resume easy to read and understand because you don’t have to write an extremely long list of brief temp jobs with the corresponding dates and other minutiae. The temp job entries in your resume might look something like this.

[insert role]: Jobs through [insert temp staffing agency name]; including work as [insert position list of titles] with companies including [insert position list of companies]. [start date–end date]. [insert role]: Jobs through [insert temp staffing agency name]; including work as [insert position list of titles] with companies including [insert position list of companies]. [start date–end date]. [insert role]: Jobs through [insert temp staffing agency name]; including work as [insert position list of titles] with companies including [insert position list of companies]. [start date–end date].

Try to emphasize the experiences that are most relevant to the job for which you’re applying. These include:

  • Measurable achievements from applying your skills and knowledge
  • Responsibilities that you accepted over and above the temp role
  • New skills and knowledge that you acquired from the temp role

The idea is to show whoever is reviewing your resume that you’re a highly capable, flexible and well-rounded employee. You do this by emphasizing the breadth and depth of your experiences as a temp worker. For example, you can use bullet points to list your achievements for each company for which you worked as a temp.

A Tailored Approach May Be Necessary if You’ve Deliberately Made a Professional Career Out of Temping

Some full-time professionals accept many short-term jobs that don’t fall neatly into the temp job category. If this is the case for you, a functional-style resume may serve you better than one that lists each individual job. Consider listing the role as a headline and listing the companies for which you worked in bullet form. This is especially useful for professionals, such as accountants or lawyers, whose work may be considered temping but not in the conventional sense of the term. The following is an example of how such a professional might list the temporary assignment in the resume.

[insert professional title] placed by [[insert temp staffing agency name]] [Location Name]. [start date–end date]. Various professional assignments for companies in need of short-term financial staff. Placements included:

Your Temp Job Experience Is a Selling Point

Whichever method you use to list your temp or temp-to-hire job work history on your resume, frame it positively and in a way that makes you marketable. Contact Molly Brown Temps to find a temp job that matches your experience, skill sets, and personality.

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If you’ve done multiple temp or temp-to-hire jobs, you may be worried that prospective employers will interpret that fact as you not being able to hold down a long-term job. Sporadic work history may raise concerns, which you might have a chance to address during the interview. The good news...

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Should You Include Temp Jobs on Your Resume?

6 min read · Updated on December 11, 2021

Ronda Suder

Here's whether or not you should list your temp jobs on your resume.

In today's world where autonomy and freedom are at the top of the list for individuals, many are turning to gig jobs or temp jobs.

Some companies, such as Uber and Lyft, use independent drivers in cities throughout the U.S. for part-time and even full-time income. Airbnb, a platform allowing individuals to rent out their extra rooms, sofa, or home to travelers, is another option that individuals are turning to for extra income. I know some people that pay their rent using Airbnb! Postmates is a courier-service gig that hires independent contractors to transport food and other goods to clients. The options and opportunities for gigs such as these are endless.

Related:   Good Second Jobs to Earn Extra Cash Outside Your 9-to-5

Temp or gig jobs allow you to create your own schedule and work as much as you would like, affording you the opportunity to make money while essentially working for yourself. This is great for people who need freedom and autonomy in their schedules, like single moms and dads who need to work with their children's schedules, or artists and musicians who need to work around gigs they might get.

When I was in grad school for the second time around, I had friends who considered Uber and Postmates for extra income due to the flexible schedules that they worked around class schedules. Further, many entrepreneurs and business professionals turn to such gigs to bring in some extra cash. In fact, according to Jobvite , 19 percent of people surveyed have held a "gig-type" job like Uber and Airbnb. The question is, are temp jobs like these valid resources and work to include on your professional resume?

Should you list temp jobs on a resume?

Many might feel that adding a gig-type job like Uber or Airbnb on their resume looks unprofessional. However, if you position it right — especially if you're in-between jobs or just starting out and looking for your first job — it can add value to your resume. Including temp jobs on your resume can help you:

Highlight positive skill sets and personality traits, like being a self-starter and having initiative

Highlight accomplishments as a result of the gig

Avoid having to discuss the gap in employment on your resume, or can at least make the conversation easier during the interview process  

Early in my career, I had to take some time away from my corporate work due to health issues, so I ended up working several gigs, like independent direct sales and independent promotional work, to bring in some income. I was able to use these temp jobs on my resume to fill in the gap between "traditional" jobs by highlighting my accomplishments the same way I would highlight my work accomplishments for my conventional jobs.

What's the best way to position a gig-type job on your resume?

If you were laid off from your last job, employers understand that you need to make money, and finding a temp or gig-type job can show initiative and determination, which are qualities employers look for in candidates. The same holds true if you're new to the workforce and landed such a job before landing your ideal dream job.

The trick here is to focus on the opportunity and experience you gained from the gig. For example, you want to represent the position correctly while also identifying all the skills that you utilized during the gig on your resume. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with holding any job where success falls completely on your shoulders. With any independent-service type of work with companies like Uber, Airbnb, Postmates, and direct sales companies, you likely:

Managed money

Created and kept a timely schedule

Provided top customer service with high ratings

Dealt with problem clients and troubleshot issues

Received bonuses for extra work and referrals

Trained other independent drivers, consultants, hosts, etc. (depending on the gig and if you made it to that level)

Managed other independent consultants (depending on the gig)

Received rewards for meeting certain quotas

Served as an interface between the client and parent company

This list could go on, but you get the picture. All of these accomplishments should be included on your resume just as you would highlight your accomplishments with more traditional work positions. Be as quantitative as possible when it comes to the amount of work, goals met, rewards received, and so on. If you have high reviews and ratings, include that on your resume as well.

Related:   Ask Amanda: How Do I List Temp Jobs on My Resume?

Also, when creating your title for a gig-type job, you want to be clever, but honest. For Uber, you'll probably just use "Independent Driver" or "Independent Driver and Trainer" if you were a trainer for Uber as well. For Airbnb, you might use a title like "Hospitality Consultant" or "Independent Host." All of these positions have an entrepreneurial spirit that's required for success, so you might tie that into your title or description in some way, as well.

For more information on how to maximize your resume, utilize a professional resume-writing company, like TopResume , for assistance.

Part or full-time gigs can add value to your professional resume

Gigs aren't typically forever, and they're not for everyone. For many, though, they can be a great way to make some extra cash while in between jobs or to supplement income. They can also provide some fun experiences and new opportunities. When you look at it as a way to advance your professional career, you can find ways to use it to add value without it holding you back or feeling like it's something you should hide from your resume.

There might be cases where you feel you shouldn't include a temp job on a resume, and if that's what your intuition tells you, then trust that.

As an HR professional, I wouldn't turn down a resume simply because of a gig listed on it, especially if the candidate is smart about how they reference and represent the position. The same holds true for many managers and other HR professionals I know. With that said, do what feels and works best for you, as you're the one who has to speak about what's on your resume.

Click on the following link for more resume and career advice .

Need help listing temporary jobs on your resume? Send your resume in for a free, objective review at TopResume today!

Recommended Reading:

How to Turn a Temp Job Into a Full-Time Position

The Top 4 Part-Time Jobs for Moms

Career Strategies When You're Between Jobs

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How to List Temporary Work on Your Resume

Mentioning temp jobs can either impress recruiters or make them think you are a job-hopper. The first scenario is the best. Follow our guide and get the most out of your short-term experience in your resume.

Temporary work means that an employee is hired for a limited time. It can be several days, weeks, months. Everything depends on the employer’s needs.

Many stereotypes surround this type of employment. Some people think that it mainly works for students or unskilled personnel. However, companies may temporarily hire lawyers, IT specialists, crisis managers, project managers, business consultants, copywriters, designers, etc. Temporary work can be challenging, creative, and lucrative, and professionals with diverse backgrounds can use it as a career opportunity.

Employers often think about hiring temporary staff when the work scope increases or knowing that a permanent employee will be absent for a certain period. At the same time, a temp job is a good option if a person has problems with a permanent one or plans to enter a new industry smoothly. In this case, temporary work allows you to gain unique professional experience and knowledge, an opportunity to replenish your portfolio, and a chance to expand your professional network. And of course, it can make you feel more independent.

The main question is how to play this card right, and we are here to help you find an answer. This detailed guide will reveal insights into how to list temp jobs on a resume and give you sound arguments on why to do this. Moreover, you will get some examples of how to list temp work on a resume that you can use in your application documents.

Why Put Temp Jobs on a Resume

A resume is your business card. It provides the recruiter with information about your education and gives insight into your work history, skills, and personal qualities. If you want to make your professional background more convincing, listing your temporary work experience in your CV could be the right solution. Here are several reasons why.

It fills the gaps in your employment history

If you had a rather long break in your career path, but at the same time, you were hired for temporary or project work, we advise you to highlight this in your resume. Showing this experience will present you as a person who doesn’t like sitting around doing nothing and will help you avoid questions about employment gaps during an interview.

It expands your skillset

Temporary work is an excellent chance to learn new skills and improve existing ones. Highlighting your talents and professional abilities acquired during temp employment in your resume will boost it and make it more convincing. Additionally, by indicating your achievements, you will demonstrate yourself as a real result-oriented professional.

It highlights your personal qualities

Temporary jobs help develop not only professional skills but also personal traits. Flexibility is one of the most important ones in today’s labor market. It also includes versatility and the ability to adapt to a rapidly-changing working environment. By specifying these qualities on your resume and confirming them during the interview, you can stand out and impress your potential employer.

How to Put a Temp Job on a Resume: A 6-Step Guide

Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to find out how to list temporary jobs on your resume correctly. First, you should know that the formats vary depending on what kind of temporary work experience you had.

Let’s start with limited temp work experience, which means that you had one or several short-term jobs and were employed directly by the company.

1. Indicate your employer

The first thing to mention when describing your temporary job is the name of your employer. Put the full name of the company or organization that hired you and make sure there are no spelling mistakes. You can also add a link to its official website.

2. Specify your position

The job title is the first thing recruiters check on resumes. Therefore, make sure to write a specific and correct position title. If your position did not have a particular title or you are not sure how to name it correctly, you can always write “Specialist in (your primary duty)”

3. Put a “temporary” label

Recruiters receive hundreds of resumes per day. Thus, it’s crucial to make it easier for them to find relevant information during the several seconds they spend reviewing documents. Labeling your position as “temporary” or “contract” will help hiring managers understand that you have not worked for a specific company or in a particular position for long.

4. Point out the period of employment

Indicate the start and end date of your employment using the month and year format. If you are still working, then write “present” instead of the end date.

5. List your duties

When describing your temp job, add several bullet points describing your key responsibilities. Write clearly and concisely and use the past tense. Remember that your resume shouldn’t be more than two pages long. Otherwise, your resume will turn into a CV .

6. Highlight your achievements

Last but not least, put your professional accomplishments. They are especially impressive when describing temporary employment because it shows that you can achieve results in a short time.

Look at these two examples of presenting temporary positions and see how our recommendations mentioned above are used.

ABC Company

Office Manager

Temporary position

April 2020-June 2020

  • Welcomed visitors and clients;
  • Prepared correspondence and documentation;
  • Ordered stationery;
  • Informed staff about events and orders;
  • Booked tickets and accommodation for business trips;
  • Organized meetings.

Managed to optimized documents and correspondence system that led to a 20% reduction in processing time.

DEF Company

January 2020-March 2020

  • Prepared invoices and payrolls;
  • Created and submitted tax reports;
  • Conducted inventories;
  • Prepared weekly financial reports.

Initiated the introduction of an accounting system that helped minimize taxation.

How to Put Temp Work on a Resume: Staffing Agency Experience

Another option to search for a temporary job is to contact a staffing agency. It recruits employees for businesses that need to fill certain positions. Typically, the process works as follows:

  • The hiring company contacts a staffing agency.
  • The staffing agency prepares a job description, searches for candidates, and checks them.
  • The hiring company makes the final decision about the candidate.
  • The staffing agency takes care of the paperwork.

Candidates can contact the staffing agency themselves to discuss employment opportunities and conditions. If you meet the requirements for a specific vacancy, staffing agency specialists will send your resume directly to the company that needs an employee.

If you’ve had temp work experience through a staffing agency, we recommend using this plan to describe it in your resume correctly.

Specify staffing agency

If you got a job through a staffing agency, this staffing agency becomes your employer. So, instead of putting the name of the company you’ve provided your services to, you should specify the staffing agency’s name and location.

Indicate the period of collaboration

It is also essential to indicate the period of your cooperation with the staffing agency. Indicate the month and year when you started and finished your work. If you are working with this staffing agency up to the present day, you can write “present” instead of the end date.

Explain your connection to the staffing agency

You can indicate your profession, field of activity, and purpose of cooperation. This description should be clear and concise. Don’t tell the whole story in detail. Better save some space so you can concentrate more on your duties and accomplishments.

Give details about your employment

Indicate your role and the company that hired you. Additionally, specify the period of your work. Use the month and year format, which you used to indicate the time frame of your collaboration with staffing agencies. However, you can add days if you worked less than a month.

Impress the Recruiter with Your Temporary Background

Now that you know how to list temp work on a resume, we will share a few secrets on making your description even more attractive and convincing.

1. Include only relevant temporary experience on your resume

If you have extensive temporary employment experience, you shouldn’t include all of it on your resume. The recruiter wants to get only relevant information. For example, there is no need to mention that you’d worked as a nanny for two months if you are applying for an administrative employee position. In this case, it is more interesting for a recruiter to know that you’ve temporarily worked as an office clerk .

Secondly, if you describe all your temporary jobs, your resume will be too long. The longer it is, the less chance the recruiter will read it to the end.

2. Tailor your temp job description to the position

Resume customization is a crucial aspect of preparing a professional document. You should tailor your application to each job. Read the employer’s requirements carefully and use the job listing language to describe your duties in temporary work. When choosing which responsibilities to describe, focus on those that overlap with the new position’s tasks.

3. Use numbers

When describing your accomplishments, use quantitative metrics to impress the recruiter. If you did not have significant achievements that can be measured, try to use numbers when describing your duties. For example, specify how many calls per shift you managed to receive, how many documents you managed to prepare, or how many events you managed to organize. This information will help the recruiter get a clearer picture of your productivity.

4. Don’t forget about the cover letter

A cover letter is a perfect way to complement your resume and tell the recruiter about yourself and your experience in more detail. You can use this tool to describe your skills and personality traits that helped you succeed in temporary jobs and add value to the position you apply for.

Conclusions

Today, temporary work is becoming quite popular, and people with such experience are no longer perceived as job-hoppers. Temp jobs provide important expertise, skills, and knowledge, which should be presented correctly in your application documents.

Building a professional resume that can win you an interview and sometimes even a job is difficult and requires time and effort. We are confident that you will manage to present your temporary employment in the best way possible by following our advice, and your job search will be crowned with permanent success.

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IMAGES

  1. How To Write A Resume For A Temporary Job

    how to add a temporary job to resume

  2. How to Properly List Temporary Work on Your Resume

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  3. The Right Way to List Temporary Work on Your Resume

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  4. Temporary Office Assistant Resume Samples

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  5. Temp CV example (temporary worker) + guide [Get hired]

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  6. Temporary Clerk Resume Samples

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COMMENTS

  1. How To List Temporary Work on Your Resume (With Examples)

    Be consistent with the label and place it next to the title of each temporary job. 4. List relevant responsibilities When listing temp work separately, include at least three bullet points describing the significant duties of the job. If you grouped your temp work, you can similarly list each job and its responsibilities.

  2. How to Put Temp Work on a Resume

    Knowing how to put temporary work on your resume can be the difference between landing the job and getting stuck in the resume black hole. Each week, TopResume's career advice expert, Amanda Augustine, answers user questions like the one below from Quora and our Ask Amanda form. A certified professional career coach (CPCC) and resume writer (CPRW), Amanda has been helping professionals improve ...

  3. The Right Way to List Temporary Work on Your Resume

    Here's a step-by-step guide for listing temp jobs on your resume. How to list temporary work on your resume. List an employer. This could be the temp agency (if applicable) or your name. Use a standard job title. Add "temporary worker" or "temp" at the end of your title. Include the dates of your temp job (month and year are adequate).

  4. How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

    No matter how you decide to do it, don't forget to follow the basic principles of good resume writing! Quantify your bullet points; focus on achievement and impact rather than responsibilities; and keep all your formatting consistent, especially if your career path has wandered a bit.Temp experiences can be confusing for recruiters, so make sure they're explained in a way that makes sense ...

  5. How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume: Examples & Tips for

    Label temporary jobs as "Temporary," "Contract," or "Temp" next to the job title or company name to clarify the nature of the position. Should I include short-term temp jobs on my resume? Include short-term temp jobs if they are relevant to the job you're applying for or demonstrate important skills or accomplishments.

  6. How to List Contract Work on Your Resume: A 2024 Guide

    How to list contract work on your resume. List an employer. This can be the staffing agency (if you used one) or your own name. Give yourself a standard job title. Add "contractor" or "consultant" at the end of your title. List the dates of your contract (month and year is fine). Add a short blurb describing the nature of your work.

  7. How to Add a Part-Time Job on a Resume

    When deciding to add part-time work to your resume, consider whether the job is related to the role for which you're applying, your work experience, and if the position relates to your career goals. Part-time jobs can be included in the employment history section of a resume or listed as a separate category.

  8. How to Reference Temporary Work on Your Resume

    So, when adding a temporary job to your resume, you need to list your recruitment agency as your employer. Always include the start and end dates of your employment with the agency. If you are currently looking for temporary, interim or permanent work, view our current jobs available. SEARCH OUR JOB OPENINGS. 3. Reference your roles

  9. How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume with Examples

    Part II: Real-Life Examples of Listing Temporary Jobs on a Resume. Now that we've covered the best practices for listing temporary jobs on your resume, let's delve into real-life examples to see how these principles can be applied effectively: Example 1: Administrative Assistant.

  10. How to Properly List Temporary Work on Your Resume

    Add the staffing agency as your employer and the start and end dates of your employment with the agency. Remember, the staffing agency is your employer, they are the ones sending you on a work placement, not the organization. ... While formatting your temp jobs, keep in mind standard resume etiquette and different ways to make your resume stand ...

  11. How to List Temporary Work on Your Resume

    How to list temp work on your resume. Even though temp jobs usually are just temporary, they can often provide valuable experience that will propel you to your next job opportunity. Let's discover the best way to list temp work on your resume to impress your next employer. Make sure you label it as a temporary position.

  12. How To List Temp Work On a Resume

    How To Put a Temporary Job on a Resume in 6 Simple Steps. When listing a temporary job on your resume, it's essential to indicate your employer, specify the position you held, and place a 'temporary' label on the position. You should also state the period of employment and list your duties.

  13. How to List Temp Agency Work on Your Resume Effectively

    Temporary work is becoming increasingly common in today's job market. Whether you are filling a gap, managing seasonal surges, or working on specific projects, temp work plays a vital role in many industries. Effectively listing temporary work on your resume is crucial to showcasing your skills and flexibility to potential employers.

  14. How to list temporary work on your resume

    Why put temp jobs on a resume A resume is your business card. It provides the recruiter with information about your education and gives insight into your work history, skills, and personal qualities.

  15. How to Include Temporary Jobs on Your Resume: Key Tips and Strategies

    Why Include Temporary Jobs on Your Resume. Including temporary jobs on your resume can be beneficial in many situations. Here are a few reasons why you should consider including temporary jobs on your resume: Demonstrates Work Experience: Temporary jobs can showcase your ability to gain valuable work experience and contribute to different ...

  16. Here's How To Add a Temp Job to the Work History on Your Resume

    The temp job entries in your resume might look something like this. [insert role]: Jobs through [insert temp staffing agency name]; including work as [insert position list of titles] with companies including [insert position list of companies]. [start date-end date]. [insert role]:

  17. How to list temporary jobs on your résumé

    Multiple temp jobs for different staffing agencies. If you've had multiple temp jobs for different staffing firms, list the client company first, followed by the relevant staffing agency, the location, and the dates. On the following line, list your job title, responsibilities, and any achievements. Then repeat this for each company.

  18. How to Put Temporary Jobs on a Resume

    To put Temporary jobs on a resume, include them in the experience section. If they are not relevant to the job, don't include them. ... Adding a descriptor to the temporary job can let an employer know that the job was scheduled to end on a set date and that the shorter duration was no fault of your own. Which descriptor to use depends on the ...

  19. Should You Include Temporary Jobs on a Resume?

    Here's whether or not you should list your temp jobs on your resume. In today's world where autonomy and freedom are at the top of the list for individuals, many are turning to gig jobs or temp jobs. Some companies, such as Uber and Lyft, use independent drivers in cities throughout the U.S. for part-time and even full-time income.

  20. How to List Temporary Work on Your Resume

    Secondly, if you describe all your temporary jobs, your resume will be too long. The longer it is, the less chance the recruiter will read it to the end. 2. Tailor your temp job description to the position. Resume customization is a crucial aspect of preparing a professional document. You should tailor your application to each job.

  21. How to Make a Resume in 2024: Examples & Writing Guide

    Resume Checker Get your resume checked and scored with one click.; CV Maker Create a CV in 5 minutes. Get the job you want. Cover Letter Builder Write a cover letter that convinces employers you're the best.

  22. USAJOBS Help Center

    USAJOBS Help Center. An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know