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How To List Temporary Work On Your Resume Effectively

How To List Temporary Work On Your Resume Effectively

You may be wondering whether temporary work should have a place on your resume. When job security is hard to come by and job openings are limited, employers are accepting that more applicants are keeping themselves current with temporary work rather than having a gap in employment. Related: Transform Temp/Contract Work Into A Permanent Job Find out how to best position your temporary work to showcase valuable and relevant experience for the new job you apply for.


Determine if the temporary jobs will do better standing alone or grouped together.

Temporary work often involves short-term gigs that can last anywhere from a couple of days to several months. When employment is sporadic, you're better off grouping it as one whole experience. On the other hand, if you have temporary work that includes involvement with a significant player in your field of work and there's been steady employment lasting more than a couple of months, making it stand alone will give the experience more credibility.

Define dates of employment.

When you think about all the different dates with each assignment, formatting the information on your resume may seem like daunting task. It doesn't have to be. Rather than listing out every period of work for the 5 or 10 jobs you had, group it all together as one period of work. For instance, if you were doing contract work with five different clients, include the date you began contract work and the date you ended contract work, regardless of whether you were still working with same client.

Market your umbrella of temporary work.

In certain instances, it makes sense to brand the experience as your own business. For instance, rather than indicating you work at XYZ Staffing Company or simply indicating Freelance Worker, market your work at John Doe Consulting or Jane Smith Graphics. From the employer's point of view, it further establishes you in the field of work having owned your own business. This is also an acceptable approach when the temp agency or clients you worked with are not as recognizable in your field of work.

Highlight successes and achievements.

Regardless of the length of time you were on the job, highlight your successes and accomplishments. Even temporary work can offer valuable experiences and skills that further what you have to offer for the next job. In today's day and age, temporary work has become a common path to securing long-term employment. It's not a question of whether the experience should be included, but how to include it so that accomplishments and achievements are defined to show you have added experience that's valuable for the next job. This post was originally published at an earlier date.

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About the author

Don Goodman's firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
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