Temporary assignments are a great way to gain a range of skills, make connections, and experience different cultures. However, once you’re ready to land a full-time job, it can be tricky to list all these positions on your resume.
How do you best lay them out so you highlight your background, skills, and why you’re the best fit – without looking like a job hopper? Here are some tips to make you stand out and look more impressive to a hiring manager.
When to group positions together.
If you worked on several different assignments at one company, such as a staffing agency, group them under the company’s name. This will streamline your resume and still give you the opportunity to showcase your background and abilities. For instance:
ABC Company
Assistant to Vice President (temporary)
December 2020 – February 2021
- Assisted the company’s vice president with…
Receptionist – front desk (temporary)
August 2020 – September 2020
- Answered calls from…
Receptionist – front desk (temporary)
March 2019 – April 2019
- Checked in with…
If you show a natural progression upwards in terms of the kinds of assignments you’re taking on, it’s a good idea to call that out, too. In your cover letter, make sure you go into more detail about this, including the number of assignments you held through the company and how you advanced into more senior-level roles.
When to keep them separate.
If, however, you’ve only worked two or three temporary assignments over the years and have mainly been in full-time positions otherwise, you can keep them separate. List each company name, your job title while you were there, and the duties you performed. Also include any accomplishments that are important to note, just as you would for a full-time opening. For instance:
ABC Company
Assistant to Vice President (temporary)
December 2020 – February 2021
- Assisted the company’s vice president with…
XYZ Firm
Receptionist – front desk (temporary)
August 2020 – September 2020
- Answered calls from…
AAA Staffing Firm
Receptionist – front desk (temporary)
March 2019 – April 2019
- Checked in with…
Highlight the value you offer.
Working in temporary positions means you’ve got to adapt and be more flexible than with a full-time job. You should highlight these unique abilities you’ve gained from working in temporary roles in a Summary of Qualifications at the top of your resume.
In addition, make sure you’re quantifying your experience wherever you can. This includes how you lowered cost, saved time, increased customer satisfaction, or delivered other important results.
Need more help creating a resume that gets noticed?
At ResumeSpice, our resume writers can help you create a resume that gets results, whether your background is filled with temporary jobs, full-time positions, or both. If you’re ready to learn more, call 832.930.7378 or contact us online.
