When it comes to building an impressive CV, listing temporary jobs can feel challenging, especially when you’re competing with candidates who may have more continuous employment histories. However, showcasing your temp experience the right way can highlight your flexibility, adaptability, and wide-ranging skill set, making you stand out to hiring managers.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to list temporary work on your CV to ensure you reflect yourself in the most attractive way to future employers, whether it’s a short-term contract or a role through a staffing agency.
Why Include Temp Work on Your CV?
Temporary positions can offer invaluable experience, exposing you to different industries, tools, and work environments. They also demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running in new roles.
With the job market evolving and more companies relying on temporary workers, temp roles are no longer just seen as gaps in employment; they can be positioned as key stepping stones in your career journey.
So, whether you’re vying for a permanent position or another temp job, listing your temp experience properly is essential.
Co-founder of Oriel Partners, Auria Heanley, shares her expert advice:
“Temporary work is more important now than ever before. It shows that candidates can adapt, learn quickly, and deliver results in a short time. Hiring managers value this flexibility and problem-solving ability, especially in today’s fast-paced work environment. When listing temp roles on your CV, focus on the impact you made during your time in each role, rather than just the duties performed.”
How to Put Temp Work on Your CV
When listing temp jobs on your CV, the aim is to make them appear as valuable as full-time roles. Structure is key, and there are several ways to ensure your temporary work experience looks impressive:
1. List Temp Jobs Under One Employer
If you’ve worked several temp jobs through a staffing agency, you can list the agency as your employer and provide details of each role underneath. This structure shows a continuous flow of work and avoids clutter on your CV.
Here’s an example:
[Staffing Agency Name] | Temporary Worker
[Start and End Dates]
- Company Name – Job Title
- Key achievements, responsibilities, and skills gained.
- Company Name – Job Title
- Key achievements, responsibilities, and skills gained.
2. Highlight Each Temp Job Individually
If you’ve worked multiple short-term contracts independently, it’s okay to list each temporary position individually. Just make sure to clearly state that the roles were temporary so hiring managers understand the context.
Here’s an example:
Company Name | Temporary Marketing Executive
[Start and End Dates]
- Managed social media accounts and increased engagement by 20%.
- Coordinated and executed marketing campaigns, improving brand visibility.
However, if you have carried out many similar short-term jobs, it may be beneficial to group them on your CV. For example, listing the companies you have temped with and your job titles without enhancing specific duties makes it clear where you have been working and when with start and end dates, but it doesn’t take up too much space on your CV to be distracting. If the potential employer is interested in a specific company, they can ask at the interview stage, which can become a good talking point.
3. Emphasise Key Achievements
No matter how short your temp work may have been, always focus on your accomplishments. Did you meet a tight deadline? Improve a process? These are the kinds of achievements that impress potential employers and show that you made an impact, even in a temporary role.
Rather than listing the duties of a specific temp role, especially if you have done lots of temporary jobs, it may be more beneficial to highlight any achievements instead. For example, perhaps you worked on a specific project or event which was a great success or managed a complex travel itinerary.
Whatever it may be, this will show the level of support you provided and highlight the work you can perform. Your CV is the best advertising tool for yourself, so don’t be afraid to shout about your successes. No one else will do this for you!
4. Avoid Career Gaps
There are various reasons someone may be unemployed; perhaps you have been made redundant, or the contract you were in has ended. Whatever your situation, being out of work for too long never looks good. Temp or contract work can be a great way to avoid career gaps on your CV and show a future employer you are committed to working, can hit the ground running, and are a reliable candidate.
A temp role can be anything from one day to a one-year fixed term contract, and often what might start as only being for a few days will end up being for a lot longer, so it is always essential to do a good job, as you never know where it can lead.
Temp experience will also enhance your network, introducing you to many new people who could be helpful when looking for further contract work or future full-time permanent employment. Connecting with everyone you meet via LinkedIn can be a great way to stay in touch and aid in your job search. Employment vacancies are often posted online by hiring managers so that you won’t miss out on potential opportunities.
5. Include a Personal Statement
Personal statements are an excellent way to showcase your work on your resume and explain why you are not in a permanent role. Your statement should briefly touch upon your skills, work experience and what you are looking for in your next position.
When you are being represented by a recruitment or staffing agency, such as Oriel Partners, we will include a profile on every candidate we introduce to a client, which should summarise their experience to date and tell the client a bit about them as a person. Therefore, your statement doesn’t need to be long or too chatty; the more concise, the better.
How to List Agency Work on Your CV UK
Working through a staffing agency can add an extra layer of complexity when listing jobs on your CV. The most common approach is to list the agency as your main employer and include the roles you filled for their clients as sub-entries. This shows continuity in your work history and highlights your adaptability to different job roles and environments.
For example:
XYZ Staffing Agency | Temporary Administrative Assistant
June 2022 – September 2023
- Client Name – Administrative Assistant
- Managed office operations and improved efficiency by 15%.
- Client Name – Receptionist
- Handled all front desk duties, ensuring smooth client interactions.
Tips for Making Sure Your Temp Jobs Look Impressive
Temp work can sometimes be perceived as less significant than full-time roles, but with the right approach, you can make it stand out on your CV:
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Group Your Temp Roles by Skills: If you’ve done several temp jobs in different industries, group them by the skills you’ve acquired. This approach shows that despite the different sectors, your skill set is cohesive and valuable across various job types.
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Be Proud of Your Temp Work Achievements: Don’t downplay your temp roles. Instead, be confident about the value they brought. Each temp job has given you new skills, so make sure they are clearly visible.
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Include a Mix of Soft and Hard Skills: Temp positions often require you to adapt quickly, collaborate with diverse teams, and manage your time effectively. These soft skills are just as important to hiring managers as technical skills, so make sure they’re highlighted.
You Might Also Be Interested in Reading:
- 7 Benefits of Temping According to Temp Workers – Discover how temping can help you grow your skills and career.
- A Guide on Temporary to Permanent Employment – Learn how to make the leap from temporary to permanent employment.
- What Is Temporary Work & Common Temping Questions Answered – Find out how to make the most of your temp experience and advance your career.
Addressing Any 'Gaps' in Employment History
If you’ve worked several temp positions with gaps in between, you can cover these gaps by being transparent about your temp work and grouping it effectively on your CV. Instead of listing each temp job separately, you could group your temporary positions under a section titled “Freelance and Contract Work” or “Consultancy Work,” which avoids the appearance of sporadic employment.
Here’s an example:
Freelance and Contract Work
January 2021 – December 2023
Company Name – Consultant
- Provided temporary consultancy services in marketing, increasing client revenue by 25%.
Company Name – Project Manager
- Managed client projects from inception to completion, delivering ahead of schedule.
FAQs About Listing Temp Work on Your CV
Should you put a temp job on your resume?
Absolutely. Temp jobs demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and a strong work ethic, all of which are highly valued by hiring managers.
How do you write temp work on a CV?
You can either list each temporary position individually or group them under the staffing agency you worked for. Always focus on your key achievements during each role.
How do you list temp jobs through an agency?
When listing temp jobs through a staffing agency, it’s best to name the agency as your employer and provide sub-entries for each role you filled for their clients.
Looking for your next temp role?
Explore the Oriel Partners temporary job board to discover the latest vacancies and find the perfect opportunity that matches your skills and experience. Start your job search with us today!
