Q: Should I put a temporary position on my resume?
A: Definitely. You should never leave off or try to mask a temporary position on your resume.
Why?
- If you leave the position off completely, there will be an unanswered career gap on your resume, which is a red flag for employers. Employers will also be cautious if a previous employer comes up on your background check that wasn’t listed on your resume.
- If you list the position but don’t mention that the position was temporary, potential employers are led to believe that you were fired from, or quit, a position after a short period of time. Listing the position as temporary will explain the job hopping.
A few things to note if you have temporary positions on your resume:
- Remember that the staffing agency was your actual employer, and should be listed as so.
- There is no official or right way to document that the position was temporary on your resume. If you write temporary after one position, don’t write contract or short assignment after others. Be consistent throughout with your description and format.
A couple formats we recommend:
Key Resource Group, LLC – Buffalo, NY, April 2017 – June 2017
Receptionist (Temporary Assignment at ABC Movers, Inc.)
Or
Key Resource Group, LLC – Buffalo, NY, April 2017 – June 2017
ABC Movers, Inc.
Temporary Receptionist
- If you worked multiple temporary assignments for one recruitment agency, put all of these positions under one “umbrella.” Even if the assignment was only for a few days, it shows that the agency found you reliable enough to send you to many of their clients.
Key Resource Group, LLC – Buffalo, NY, January 2017 – September 2017
Worked various temporary assignments through this Buffalo, NY staffing agency.
ABC Movers, Inc., August 2017 – September 2017
Receptionist (Temporary)
123 Dental, April 2017 – August 2017
File Clerk (Temporary)
Sugar Corporation, January 2017 – April 2017
Data Entry Clerk (Temporary)
- Only highlight achievements or experiences you’ve gained from these positions to keep your resume at an acceptable length, and to avoid stating the obvious.
Don’t leave future employers guessing! Temporary work is still valuable work that should be showcased on your resume.