How to list temporary jobs on your résumé

If you’ve spent any time doing temporary work, you’ll appreciate how much experience you can gain through short-term jobs. After all, you get the chance to work on a range of different projects and in a variety of companies. Moreover, temp work is a good way to expand your network and earn some extra cash.

Nevertheless, when it comes to communicating your work history to an employer, it can be confusing to know how to list your temp work on your résumé. Keep the following pointers in mind.

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.

Multiple client companies for one staffing agency

If you’ve worked in one job title for multiple client companies for one staffing agency, list the staffing agency, location, and dates first. On the following line, list your job title. Then list out the client companies in chronological order and include a brief description of your job duties at each company.

From temp to permanent worker

If you’ve gone from being a temporary worker to a permanent worker, it’s important to list that as well, according to Damarious Page in his Chron article “How to List Temp Jobs on a Résumé.” List the company, location, and dates, as well as a statement such as “Hired as a fulltime employee after serving as a temp worker for [Staffing Agency] from 1-10-2018 to 2-18-2019.”

Overall, when listing temp jobs on your résumé, ensure that your diverse work experience is clear so potential employers can assess your qualifications and your fit for the job. You can always explain your reasons for taking on short-term work during an interview.

Use best practices

Last, but certainly not least, make sure that the rest of your résumé follows best practices, as Lily Zhang advises in her article “How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Résumé” for The Muse. So remember to use consistent formatting, as well as to quantify the impact of your achievements so a hiring manager can see how your contributions benefitted each employer.