How to Write a Resume for Temp Jobs

When applying for short-term jobs, you’ll still be asked to submit a resume. Our job applicants often have similar questions:

• What if I don’t have a lot of work experience?
• Do I need to list every job I’ve had?
• What if English is my second language?
• Do I have to write a different resume for each job I apply for?

The resume writing process can be confusing. So today, we’ll give you some practical tips when writing a resume for temp jobs.

1. Use a Resume Template

Your resume does two things: it gives a snapshot of your experience and shows that you read directions. Beyond that, it doesn’t have to be much more complicated.

We recommend using a pre-made resume template or online builder to get started. These tools let you fill in all you information and automatically format it so your resume looks professional and tidy. This is a great option no matter your English proficiency or writing skills, since you don’t have to worry about writing clever descriptions.

Resume builder is a great, free tool we recommend, but you can find many more just by searching for “resume builder” online.

2. Make Sure Your Contact Info is Front and Center

Your name and contact information should be the very first thing on your resume, centered at the top of the page. If you use a resume builder, most will do this for you. Otherwise, make sure you’re including this vital information.

Including both a phone number and an email gives you the best chance at hearing back.

3. Include Relevant Employment History and Education

This is the meat and potatoes of your resume, so you want to make sure you’re not missing anything. Include your employment history going back at least five years.

Keep in mind while writing that you want your resume to usually only be 1-2 pages long total.

If you don’t have that much job history or if this is your first position, leave your employment history blank. You can instead focus on any volunteer or domestic work you may have done, as well as your educational history. Most temp jobs don’t require a college degree, but you should list any education received and what year you graduated, such as high school or GED.

If you have a lot of employment history, it might be beneficial to only list the most relevant jobs to your current job. If you’re applying for temp work, list anything that involves clerical skills, manufacturing, assembly, etc.

You can update your resume for each job you’re applying to, but if you’re applying in-bulk to temp jobs this can take a lot of time. Instead, you might want to create a resume that covers the basics so you can use the same one for multiple jobs.

Writing a resume can be difficult, but following these tips will help make it easier. Strom Engineering takes the hard work out of finding jobs. Just upload your resume to our online portal, and we’ll match you to open jobs.

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Strom Engineering is a national staffing and recruitment agency, with a particular focus on manufacturing, engineering, assembly, and other trade positions. We match skilled candidates to temporary or project staffing positions. Learn more about how it works and check out our case studies for more information.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash