temporary jobs on a cv

meluvnext

Does it look bad having lots of temporary jobs on a cv, my current employment wont beable to continue to keep me on after august due to cut backs so this will be a 3 months job. There are a few other jobs advertised I want to go for but all temporary till end of august.

Does it look bad having lots of temp jobs on your contract as if you cant stick or must be rubbish as noone keeps you on? When really you know its solely due to the fact the jobs were advertised as temporary

Lokolo

Well if you don't, there will be gaps in your employment, which they would most likely ask about anyway. So you either tell them on your CV, or in the interview.

RuthnJasper

I don't think it looks bad if you mention that the job was temporary on your CV. Just put "temporary contract" in brackets after each employer.

If they weren't temporary and you kept getting jobs and leaving after a short while then that would look a bit iffy - however, having lots of temporary jobs isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least it says to a prospective employer that you aren't idle and that you have lots of experience in different work environments.

Good luck Meluvnext - hope you get a new job that you really enjoy. x

newmumincov

I have loads of short term contract work on my cv from my 20s. At the end of the day, I always worked 1 or 2 jobs when I wasn't at uni, even plugging gaps with voluntary work. That counts for a lot more than a gap with nothing.

Plus I always argue that it shows that I'm flexible and versatile, not to mention driven to find work.

I got into my current career on the back of it, because I was on a succession of fixed term contracts for the first 15 months, and was willing to go for this because I was already used to the uncertainty of not having a permanent job.

wimblewomble_2

If these temp jobs were from the same agency, you could group all your temp jobs under the name of the agency.
then you could point out all the temp jobs, and show how versatile you are, a quick-learner to pick up different skills, able to work in a differing range of environments, quickly fitting in with new people as a team player, etc.

highlight that you have acquired a much broader range of skills temping than you would have had if just working in one role. and that you now want to use all those abilities in a settled role.

scheming_gypsy

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I don't think it looks bad if you mention that the job was temporary on your CV. Just put "temporary contract" in brackets after each employer.

Yep i put (contract) on mine. I wouldn't get very far as a contractor if i didn't put my temporary jobs on :rotfl:

cazziebo

One way to do it is just have "Various Temporary Assignments" and then detail the responsibilities, tasks, achievements or roles in a way that reinforces your applications.

As wimblewomble says, this can be turned into a strength rather than a negative.

saintjammyswine

Agree ^. Dont list all the jobs but state "Various Temporary Assignments" and list key tasks etc. You could, depending on what you did and are looking for, alter your CV highlighting different skills to suit. It can be a massive plus because you could get a more rounded experience.

Evilm

Saint Jammys suggestion is exactly what I was told to do. It also covered up any gaps between assignments and made me appeal to a wider audience as a "proffessional temp/short term contractor".