What do you do if you want to highlight temporary and contract work on your resume?

1 Tailor Your Resume

When highlighting temporary and contract work, tailor your resume to show how these experiences have equipped you with a unique skill set. Emphasize the diversity of your roles and the adaptability required to succeed in different environments. For each position, clearly state your contributions and achievements. Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and the positive outcomes of your work. This approach shows potential employers that you are flexible and can hit the ground running in various settings.

2 Relevant Experience

Group your temporary and contract roles under a single section titled 'Relevant Experience' or 'Professional Experience'. This allows you to list the roles chronologically without breaking the flow of your work history. For each entry, mention the name of the company, your title, and the duration of the contract. Highlighting the relevance of these roles to the job you're applying for demonstrates that your non-permanent roles have been strategic and beneficial to your career progression.

3 Skills Section

Include a dedicated 'Skills' section on your resume that encapsulates the abilities you've honed through temporary and contract work. Focus on both hard skills, like specific software proficiencies, and soft skills, such as communication and time management. This section should reflect the versatility and breadth of expertise you've gained from working in varied roles and industries, which can be a significant asset to potential employers.

4 Quantify Achievements

Quantify your achievements in temporary and contract roles wherever possible. Use numbers to provide context and scale to your accomplishments. For example, if you improved a process, state how much time or money was saved as a result. This concrete evidence of your impact makes your experience more tangible and relatable to hiring managers, showcasing your effectiveness in different work environments.

5 Narrative Approach

Consider using a narrative approach in your cover letter or resume summary to weave together your temporary and contract roles into a coherent career story. Discuss the overarching themes or skills you've developed across various positions and how they make you an ideal candidate for the job at hand. This helps employers see your career trajectory as a strategic journey rather than a series of unrelated gigs.

6 Professional Branding

Develop a strong professional branding statement that encapsulates the value you bring as a contractor or temporary worker. This statement should be a concise summary of your professional identity and should be placed at the beginning of your resume. It serves as an introduction to your career narrative, setting the tone for how you want potential employers to perceive your work history.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?