Skip to content

The top five things that every Temporary worker needs to include on their CV

Kate Allen, Executive Chair and Marketing Director, Allen Associates

When applying for a Temporary role, a well-crafted CV and cover letter can make the difference between landing the perfect job and searching for weeks to no avail.

While the role may only be interim in nature, Employers still expect Candidates to tick all the boxes that a prospective full-time Employee would in their CV: after all, depending on the nature of the role, you will still be contributing to the bottom-line of the business.

Showcasing your ambition, experience and skill-set will stand you in good stead to secure an interview, so don’t hesitate to go into detail and provide strong examples that will illustrate your application.

As a Temporary worker, your employment history will be brief and diverse by nature, but it’s the practical experience and industry insight gained that will see your CV shortlisted for the next stage.

If your CV is to impress a prospective Employer, it must include the following five points:

A compelling personal statement

Your personal statement is the first thing an Employer sees when they receive your CV. A strong introduction will hook them in, while a generic statement will usually result in a skim reading of your skills and experience. Ultimately, your aim in the opening section of your CV is to clearly express what you can offer the company, what you are looking for in the long-term and how you differ to the competition. By summarising the value you bring as a Temporary worker in a few sentences, you will have a better chance of grabbing the Employer’s attention, and encouraging them to read on.

Your key achievements

As a Temporary worker, a large volume of companies and positions in your employment history is to be expected. However, it’s quality, not quantity that will win the trust of a hiring manager. Instead of boring them with a list of responsibilities you held in your previous roles, use this section to wow prospective Employers by detailing your key achievements. It’s always advantageous to have specific figures to support your facts, but if you can’t get a hold of the numbers, providing tangible examples of how you added value to a business in your time in the role will help to dismiss any concerns an Employer might have when shortlisting Candidates for the interview stage.

Examples of problem solving abilities

Your role may be Temporary by nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. When crafting your CV for a particular Temporary vacancy, try to centre in on the positive change you brought about within your previous roles. More than anything, Employers seek Temporary workers who are self-starting; they look for Candidates who can bring a fresh perspective to the business. Simply listing your employment history won’t do much in convincing an Employer of the unique value you bring, but providing examples to illustrate your problem solving skills will certainly stand you in good stead.

Examples of project management

As well as problem solving, the most sought-after Temporary workers bring project management experience to the role. When browsing the market for the perfect Temporary worker to take the reins of a high value project, those who boast an impressive track record in this field will naturally appeal more to an Employer, so it’s a good idea to illustrate your experience with examples of the assignments you saw through to completion. Generally speaking, temps will be expected to take ownership of tasks with little training: anything you can do to instil confidence in your abilities at this stage will only improve your chances of landing an interview.

Proof of your soft skills

While technical skills are essential, most hiring managers seek Temporary workers who will easily slot into their company culture throughout the duration of their Employment. It may seem unnecessary to list your soft skills in your CV, but it’s these that an Employer will search for to gain reassurance that their chosen Candidates can cooperate with their existing team without friction or fuss.

Communication, emotional intelligence and organisational skills are a must for Temporary workers; they are the key traits an Employer expects from the right Candidate. Above all, however, Employers will look for a proven ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations and thrive under pressure from their Temporary staff. Showcase this in your CV and your chances of snagging that perfect job will increase exponentially.

Over the last 20 years, we have grown as a business to become one of the leading independent Recruitment agencies in Oxfordshire, and in 2018 have opened our first London office, to service Clients in the capital.

Can we help you? Click  here  for more information.