If you want to start working as a temp, your CV needs to be formatted and tailored to the type of work you are looking for. If you can show that you are a good fit for temp work, you will catch the eye of recruiters and secure a job.
Throughout your entire CV, ask yourself if what you are saying promotes you as a good choice for temp work. Focus on relevant skills and attitudes will pay off, and you don’t necessarily need to write a whole new CV; you can achieve these goals by making a few clever and well-considered updates.
Below we take you through each section that should appear on your resume. We also provide a CV template for temp work that shows our CV writing tips in action.
-> DOWNLOAD A FREE TEMP WORK CV TEMPLATE
Personal statement
A personal statement at the top of your CV can be a powerful thing if you do it right. You are writing an introduction to yourself, so be clear on who you are, your abilities, and why you are a good match for the role.
Employers who use temps are likely looking to tick two other boxes, which you can confirm here. These are being able to start work straight away and your flexibility.
Where possible, relate your statements to past experiences to increase the credibility of what you say.
What to include within a personal statement on a CV
Key skills
Skills can appear in a separate section, ahead of your career history. Using a key skills section can be helpful if your career history or education is short.
We recommend looking at the skills the employer is seeking or considering the skills most suited to temping, such as adaptability, quick learner, time-management, outstanding interpersonal skills, and adept at working under pressure, which is a superb skill to highlight if you are looking for seasonal work or a position where you will work at the busiest times.
How to identify the skills I should include on my CV
Career history
Your employment history should appear with your last position first, working backwards from there. If you have held lots of different jobs, it is not necessary to go back indefinitely. Adding tens of past jobs will not add value to your CV and your time would be better spent going into more detail on fewer jobs, providing examples, achievements, recognition, and performance figures.
You can create a CV tailored to the job you are applying for by reading the job descriptions and mentioning skills the employer is seeking in your examples.
If you have a short work history or no work history at all, don’t worry. You can shorten this section and focus on your education. You could also include volunteer work or part-time work in this section.
How much job history should I include on my CV?
-> DOWNLOAD A FREE TEMP WORK CV TEMPLATE
Education
Your qualifications can have as much weight with an employer as your work experience, so it is worth referencing them correctly. Start with your most recent academic achievements and work back, finishing with your GCSEs or equivalent education.
Rather than listing all your GCSE subjects, you can highlight just those most relevant. Employers are usually looking for good numerical and communication skills, making English and Maths appropriate to mention.
If you have a diploma or a degree, don’t fall into the trap of assuming this alone will secure your temp work. Use the projects and modules to bring attention to skills the recruiter is seeking.
What education and qualifications should I include on my CV?
Hobbies & interests
You may feel obliged to include hobbies on your CV, but this section is optional, and it is okay to leave it out if you have no relevant hobby or interest. If you add hobbies, consider how the skills and experiences might relate to the work environment. It is a good place to highlight soft skills such as interpersonal skills or adaptability.
Should I include hobbies on my CV?
References
At the application stage, it is usually not required to provide references. On your CV, this means you can add a sentence saying they are available on request. It would be best if you were prepared to provide the contact details for references at the time when a position is offered, and these should come from a reliable and credible source, such as a past boss, career coach, or tutor. It is good etiquette to ask permission before using someone as a reference, and an unexpected request is less likely to be favourable.
Should I include references on my CV?
Temp work CV advice
Our CV template library and career advice provide the guidance and resources you need as a prospective temp worker. Our temp work CV template is provided as an example. The best results will be achieved by including your skills, abilities, and experience relevant to the advertised job.
-> DOWNLOAD A FREE TEMP WORK CV TEMPLATE
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