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Topic: should temp jobs go on resumes?

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getmeoutofhere Posted – 8/23/2007 3:37:30 PM | show profile
if you have a temp job that relates in no way to what you want to do, is there any reason to include it on your resume?

writesonwater Posted – 8/23/2007 5:16:23 PM | show profile
You don't need to. For a while I temped as a marketing analyst, and for a while I had that on my resume because I thought it said something about me.
Ahppy1 Posted – 8/23/2007 5:35:31 PM | show profile
When i was temping, and looking for f//t work at the same time, i had put the temp agency..only cause they had me temping at so many different places and there was just to many places to put on my resume and thought it would look better if i just had the temp agancy on there as my employer
ejlyman Posted – 8/27/2007 1:28:27 PM | show profile | email poster
top five

I think that at least the five most recent and relevant jobs you've had should appear on the CV. If a temp job is among them then it should be listed.

That said, I don't think a mostly-unrelated temp job will help much. Your CV will look a lot better when there is no longer a need to list it.

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Italy-based freelancer
www.ericjlyman.com
Unemployed-gal Posted – 8/27/2007 2:01:39 PM | show profile
Here's what I think: although the presence of temp work on your resume can be confusing to an employer when you go in for an interview (did you actually work at the agency itself, or did you just do work through them?), it can be a helpful thing to have on there to show that you've been doing something during your job search. That's why I put my temp work in my "skills and activities" section: Ie, "Completed administrative duties as assigned through the such-and-such-employment agency, June 2006-present. Assignments include work at an advertising agency as well as a banking firm." That kind of thing.
SFElisaW Posted – 8/27/2007 2:39:33 PM | show profile
When you're a temp, you're basically self employed. You can put that on your resume and then list some the companies you've worked for. It looks better than listing a bunch of two week assignments and let's you showcase some of the big companies where you've worked in an honest way. Seeing how a variety of companies operate can be valuable, particularly when you're starting off in your career so I wouldn't be too embarrassed out it. What hiring managers don't want to see is that you've started full-time gigs and failed or bailed.
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