Your work for the PACE Staffing Network or any other  temporary or contract staffing company can be very important to your future job search, demonstrating your work ethic (when in between jobs) plus showcasing specific skills and work qualities that you have developed while working on an  interim basis.

Here are some rules of thumb on how to include your time as a “temp” or “contractor” on your resume…

Always indicate on your resume the time you spent working as a temporary or contract worker.

Most interviewers pay attention to “gaps” in your employment and will want to know what you did while in between jobs.  If you operated as a temporary or contract worker in between jobs, state that fact clearly.  Not only are temp jobs a great way to diversify your resume and skill set, but they also effectively avoid  potentially negative interview questions about gaps in your resume or being eliminated as a job candidate for ‘’failure to disclose’’. Remember, temporary work is an excellent opportunity to display your work ethic in how proactive and willing you are to find work and further your own potential by acquiring new skills and experiences.

List PACE’s name or the name of the staffing firm who placed you on the assignment, as your employer.

Include the length of time you worked for us in total, even if you elect to list each assignment separately.

It’s your decision if you want to list each temp assignment separately while describing your work at PACE or just describe an overview of all your temp / contract assignments with PACE.

1. Listing each assignment separately has the benefit of demonstrating your versatility, flexibility, and ability to learn and handle different types of work requirements. Just remember if there are too many assignments to list without detracting from your work history that you want to feature, you can summarize your work as a temporary or contract employee with an overview description:
2. If you elect to list each assignment, don’t leave any assignment off your list. We’ve personally seen situations where one of our temporary employees being considered for direct hire either was not offered a job or had a job offer rescinded because they failed to disclose specific temporary assignments.
3. The other option is to describe in general terms the variety of assignments you did while you were our temporary employee.For example: “I worked on a variety of short-term (1-2 month) assignments in the healthcare field including customer service, administrative support, and project management.  I received positive reviews of my performance on each assignment.  A list of specific assignments I accepted and completed will be provided upon request.”
4. If you worked for us on one or two longer term assignments, we think it’s preferable to list each assignment separately. Describe the work you performed, the goals you achieved, and the ways in which your work contributed to the 1organization’s outcomes.  You will want to feature your level of commitment to each assignment and what you and/or your team accomplished.

During your interview, be prepared to explain how your work on temporary assignments contributed to your development as an employee and prepared you for the jobs you are applying for now.

1. 1. Temporary assignments are a great way to show how you can enter fast paced environments with limited training and work efficiently while getting the job done well. For example, “I needed to learn the details of this job in 3 days so that I could get on the floor quickly to help customers.  The training program for this job was normally 3-4 weeks, so the entire team had to get up to speed very quickly.”
   2. Temporary assignments are also a wonderful opportunity to explore roles to make sure you enjoy the work and can see yourself in the field long term, before you begin a full time role with larger commitment. This shows employers that you are conscious of your skill set and accepting responsibility by having a well rounded sense of self and being willing to explore different jobs or fields.
   3. Don’t be afraid or apologetic about temporary employment! It has provided you with several new skills and experiences while continuing your career.

While working for PACE, how you handle your temporary assignments on your resume is up to you.  We believe your time working as a temporary or contract employee will always speak well of you as an employee.

How you describe your employment as a temporary or contract worker depends on how long you worked in each of your interim roles, and how relevant that specific work experience is to the type of job you are seeking now.

NEVER OMIT information on your resume or application that will be revealed by an employer who is checking your background or employment history.  In other words, if you elect to list your temporary/contract assignments, make sure you list them all, even those that didn’t work out as planned.

PACE Staffing Network is one of the Puget Sound’s premier staffing /recruiting agencies and has been helping  Northwest job seekers find their “just right” jobs for over 40 years.

A  3 time winner of the coveted “Best in Staffing” designation , PACE is ranked in the top 2% of staffing agencies nationwide based on annual surveys of customer satisfaction.

PACE provides multiple placement options….

• Direct Placement – Full or Part Time
• Temp to Hire Auditions
• Short or Long Term Temporary or Contract Assignments – Full or Part Time

Our Professional Placement Services include…

• Resume reviews and consultations
• Access to the “Hidden Job Market”
• Insider intros to TOP Employers HIRING NOW
• Confidential Job Searches
• Professional Career Guidance

Never a fee to a candidate  using our services.  Paid absence and healthcare benefits are provided to employees assigned to work at client sites thru our services. .

To learn more about how one 2 minute application can open doors to a full range of PACE placement services plus introductions to local employers hiring now,  contact PACE’s candidate services team at 425-637-3301 or e mail candidates services at candidateservices@pacestaffing.com.